A New Illinois Law Affects Us All

A new Illinois law governing the disposal of electronic items became effective January 1, 2012. Details on this law can be found at: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/electronic-waste-recycling/index.html and http://www.dupageco.org/recycling/

The Environmental Stewardship Work Area views this change in the law very favorably. It requires responsible disposal of items that are hazardous to the environment. As a church and as individuals, we must ensure that we comply with the law. Any person who violates the this new law can be fined $7000. The electronic items which are under the new disposal ban are: televisions, monitors, printers, computers (including tablet computers - Please put these in our Collection Bin in the Church Office! ), electronic keyboards, facsimile machines, video cassette recorders, portable digital music players (Please put these in our Collection Bin in the Church Office!), digital video disc players, video game consoles, small scale servers, scanners, electronic mice, digital converter boxes, cable receivers, satellite receivers, and digital video and disk recorders. These items must be taken to approved electronics recycling locations. (A link to a complete list of acceptable items is on the Going Green section of our church's website.)

Below are two electronics recycling locations with monthly drop off times. You do not need to be a Downers Grove or Westmont resident to be able to drop off items.
The Village of Downers Grove and Creative Recycling offer electronics recycling on the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The drop-off location is at Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave., in the employee parking lot at the rear of the building, off Curtiss St.
The Downers Grove Township Highway Department accepts electronics from 8:00 a.m. to Noon on the third Saturday of the month (except holiday weekends) at 318 E. Quincy, Westmont.

Items accepted include: Computers and peripherals including laptops (Please put these in our Collection Bin in the Church Office!), monitors, flat panels, keyboards, mice, cable, printers, external hard drives, tape drives, network and communication hardware, data center equipment including power distribution units and uninterrupted-power-supply systems, office and telecommunication equipment including copiers, fax machines, phone systems, cell phones (Please put these in our Collection Bin in the Church Office!), hand-held devices (Please put these in our Collection Bin in the Church Office!), TVs, calculators, beepers, videotapes, typewriters and projection, audio, video and security equipment.

Items not accepted are those with hazardous waste, radioactive waste, biohazardous waste or mercury containing devices . For example, light bulbs (fluorescent or Incandescent), car batteries, thermostats (mercury containing ones), and smoke alarms are not accepted.

Locations Where You Can Recycle Other Common Items
Household Batteries: The Downers Grove Park District accepts the following batteries at the Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Rd.: alkaline, carbon zinc, nickel iron, nickel-metal hybrid, nickel cadmium and zinc air. Only AA, AAA, C and D and rechargeable batteries are accepted. No rechargeable power tool or automobile batteries are accepted.
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL’s): The following retailers accept CFL bulbs for recycling: (There is no fee for this service, however, broken bulbs cannot be accepted.)
Kin-ko Ace Hardware, 6216 Main St, Downers Grove, (630) 968-4355
Home Depot, 2000 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove, (630) 792-9600
Home Depot, 2101 W. 75th St., Darien, (630) 271-9600
Home Depot, 7200 Woodward Ave., Woodridge (630) 795-1950
IKEA, 750 Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, (630) 972-7900