County recycling program a hit

JOLIET--Will County officials are celebrating passing an important milestone--having collected more than 1 million pounds in electronic recycling in just a little more than two years.

"In July 2008, we opened our first four permanent recycling sites in Bolingbrook, Channahon Township, Troy Township and a joint effort between Washington Township and Beecher," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. "Today we have 10 sites open and are scheduled to open an 11th at the Monee Reservoir...At the last two sites, in Lockport and Mokena, residents had been bringing in electronics before we had the official opening."

To get an idea of what 1 million pounds of electronics means, if the grand total was represented by only one type of item, it would equal 23,700 microwave ovens, 13,650 televisions or 63,350 printers, said Marta Keane, recycling program specialist for the Will County Land Use Department's Waste Services Division.

In the first six months of permanent electronic recycling sites, there were 3,862 participants. That number grew to 7,795 in the next six months. In the first seven months of this year the number had grown to 12,468, meaning an estimated 25,125 people have used the sites.

Based on 2008 data, it was predicted that Will County would hit the 1 million pound mark this month. But when the July invoice came in from Vintage Tech, the Plainfield company which collects and recycles the electronics for the county, it showed that the total hit 1,005,002 pounds as of July 31, after the pickup in Bolingbrook.

As of July 31, the county had spent $137,000 or about 14 cents per pound to recycle its collected electronics. Keane explained the funding comes from the county's Prairie View Landfill, managed by Waste Management. The cost of recycling has fallen in the past 25 months, as well.

For more information about the permanent recycling sites or any of their programs, go to www.willcountyillinois.com under Land Use or call Waste Services at 815-727-8834.