Batavia could enhance electronics recycling

Batavia might join Kane County in hiring a private firm to handle recycling of electronic items.

The city services committee will consider a proposal Wednesday night.

The county staff has conducted electronics recycling drives for many years. But state law beginning in January 2012 will ban electronics from municipal landfills, and require retailers of electronics to accept products for recycling. County officials believe it may increase the amount of items they have to deal with.

Batavia currently serves as a drop site; it delivers the items to Kane County once a month, and city workers help at the monthly drives.

The county proposes to hire Vintage Tech to handle the items, including picking the items up from municipal drop sites such as Batavia’s. Vintage Tech would pay Batavia 4 cents a pound for the items.

City staff is also recommending that it change to a self-serve drop-off, by setting up a shed. Right now people have to check in with a worker at the front desk of the public works facility, who then handles the items. With a self-serve drop-off, people could leave items at any time of day.

More information about the proposal is available at cityofbatavia.net/content/articlefiles/8165-Elec%20Disc.pdf.