Electronics drop-off site recommended in Libertyville
A plan to make the Libertyville public works facility available once or twice a week for drop-offs of unwanted electronics is advancing.
The village board's special projects committee on Tuesday made the recommendation - with some details to be worked out - for an expected vote by the full village board May 24.
As envisioned, an area at the public works yard, 600 North Ave., just east of downtown, would be open at least one half-day Saturday mornings. Another half-day during the week could be added depending on the interest and financial participation of Libertyville Township, Green Oaks and Mettawa - the other entities that share the 60048 ZIP code.
Making the space available as a satellite electronics collection area is intended as a convenience for Libertyville-area residents and as a way to ease pressure on Grayslake, one of five all-year sites in Lake County. Those sites were saved from closing May 1 by financial contributions from more than a dozen communities, including Libertyville.
Opening a satellite electronics collection area was suggested by village Trustee Pete Garrity, the village's representative on the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, which includes most communities in the county. A predetermined amount of electronics would be collected in Libertyville and taken to the Grayslake collection site.
Garrity raised the idea during a village board meeting two weeks ago. Village staff was directed to research the options and the matter was referred to the three-member special projects committee, chaired by Garrity, for a recommendation. Libertyville's site would be available through late fall.
"We're just talking about 2016 here. No commitment beyond this," he said.
Options considered Tuesday included opening a local site once a week or once a month and negotiating a contract extension with the village's waste hauler to include a free once-a-month curbside electronics pick up.
Estimated cost of $2,400 a month is a factor, as funds for the service were not included in the 2016-17 village budget that began May 1. Whether the drop-off will be open to all residents in 60048 or only those in Libertyville is to be determined.
"If we're going to fund it and it's coming from Libertyville taxpayers, it should be limited to Libertyville residents," Mayor Terry Weppler said.
Trustee Rich Moras, who was in the audience for the discussion, said the goal is to keep people from putting electronics that are banned from landfills in the weekly trash pickup.
"We literally just started our new budget and now we're talking about additional cost," said Moras, chairman of the board's finance committee. "But this is really important. I support it," he added.