Elk Grove hopes to redouble recycling efforts

Elk Grove Village officials are concerned residential recycling numbers have declined from the previous year.

An average of 357 tons of household material is recycled by Elk Grove residents each month, or 4,284 tons yearly, representing a 6.8 percent decrease from the previous year's tally of 383 tons per month on average.

"I'm not sure if that is an indication of the economy or if we have become more lax about recycling," Village Trustee Patton L. Feichter said.

Elk Grove Village began recycling household waste in 1989 averaging 165 tons monthly at the time. Recycling has increased 116 percent since that first year.

At a recent board meeting, Feichter promoted the village's recycling newsletter, which came about as a result of a prize the village won a few years ago for recycling cans in the community.

"Things that you should recycle and things that should be throw into the trash are all listed here," Feichter said. "We would appreciate if people would redouble their efforts of recycling in Elk Grove Village."

Residents who want more information on recycling may pick up a newsletter from village hall, 901 Wellington Ave.