Concerned citizens of McHenry County to host recycling drive

Submitted by Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

On Saturday, July 14, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will conduct a recycling collection for fluorescent tubes, plastic foam, electronics and batteries from 9 a.m. until noon at the Metra Station parking lot, 4005 Main St., McHenry.

The Defenders’ recycling drive accepts household batteries, car batteries, lithium and button batteries and fluorescent tubes, clean plastic foam, VHS and cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, packing peanuts and reusable, unpopped Bubble Wrap. A donation is requested for fluorescent bulbs and batteries that are brought in to offset the costs involved in processing these items.

It is no longer legal to dispose of unwanted electronics in the regular trash and it is illegal for Illinois landfills to accept them. The Defenders continue to fill this need. Electronics such as computers, phones, printers, clean microwaves and electronic toys are accepted. TVs and computer monitors will be accepted for a donation of $10-$35. At the McHenry collection, the Defenders also accept and pay for aluminum cans.

Area residents may drive up and drop off their recyclables with Defenders volunteers, who help to unload and sort the materials.

For more information about the recycling schedule and types of materials accepted at each location, or to access the Green Guide recycling directory which is put out annually by the Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at MCC, visit the Defenders’ website at http://www.mcdef.org/recycling_information.htm or call 815-338-0393.