West Dundee will resume electronics recycling - with conditions
As Kane County officials work to revamp their electronics recycling program, West Dundee is the first municipality to commit to resuming a daily drop-off site.
The village's participation, however, is contingent upon two conditions: At least two other agencies must also open daily collection locations, and the county must resume its monthly recycling events in St. Charles.
The electronics recycling program was suspended months ago when county officials said they received an unmanageable volume of TVs, computer monitors and other electronics. West Dundee was the last of a few communities to decide to close its drop-off site this past spring, and the county's recycling events were halted soon after. Since then, recycling coordinator Jennifer Jarland said, county officials have labored to launch an improved and more sustainable program.
In the meantime, though, Kane County residents are without electronics recycling services other than private companies, West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said.
"What is being asked of us is to step up in a leadership role to begin that process of facilitating a location in hopes of getting a larger program up and operational," he said.
The West Dundee village board voted Monday to approve a new electronics recycling agreement with Kane County. The deal addresses several concerns trustees brought to light last month, including liability and indemnification.
In addition to trailers and supplies, recycling nonprofit eWorks Electronics Services will provide one staff member to monitor and operate the site full time. Participating agencies would be asked only to provide the location and spend up to an hour at the end of each day loading packaged materials into trailers, Jarland said.
As per the agreement, the county will also provide West Dundee with a financial incentive of $1,000 per month through 2016. Those funds will be taken out of the county's electronics recycling program budget, Jarland said.
Though not set in stone, she said, future compensation for participating communities could include grant money from the Grand Victoria Casino. Officials are also considering a formal program in which all Kane County municipalities pay a per capita contribution.
"I'm really happy the (West Dundee) board decided in favor of the program," Jarland said. "They were a great drop-off for many, many years, and this is a stronger model now."
The county is now working to secure two more sites. Because Batavia, a previous participant, decided against recommitting to the program, Jarland said, the county has started discussions with other communities, including South Elgin.
Aurora has also expressed interest in being involved, she said, but the process is taking longer than expected. In the meantime, the county may open a temporary site at the former Kane County jail property on Fabyan Parkway.
Kane County officials hope all three sites will be confirmed and open sometime next month, Jarland said. If all goes well, the first electronics recycling event is planned Sept. 24, she said, after which the events will resume on the second Saturday of each month.
Though glad to be part of a solution, several West Dundee officials, including Trustee Thomas Price, want to revisit the agreement when the logistics of the program are clearer.
"We've got the experience. We've been doing this a number of years now," Price said. "It seems like we can help keep this going."