McHenry Co. program wants your metals

Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will hold a buyback program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Metra Station Parking lot site, 4005 Main St., McHenry.

The buyback program is for aluminum cans, brass, and copper and also accepts fluorescent bulbs, batteries, (suggested donation) and packing peanuts, and reusable bubble wrap.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency released a report on fluorescent bulbs and high-density discharge lamps. These bulbs can be found in homes, schools, businesses and stores and contain mercury-vapor, metal-halide and high-pressure sodium - all harmful to the environment and humans. In addition to the threat of contamination of groundwater reserves and aqua filters the mercury and chemicals in these bulbs are toxic and endanger waste handlers and transporters when they are disposed of with household trash.

That is why the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County hold a collection for fluorescent tubes and bulbs and household batteries on the second Saturday of every month.

Fluorescent tubes and batteries are not accepted by waste haulers for recycling and they should not be put into landfills because of the mercury they contain. The Defenders have an outlet where they can be sent, but the process of recycling these items can be costly. So they ask for a donation to help cover the costs of recycling these items.

Drives also are held in Woodstock; visit Web site mcdef.org or e-mail to mcdef@owc.net.

The Environmental Defenders is a grass roots environmental organization aimed at working with citizens and their elected officials on the preservation and improvement of the environment.