DuPage pulling plug on electronics recycling program

A vendor problem has caused DuPage County to pull the plug on its electronics recycling program.

Officials said the company that collected and recycled electronic equipment for DuPage is no longer providing the service.

Joy Hinz, an environmental specialist, said Creative Recycling Systems wanted to charge DuPage for the service that it had been providing at no cost to the county and municipalities.

While staff members are investigating ways to resurrect the program, there aren't any other companies willing to provide the service under the terms of the old agreement.

"We are obviously unhappy the program has ended," Hinz said. "It's been a great service that we have been able to provide at zero cost to our partners."

Since the program started in 2008, more than 6 million pounds of electronic equipment, including televisions and computers, have been collected. The program expanded after a landfill ban on electronics items took effect Jan. 1, 2012.

"We're proud that we have given electronics recycling this start in DuPage County," Hinz said. "We hope to find a solution in the future."

Before the announcement, the county was partnering with eight municipalities and two townships that provided drop off sites.

Despite the loss of the vendor, DuPage is paying another company to finish obligations for already scheduled collection events through Saturday, Aug. 9.

On Wednesday, Wheaton put out a news release saying its event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the public works storage yard, 820 W. Liberty Drive.

While the county's program has ended, officials said residents have other options for recycling electronics properly.

For example, there are a number of retail stores, nonprofit organizations and drop-off recycling locations that accept electronics. Many are listed on the county's website at dupageco.org/recycling/. For battery recycling, visit call2recycle.org/locator/.

Meanwhile in Wheaton, city officials are working to arrange an October collection with another vendor. Scrap metal will be added to the list of accepted items to help offset the cost of collecting and recycling electronics.