JOLIET, Ill. — Will County, along with its partner, Vintage Tech of Romeoville, has expanded its electronic recycling program to accept more small household appliances just in time for the holiday crunch.
“November and December have been known as the largest waste generation months of the year, but we can change that by participating in the many reuse and recycling opportunities available to us,” said Marta Keane, recycling program specialist for the Resource Recovery and Energy division of the Will County Land Use Department.
“As of this past January, 17 types of electronic devices are banned from Illinois landfills,” Will County Executive Larry Walsh said. “We were already collecting those items — and more — at our 13 collection sites throughout the county. This expansion makes it easier yet for residents to dispose of unwanted items in a way that’s environmentally friendly.”
Vintage Tech expanded the list of items it accepts to mirror its growing capabilities to take items apart, sort components and marketing them.
“Some of the items were those residents have asked us to include, such as toaster ovens and vacuum cleaners,” Keane said. “None of the items on the expanded list are actually banned from disposal, but neither are telephones and microwaves, and Will County has included them since 2000, the year we held our first one-day collection,” Keane said.
String lights, such as those used to decorate for the holidays, as well as microwaves, cameras, calculators were already accepted, too.
As of November, the sites are also accepting toaster ovens, coffee makers (no glass pots), blenders (bases only, no glass), bread makers, deep fryers, food sealing equipment, electric knives, shaving equipment, curling irons, hair dryers, electric tooth brushes, vacuum cleaners (no bags), carpet sweepers, fans, space heaters and metal tools, such as power tools, drills, screwdrivers, etc.
“As people replace items, clean their homes for holiday guests or simply need to discard something, they should always check the WillCountyGreen.com website for suggestions on ways to donate, repair or recycle the item,” Keane said.
The Green Guide tab contains pages of information and includes a searchable database that allows website visitors to look up specific items for options listed by city for local convenience.
A list of the 13 collection sites can also be found at www.willcountygreen.com.
The Land Use Department is under the County Executive’s office and is led by Director Curt Paddock.
