The Tri-County Regional Collection Facility (TCRCF) recently expanded its list of recycling options to include used and broken holiday lights, such as Christmas tree lights and outdoor lights. The facility also accepts computers, monitors, printers and other obsolete or broken electronic devises. Read more... 

In early November, the Tri-County Regional Collection Facility conducted a free residential electronics collection with the assistance from the Macomb Senior High Ecology Club and Macomb Rotarians.  Over six tons of electronic equipment - computers, monitors, radios, FAX machines, and scanners were collected and diverted from the landfill, with many of them to be recycled in the future.  In three hours, more than 125 cars were unloaded and materials sorted into boxes.  All will eventually be wrapped by the TCRCF staff and shipped to area recyclers.  "It was a great turn out.  I think when people heard the landfills will no longer accept electronics such as computers and monitors starting January 1, 2012, they took the responsible approach to disposal and attended the collection," said Chad Braatz, Manager of the facility and Tri-County Resource & Waste Management Council Solid Waste Coordinator.  

On March 15, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association (ILCSWMA) are co-sponsoring an Electronics and Landfill Ban Workshop. The workshop will provide an overview of the newly implemented electronics landfill ban and electronic recycling issues in the state of Illinois.  The workshop will be held at the Northgate Hotel in Springfield.  Registration is $35.

A quick comparison of 2010 and 2011 totals reveals an increase of over 50,000 pounds and 750 households in paint collection and an increase of 20,000 pounds and 900 households in electronics collections. Here are the totals recycled from computers to cardboard.  Read more...