Residential e-waste has been banned from Illinois landfills since 2012, but because of the 2017 Illinois Consumer Electronics Recycling Act, the local drop off locations for these items is shrinking as of June 1st. So what can we drop off and where do we do it?
Director of the Ecology Action Center Michael Brown:
“Due to both the loss of previous revenue potential from e-waste recycling as well as changes from the newly implemented 2017 Illinois Consumer Electronics
Recycling Act, some area nonprofits will cease acceptance of electronics for recycling as of June 1, 2018. Home Sweet Home Ministries and Habitat for Humanity ReStore will no longer accept e-waste for recycling.”‘In 2017, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (CERA). In order to better serve the needs of all residents, CERA sets a convenience standard based upon population density of each county in Illinois. The long-operating e-waste collection site at Normal Public Works is a perfect fit as the designated e-waste collection site under CERA starting January 2019.
You don’t have to wait until next year to drop off your broken or unwanted electronic items for free, you just need to follow the rules:
- Business waste is not allowed
- You must be a resident of McLean County
Accepted Items:
All types of radios (get em fixed for more radio listening!), Camcorders, Cameras, Cash registers, Christmas light strings,Computers & components, Copiers, Digital cameras, Fax machines, Game consoles, Ink cartridges, Label makers, Laptops, Monitors, Peripherals, Phone systems, Printers, Rechargeable batteries,Scanners,Sewing machines,Stereo equipment,Telephones,Televisions (all),VCRs
Non-Accepted Items:
Air conditioners.Appliances (all sizes).Audio tapes.Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, D, C & lithium).Can openers.Coffee makers.Curling irons.Dehumidifiers.Digital kitchen scales, Electric motors,Fire detectors,Gas cylinders,Hair dryers,Items containing liquids,Light bulbs (all kinds),Medical equipment,Microwaves,Thermostats,Toaster ovens,Vacuum cleaners,VHS cassette tapes,Window fans
Normal Public Works Facility – (1st entrance after the building, follow yellow signs)
1301 Warriner Street
Normal, IL (Learn more at NORMAL.ORG)
“Other options for residential e-waste recycling in McLean County include Goodwill Industries (accepts most residential e-waste except tube-style and flat screen televisions) and BestBuy (some services are fee-based and some limitations on quantity and size of items accepted, see
BestBuy.com for full details).”–Michael Brown
This is the time of year that many people enjoy having a garage sale, but when stuff doesn’t sell, it often hits the curb or goes into the trash. Now, with less free curbside trash pick up available, and so many items not even allowed in the trash, we are blessed to have the Ecology Action Center fighting for us to have free and convenient options for our e-waste.
