Normal, Illinois reports increased spending on electronics recycling

CHICAGO (Scrap Monster): According to Normal Public Works Director Wayne Aldrich, the city paid an e-waste contractor, Vintage Tech, nearly $6,700 last month. The municipality usually doesn’t pay anything to recycle electronics.

The state’s low annual recycling goals are to be blamed for the rising costs on electronic recycling, said environmental groups. According to the existing law, whenever manufacturers meet the set target, they can pull funding for the recycling process without penalty.

Ecology Action Center's executive director says similar municipalities are left to foot the rest of the electronic recycling bill because companies start to send money to other states where recycling quotas are larger and penalties are much stiffer, like Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

According to estimates, Normal has collected 214 tons of electronics through September this year. The town had collected 313 tons in 2013.