Illinois counties awarded grant to promote electronics recycling in the State

CHICAGO (Scrap Monster) : The various counties in Illinois State would receive grant from the state to implement electronics recycling awareness programs.

Governer of Illinois, Pat Quinn announced that 49 counties in the city would be beneficiaries of grant money $2,000 each. The grants are being awarded with the sole objective of promoting public awareness among residents about electronic recycling programs. The grant could be used towards placing advertisements in audio-visual and print media so that the people are adequately educated about the consequences of not properly recycling the electronics components containing hazardous materials like heavy metals, mercury, lead etc.. The State aims to ensure that all residents are aware about the safe mechanisms to get rid of the unused electronics.

The total $100,000 in grant money comes from fees paid by electronics manufacturers who sell products in Illinois.

The counties receiving the first grants for electronic waste recycling promotion are: Adams, Alexander, Boone, Carroll, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Knox, Lake, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Madison, Massac, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Mercer, Montgomery, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Rock Island, St. Clair, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Warren, Washington, White (shared with Saline and Gallatin), Will, Williamson and Woodford.

Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act prohibit the disposal of items like TVs, VCRs, computers and video game consoles in landfills. The state has set a target of collecting and recycling 47 million pounds of electronics during the current year.

To view the list of registered residential e-waste collection centers, Please Click Here