Recycle Fluorescent Tubes, Styrofoam, Electronics, Batteries

On Saturday, July 12th, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County (EDMC) will conduct a recycling collection for fluorescent tubes, Styrofoam™, electronics, and batteries from 9 a.m. until noon at the Metra Station parking lot, 4005 Main Street, in McHenry. They continue to collect certain items which are not usually accepted by curbside programs, and which would be harmful to the environment if put in a landfill.

The Defenders’ Recycling Drive accepts household batteries, car batteries, lithium and button batteries, fluorescent tubes, clean Styrofoam™, VHS & Cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, packing peanuts and re-usable, unpopped bubble wrap. A donation is requested for fluorescent bulbs and batteries that are brought in to offset the costs involved in processing these items.

Electronics, such as computers, televisions, phones, printers, clean microwaves, and electronic toys, are accepted. TVs and computer monitors will be accepted for a donation of $10-$35. Become a new member of EDMC at the recycling drive, at the Basic or higher level, and get two coupons to recycle a television or monitor for FREE!

There are also three FREE drop off sites for electronics:  Algonquin Township Road District 3702 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, 847-639-2700 X6, Computer Recycling Center in Crystal Lake, 815-455-6300 (call for information) and Lakewood's electronics drop-off site at 6570 Haligus Road, south of Ballard Rd.

You can donate aluminum cans at both the McHenry and Woodstock drives, but the Defenders will no longer be paying for them. The donation will help fund our educational and advocacy programs.

EDMC has recently added a new aspect to their monthly recycling collection:  USAgain Clothes Collection System (http://www.usagain.com) will be providing a truck at each drive to accept any kind of cloth items—clothing, linens, or just plain rags, clean and preferably put into a bag.  They will also accept shoes, tied together by their laces and placed in the bag. 

Defenders recycling drives are held on the second Saturday of each month, alternating between McHenry in odd-numbered months and Woodstock in even-numbered months.  Area residents may drive up and drop off their recyclables with Defenders’ volunteers, who help to unload and sort the materials.

For more information about the recycling schedule and types of materials accepted at each location, or to access the Green Guide recycling directory which is put out annually by the Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at MCC, visit the Defenders’ website at http://www.mcdef.org/recycling_information.htm or phone Alice at 815-385-8512 or the Defender office at 815-338-0393, or find them on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalDefenders.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides the community with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.  For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or call 815-338-0393.