IMPORTANT RECYCLING NEWS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS

Due to changes in Il State policies regarding electronics recycling, The Environmental Defenders will no longer be holding monthly drives. We are participating in drives sponsored by McHenry County and Elgin Recycling.  And please visit our three sites where we will continue to collect Styrofoam for recycling.  Thank you!

Defenders’ Recycling programs

What to do with PAINT!

Paint: Oil based paints need to go to Household Hazardous Waste collections. Latex paints in useable condition can be shared with school theater departments, churches, etc (try Freecycle.org to find it a new home) Algonquin Township Road District 847-639-2700 x6 and Lloyd’s Paint N Paper 815-459-1160 will take latex paint. Old latex paint can be dried out completely & disposed of in your regular trash. Empty, clean cans can then be recycled.

Junk Mail

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Plastic Bags and Film

Can be recycled at many local retailers, like Jewel, CVS, and Walgreens. For more details ⇒

CFL Recycling at Home Depot Locations

“The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free service is the first such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United States and offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal.” Read the press release .

Many Ace Hardware stores will also accept CFLs and rechargeable household batteries for recycling. Contact your local store.

“OMG! I broke a compact fluorescent light bulb! It’s got mercury in it – now what do I do?!?!”  Don’t Panic! Click Here for the answer.