Worldwide, an estimated 20-50 million tons of electronic waste is generated annually, and the USEPA estimates that 85% of it ends up in landfills. Recycling electronics avoids air, water and land pollution. For example, the EPA states that electronics contain hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium, batteries and color cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Televisions and CRT monitors may each contain an average of 4 lbs of lead (depending on size).

Electronics contain many valuable resources like metals, glass, and plastic that can be reclaimed, reused, and recycled! Recycling, rather than dumping these materials, uses far less energy than mining and refining raw metals (which include gold, cadmium, lead and silver) and reduces the amount of energy and other resources used in new product manufacturing.

All of these factors have led states around the nation to enact legislation requiring the recycling of electronic equipment. Illinois recently expanded The Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act banning 17 electronic items from landfills. But don’t panic; recycling at the county’s monthly collection event is still free and easy!

Kane County’s Monthly Electronics and Book Recycling Collection events will accept more items than are listed in the legislation, like cell phones and small household appliances. We also have a special arrangement for businesses or intergovernmental entities that may have large loads, to deliver them directly to our recycler. There are also many other permanent drop-off locations that will take your electronics for recycling in Kane County.