By Brad Palmer
Jackson County, IL – JACKSON COUNTY'S ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PROGRAM IS RECEIVING STATEWIDE ACCLAIM.
THE ILLINOIS RECYCLING ASSOCIATION RECENTLY HONORED THE COUNTY WITH ITS OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PROGRAM AWARD.
JACKSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SOLID WASTE MANAGER BART HAGSTON SAYS THE COUNTY BECAME THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PERMANENT ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS IN THE FALL OF 2002.
HE SAYS THEY ACCEPT MOST ELECTRONICS ITEMS POWERED BY BATTERIES OR CORDS.
HAGSTON SAYS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN FROM COLLECTING 73-THOUSAND POUNDS OF ELECTRONICS IN 2003 TO 266-THOUSAND POUNDS LAST YEAR. AND IN MAY, JACKSON COUNTY COLLECTED ITS ONE MILLIONTH POUND OF ELECTRONICS.
HAGSTON SAYS THE PUBLIC CAN DROP OFF SMALL AMOUNTS OF ELECTRONICS AT SOUTHERN RECYCLING CENTER IN CARBONDALE DURING THEIR NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
HE SAYS PARTS SUITABLE FOR RE-USE ARE THEN SOLD. THOSE THAT ARE UN-USABLE ARE BROKEN DOWN AND RECYCLED INTO NEW PRODUCTS.