Fall Metals and Electronics Drive Oct. 1

Online Staff Report

LOVES PARK, Ill. — Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (KNIB) encourages area residents to bring any old electronics, appliances and scrap metal to its Fall Metals and Electronics Drive for recycling.

After Jan. 1, 2012, the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act (State Bill 2313) will ban the disposal of computers, monitors, laptops, printers and an array of electronics from landfills.

“We will take all of these items at our drive,” said Lori Gummow, executive director of KNIB. “We accept computer monitors and peripherals for free; however, a small fee is charged to remove the Freon from refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers per EPA requirements.”

The Fall Metals and Electronics Drive will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Machesney Park Mall in the south parking lot near the JCPenney Outlet. Televisions are no longer accepted. Items accepted at no charge include snow blowers and lawn mowers (remove gas and oil), metal shovels, washers, dryers, microwaves, toaster ovens, stoves, computers, computer monitors, stereos, metal file cabinets and desks, metal shelving, copy machines, bikes, fencing, patio furniture, aluminum siding, scrap metal, car batteries and cell phones. Virtually all metal items will be accepted for free.

Items accepted for a $10 fee each include refrigerators, freezers, propane tanks, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. This fee covers the cost of decanting and tagging these items for proper EPA disposal.

For more details or to volunteer, visit www.knib.org or call (815) 637-1343.