Recycling FAQ From the News-Gazette
Recycling on the minds of readers
News-Gazette, The (Champaign-Urbana, IL) – February 2, 2008
Author: LYNDA ZIMMER
Recycling of all kinds (thermometers, batteries, printed materials and old cards) are on readers‘ minds.
Q: Is there a place to recycle mercury thermometers? The Illinois Student Environmental Network used to do it.
Q: Where can I recycle AA and AAA batteries? Since they contain mercury, I heard they should not be put in the landfill.
Q: How should we dispose of the lithium batteries from hearing aids? Can they be recycled?
A: Once again, I applaud all of you earnest recyclers. Unfortunately, it is not easy to recycle some things around here. Possibilities:
- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency holds household hazardous waste collections in local areas about every two years, but until one is announced, you have to save these items at home.
- The closest regular recycling site to this area is Fire Station No. 4 in Naperville, 1971 Brookdale Road. Call 630–420-4190 for hours, first.
- All Walgreen Drug Stores and public libraries in Chicago will accept household batteries.
Businesses in our area that accept batteries are for commercial drop-offs only. For hearing aid batteries, ask the place where you buy them if they also accept them for recycling.
Even the Champaign Public Works Department wants to know where mercury thermometers may be recycled. In the meantime, it is legal to put the batteries and thermometers in regular trash.
University of Illinois students used to pick up recyclables from some area businesses, but there was not enough to make the program financially feasible. Unless they restart a program, we have no regular local outlet.
Other recyclers that I know of require you to pay postage to mail items to them.
Q: Do you know of any place that would take old textbooks? Also, we are looking for a place that would take Christian devotional booklets.
A: When I researched the term “donate old textbooks” on the Internet, lots of places popped up. The problem is that you usually have to pay postage to ship them.
You might want to check out some of the details yourself. If you don‘t have Internet access, ask a library for help.
Some people who like to do crafts want the old books for making things.
I could not find any places that want religious material. Most organizations send out their own and solicit donations for postage.
Q: I have old cards to give away. Does anyone want them?
The main place that wanted them, St. Jude‘s Ranch for Children in Nevada, got more than it could use, so lots of people are looking for other places to send cards.
Let the column know if you are an organization that can use a large number of used greeting cards.
Section: AT HOME
Page: B-1 B-5
Column: BULLETIN BOARD
Record Number: 11EAB7E864D0E188
Copyright, 2008, The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.
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