On Saturday, April 29, the Alexander Street parking lot at Elmhurst College will turn into a Recycling Extravaganza, a place to bring a variety of items that will be recycled, reused and kept out of landfills. Acceptable items include electronics of all kinds, building supplies, clothing, bicycles, carpeting, home goods and much more. This year, due to the rising cost of recycling televisions and computer monitors, the electronics recycler will charge a fee to handle only those items. For all CRT, flat-screen, projection TVs and all computer monitors, a fee of $25 will be charged for each item with a screen size smaller than 21 inches; and $35 for each item with a screen size of 21 inches and larger. (The mission of the electronics recycler, eWorks Electronics Services Inc., is to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities by providing competitive recycling, refurbishment and resale services of all types of electronics.)

The Elmhurst College Recycling Extravaganza is held in partnership with the City of Elmhurst, DuPage County and the environmental education group SCARCE. State law prohibits consumers from throwing out electronics with ordinary trash, and also prohibits landfills from accepting them. During the Recycling Extravaganza, electronics of all kinds are accepted, including computers, TVs, printers, VCRs, tape players, gaming consoles and small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters. Except for the fee on TVs and computer monitors, all other electronics are collected for free. Several nonprofit social service and green-focused organizations also will be at the Extravaganza, accepting donations of everything from carpet scraps to bicycles to eyeglasses. Paper shredding also will be available (two box limit, paper only). For a complete list of acceptable items, visit Elmhurst.edu/sustainability. The Recycling Extravaganza is open to the public and, except for the fee on TVs and computer monitors, is free. The Recycling Extravaganza will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 29, in Elmhurst College’s Alexander Street parking lot. To facilitate traffic flow, vehicles must enter at Prospect Avenue and Walter Street. For more information, visit elmhurst.edu/sustainability or email sustainable@elmhurst.edu.

As a result of the annual Elmhurst Recycling Extravaganzas, hundreds of tons of electronics, as well as tens of thousands of pounds of carpeting, scrap metal and books, hundreds of bicycles and truckloads of clothing and other unwanted items have been diverted from landfills. In addition, the donations will benefit many nonprofit service organizations and ultimately will help scores of individuals and families.