Recycle electronic items on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22

An electronic recycling event will be held for local residents to recycle their old or broken electronics in a safe and responsible way.

Many of these items have been banned from landfills in Illinois because they contain valuable, recyclable and/or hazardous materials.

The recycling event is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 894 Shop Dr., Dixon.

This free event is sponsored by the Lee County Office of Solid Waste Management and the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department and materials collected at this event will be processed and recycled by SIMS Recycling Solutions of West Chicago, Illinois.

The event is open to Lee and Ogle County residents and businesses.

Items that will be accepted include computers, laptops, televisions, computer monitors, printers, DVD/DVR/VCR players and recorders, fax machines, scanners, video game consoles and accessories, audio equipment, telephones, cell phones, cameras/camcorders, CD/DVDs and accessories, GPS systems, IPods and MP3 players, computer keyboards, mice, wires, and office electronic equipment such as typewriters, calculators, shredders, copy machines, postage machines, credit card machines, projectors, computer software (no books), backup drives and rechargeable power supply batteries, and miscellaneous electronics.

VHS, video & audio tapes, LP vinyl records or albums, and floppy disks will also be accepted.

Small home appliances including microwave ovens, hair dryers, rechargeable batteries (please tape terminals and place in plastic bags), power tools, electric motors, tape recorders, toasters, coffee makers (no glass), blenders & mixers (no glass), humidifiers, Christmas lights, and stereo equipment will also be accepted at the event.

The following items will not be accepted: air conditioners, dehumidifiers, vacuum cleaners, large appliances (refrigerators, washer, dryers, etc.), smoke detectors, paint or household chemicals, or fluorescent bulbs.

Beginning in January of this year, a new law banned Illinois residents and businesses from disposing of computers and other electronics with their regular garbage collection service.

Instead, these devices must be taken to a registered recycling dealer. SIMS Recycling Solutions is a registered electronics processor in Illinois and recycles the materials in a secure and responsible manner.

Those who cannot make it to this event are encouraged to consider Secure Recycling Services, a division of Kreider Services Inc., which is a non-profit business dedicated to processing electronic waste in a safe, secure and environmentally responsible way. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are now located at 629 Palmyra Rd., Dixon.