ELMHURST, Ill., March 18, 2014 –On Saturday, April 12, 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, building supplies, clothing, bicycles, carpeting, appliances and much more. The event is free and open to the public.
As a result of last year’s Recycling Extravaganza, nearly 30 tons of electronics, as well as more than 4,000 pounds of carpeting and scrap metal, 3,000 books, dozens of bicycles, and truckloads of clothing and other unwanted items were diverted from landfills during this one-day event. In addition, the donations will benefit many nonprofit service organizations and ultimately will help scores of individuals and families.
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 will be accepted, including computers, TVs, printers, VCRs, tape players, gaming consoles and small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters.
Several nonprofit social service and green-focused organizations also will be at the Extravaganza, accepting donations of everything from carpet scraps to dented bicycles to eyeglasses.
· DuPage Habitat for Humanity Restore will take kitchen cabinets, doors, flooring, lumber, plumbing and working appliances.
· The Working Bikes Cooperative will repair discarded bicycles and ship them to depressed countries or areas hit by natural disasters. The group also will accept wheelchairs, child seats and sewing machines (in working condition).
· SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education) and the Cornerstone Used Book Store will accept books, gently used school and arts & craft supplies, buttons and LP records.
· Goodwill is accepting clean clothing, shoes, linens, baby clothes, sporting goods and household items.
· The Elmhurst Lions Club will reuse donated hearing aids and reading glasses to help people with vision and hearing impairments.
Paper shredding and battery recycling also will be available at the event.
The Recycling Extravaganza will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon on April 12 in Elmhurst College’s Alexander Street parking lot (www.elmhurst.edu/campusmap). To facilitate traffic flow, vehicles must enter at Prospect Avenue and Walter Street. For more information on the Recycling Extravaganza, including a complete list of acceptable items, visit www.elmhurst.edu/sustainability or email sustainable@elmhurst.edu.
Elmhurst College is a leading liberal arts college located eight miles west of Chicago. The College’s mission is to prepare its students for meaningful and ethical work in a multicultural, global society. Approximately 3,200 full- and part-time students are enrolled in its 24 undergraduate academic departments and 15 graduate degree programs.