Kane County residents getting word on recycling
By Matt Brennan For The Beacon-News June 22, 2012 3:52PM
A stack of old computer parts sit in a crate during Aurora's electronic recycling program Saturday morning off McCoy Drive in Aurora. | Michael R. Schmidt~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 27, 2012 6:04AM
GENEVA — Kane County residents are upping their recycling habits.
Forty-three percent of the waste generated in the county is diverted from landfills through recycling programs, according to a report given by Jennifer Jarland, Kane County recycling and resource conservation program director.
That number includes curbside recycling pickups as well as drop offs for electronics, books and media. Last year 46,360 pounds of books were collected. This year they’ve already collected 30,000 pounds, she said.
“We’ve collected a lot of books, a lot of cardboard and a lot of media,” she said.
Jarland recently discussed the county’s recycling progress with the Kane County Board’s Energy and Environmental Committee.
There were 280 million pounds of paper and containers collected through curbside recycling programs from households, businesses and drop off centers in Kane County. In addition there were 45.5 million pounds of yard waste collected, mulched, and composted.
There were 848,336 pounds of electronics equipment recycled in Kane County in 2011. The county is on pace to do more than that in 2012, she said.
“That’s probably because of the landfill ban,” she said.
As of Jan. 1, the state has banned electronics from being deposited in landfills.
Jarland is working to get the word out to Kane County residents about the recycling options they have. She spends much of her time publishing content on the county’s website and in newsletters. She also does some public speaking, and has booths at various events around the county.
She said she is working to establish ties at both the state and municipal level, to help the county’s recycling and environmental programs.
She is also working to plan a county recycling event in November, which will coincide with America Recycles Day.
