The Green Sanctuary Group of Beverly Unitarian Church is hosting a Household Electronics and Hazardous Waste Collection, Sat., Oct. 6, 8:30 to 11 a.m. For the first time in its near ten-year run, the collection will take place in the Morgan Park Methodist Church parking lot, 11030 S. Longwood Dr.
Eileen Klees is co-chair of the Green Sanctuary Group, a subcommittee of the church’s Social Action Committee, and she said this year’s location will better accommodate the large number of participants. In previous years, the collection took place in the Beverly Unitarian Church’s parking lot, which Klees said caused massive traffic build-ups.
The popularity of the collection among Beverly/Morgan Park residents is understandable, as the closest hazardous waste disposal facility is 18 miles away. Klees said this distance is what inspired the Green Sanctuary Committee to host this event.
“We know people don’t have time to make that trek up north,” she said. “And because we work to promote conservation and environmental protection, we thought a waste collection would be a great way to reach our goal.”
A team of recyclers drives the trucks of hazardous waste to the Goose Island facility and then unloads them on-site. This is the expensive part, as paying for the trucks and recycling team is a costly endeavor, said Klees. To help defray costs, the committee will be accepting donations on the day of the event.
“It’s a rather large undertaking,” Klees said. “Any additional help from the outside community is very much appreciated.”
The following electronic items will be accepted at the collection: computers, monitors, printers, laptops, peripherals, cell phones and small televisions. The following hazardous household chemicals and items will be accepted: mercury-florescent bulbs, antifreeze, used motor oil, oil-based paints, gasoline, paint thinner, aerosol paints, hobby chemicals, car batteries, rechargeable batteries, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, pool chemicals, hobby and photographic chemicals, mercury thermometers.
They will also accept clean Styrofoam items (no packing peanuts). Textbooks and eyeglasses will be accepted for reuse or recycling.
The following items will NOT be accepted: Freon, incandescent bulbs, appliances, alkaline batteries, bio-hazardous products, needles, latex, acrylic or water-based paints, caulk or cleaning products, or other water-soluble products.
For more information, email Klees, eklees@gmail.com.
