Recycle Electronics, Destroy Documents In Niles

NILES, IL — If you live in a northern Cook County community and you have electronics you'd like to dispose of cleanly or documents you'd like to destroy securely, The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) announced this week it's sponsoring a event in Niles for you to do both for free.

On Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to noon, the Village of Niles will hold a document destruction and electronics recycling event at the Public Services Department, 6849 W. Touhy Avenue.

Only residents from northern Cook County communities are eligible to participate, and workers will check identification to verify residency in a SWANCC member community (see below for a full list.)

“SWANCC provides a variety of drop-off locations to assist its residents with the task of recycling sensitive documents, banned electronics and other items, so that potentially harmful and recoverable materials are diverted from the landfill,” the agency's recycling and education director, Mary Allen.

What to bring?

Organizers said acceptable documents can include medical forms, bank statements, personal files and retired tax forms. People can bring a maximum of six file boxes or paper bags (no plastic bags.) All plastic, metal clips or binders must be removed, as do photos, slides or any other non-paper items.

Residents will remain in their vehicles while workers remove the paper documents, before the paper is cross-shredded on site and recycled at a mill to make new paper products. Workers will remove the paper documents while residents stay their vehicles, according to the announcement from SWANCC.

As for electronics. things you can bring to have recycled include: Answering Machines, Cable Receivers, Calculators, Camcorders, Cameras, CD and DVD Players (no disks), Cell Phones, Computer Cables, Computer Monitors, Computers (Desktop, Notebook, Tablet), Converter Boxes, Fax Machines, Keyboards, Microwaves, Mice, MP3 Players, Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs), Power Tools and Cords, Printers (Multi-function Printers), Satellite Receivers, Scanners, Shredders, Small Home Appliances (Toasters, Blenders, etc.), Stereo Equipment (no wood), Landline Telephones, Televisions, Typewriters, Video Game Consoles, Video Recorders/Players (no VHS tapes) and Zip Drives.

What's NOT Accepted: Dehumidifiers, Humidifiers, Air Conditioners, Vacuum Cleaners, Refrigerators and other large home appliances.

Who's included?

Residents of:

• Arlington Heights
• Barrington
• Buffalo Grove
• Elk Grove Village
• Evanston
• Glencoe
• Glenview
• Hoffman Estates
• Inverness
• Kenilworth
• Lincolnwood
• Morton Grove
• Mount Prospect
• Niles
• Palatine
• Park Ridge
• Prospect Heights
• Rolling Meadows
• Skokie
• South Barrington
• Wheeling
• Wilmette
• Winnetka

» via The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC)