(LOVES PARK, IL)—Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful encourages area residents to clean out their garages, basements and storage sheds this fall and bring any old electronics, appliances and scrap metal to its Metals and Electronics Drive.  “We are again pleased to offer this service to the community as a way to properly dispose of metal and electronic items,” said Lori Gummow, executive director of Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.   “As our technology continues to advance, the amount of e-waste has increased substantially.   In 2007, according to the EPA, over 48 million computer products were recycled, however, over 157 million ended up in landfills. We are working to increase the number that is recycled by making it an easy process,” Gummow continued.

The Fall Metals and Electronics Drive will be held on Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Machesney Park Mall in the south parking lot near the JCPenney Outlet.  Televisions are no longer accepted.  Items accepted at no charge include: snow blowers and lawn mowers (please remove gas and oil), metal shovels, washers, dryers, microwaves, toaster ovens, stoves, computers, stereos, metal file cabinets and desks, metal shelving, copy machines, bikes, fencing,  patio furniture, aluminum siding, scrap metal, car batteries, cell phones, DVDs and electronic gadgets.  Virtually all metal items will be accepted. 

Items accepted for a $10 fee each include refrigerators, freezers, computer monitors, propane tanks and air conditioners.  This fee covers the cost of decanting and tagging these items for proper EPA disposal.

The sponsors for the Metals and Electronics Drive include Rubloff Development, Behr Iron & Steel, Inc., Riverside Community Bank and WTVO Channel 17/FOX 39.

            For more information or to volunteer, please visit www.knib.org or call Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful at (815) 637-1343.