The fall Residential Electronics Collection Event was held the morning of October 14, 2017, at Parkland College. The event was co-sponsored by the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, Village of Savoy, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, and Champaign County Probation and Court Services. The sponsors contracted with A-Team Recyclers to process and recycle the electronics collected.
An online registration system was once again utilized and residents residing in participating communities could register for a 15-minute drop off window. A total of 1,328 time slots were available (83 per 15-minute time slot). After pre-event cancellations, approximately 1,296 residents remained registered. On the day of the event, an estimated 1,100 residents showed up to drop off their unwanted electronics.
Registrants could bring a total of ten electronic items, with a two TV limit. Approximately 166,185 pounds (or 83 tons!) of unwanted electronic items were collected at the fall event; approximately 62% of those pounds came from unwanted TVs. Approximately 125 fewer residents attended the spring event on May 20, 2017, and approximately 125, 329 pounds (or 63 tons) were collected at that event. TVs accounted for 68% of the material collected at the spring event.
These collection events are a great no-cost opportunity for residents to get rid of old TVs of all shapes and sizes. Best Buy is currently the only available local option for residents to recycle CRT (cathode ray tube) TVs, and they charge a $25 fee. Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts only flat panel TVs, working and non-working, for free. There are local year-round recycling options for most other electronics. Visit the City’s recycling webpage for more information. It is anticipated another collection event will be held in Spring 2018.
For more information about recycling, visit our recycling page.