Announces Nearly $800,000 in Grants to Launch Electronics Recycling Program and to Support Traditional Recycling Efforts to Grow Industry and Create New Jobs
CHICAGO – As part of a continuing effort to promote environmentally-friendly ways of growing the Chicagoland area economy, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced approximately $800,000 in Opportunity Returns grants that will fund a number of businesses and organizations who are expanding electronics recycling and reuse opportunities, as well as other recycling efforts throughout the region. These recycling grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and come as a part of Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich's pro-active, regional economic development strategy designed to create jobs and spur growth in Northeast Illinois.
“Investing in companies that are expanding the computer and electronics recycling industry in the Chicagoland area is a savvy way to help protect our environment while growing the local economy. By supporting these kinds of innovative programs that are recycling everything from cell phones to computers, we can reduce the demand on our landfills and create more jobs for our working families,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
Beyond the environmental and job creation benefits that these projects produce, a number of grantees will refurbish computers and provide them to community groups and disadvantaged individuals. This will ultimately lead to additional public economic benefits and quality-of-life enhancements for people throughout Illinois.
These Opportunity Returns grants follow Gov. Blagojevich’s signing of an important legislative initiative aimed at addressing the growing problem of disposing of electronic equipment. Last month, Gov. Blagojevich signed House Bill 1149 into law, which amends the Illinois Environmental Protection Act by creating the Computer Equipment Disposal and Recycling Commission. The commission is charged with studying and making recommendations related to the disposal and recycling of computer equipment in Illinois. One of the topics that is likely to be considered is the banning of old, obsolete, unwanted and end-of-life computers from Illinois landfills. If a ban were to be implemented, electronics recyclers would play a vital role in providing an alternative option to disposal.
“As more and more people purchase their second and third generation of computers and cell phones, electronics is becoming one of the fastest growing segments of the solid waste stream. Gov. Blagojevich and I believed we needed to come up with a strategy to divert these harmful products from our landfills, and this legislation will help accomplish that in a way that will also make a positive impact on our local economy,” said State Senator John Millner (R-Carol Stream), chief sponsor of House Bill 1149.
“Electronics recycling, reuse and refurbishing is a fledgling industry that promises significant growth and job creation over the coming years. By putting this legislation into effect, Gov. Blagojevich and I believe we are supporting the growth of an industry that offers a tremendous benefit to our environment, as well as our local economy,” said State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest).
“As the tremendous volume of material that we recycle in Illinois each year indicates, people will act as good stewards of the environment if they are provided with a practical means of doing it. By passing this legislation, we’re paving the way for the widespread expansion of electronic recycling, and that’s good news for our health and well-being of our environment, as well as our local economy,” said State Rep. Marlow Colvin (D-Chicago).
“Gov. Blagojevich and I believe the time has come to expand recycling efforts to divert more products from our waste stream that really make a detrimental impact on our environment. Passing this legislation is part of a grassroots effort to make it easier for people to recycle household electronics appliances and be responsible stewards of our environment,” said State Rep. Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst).
The following grants come from a newly established Electronics Recycling Program. The grant program focuses on the development and expansion of permanent collection and processing facilities that handle end-of-life computers and other electronics. Nearly $450,000 is being awarded to organizations in Northeast Illinois.
Classic Computer Recovery, located in Gurnee, has been awarded a $75,000 grant to establish a permanent collection site to collect, process and recycle electronics from residents and businesses. For additional information please contact: Linda McFarland - 847-855-2743
Gallagher Businesses, Inc. operates the franchised business “Cartridge World” in Chicago. The company has been selected to receive a $29,000 grant to expand its retail business operation (refilling printer cartridges) to include accepting old, outdated and obsolete electronic equipment for recycling. In addition to modifying its current location to accommodate the storage of electronic equipment, Gallagher Businesses, Inc. plans to develop a new “Cartridge World” location in the North Chicago area. For additional information please contact: Chris Gallagher - 312-399-5299
Intercon Solutions, Inc., located in Chicago, has been awarded a $75,000 grant to enhance their electronics equipment recycling processing capacity. Specifically, this grant will allow the company to upgrade and enhance security of its facility, thus allaying concerns of potential customers that the safeguarding of sensitive information contained on old, obsolete and end-of-life electronics equipment might not be adequate. For additional information please contact: Brian Brundage - 708-756-9838
MRK Group LTD, located in Elgin, has received a $66,345 grant to enhance its processing capacity to recycle old, obsolete and end-of-life electronic equipment. MRK Group, LTD will de-manufacture electronic equipment to recover components for reuse in refurbishing computer systems and for resale on secondary markets. For additional information please contact: Russ Ruffolo - 847-468-1700
PC Rebuilders, located in Chicago, partners with the not-for-profit organization Computers for Schools, to distribute refurbished computers to schools, libraries, teachers and not-for-profit service organizations. The firm has been selected to receive a $75,000 grant to expand and enhance its computer de-manufacturing and refurbishing capabilities. For additional information please contact: Michelle Pennington - 773-583-7575
The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago is a not-for-profit organization that serves children and adults with severe disabilities. This group has been awarded a $58,686 grant to enhance and expand its Assistive Technology Exchange Network (ATEN). ATEN solicits and receives old, outdated and unwanted computer systems and related products from corporations, businesses and individuals. These systems are then refurbished and provided to students with disabilities. For additional information please contact: Paul J. Dulle - 312-368-0380
United Recycling Industries, Inc., located in West Chicago, is one of the largest electronics recyclers in the state. The firm has been selected to receive a $67,762 grant to establish and service a minimum of ten permanent collection sites in Chicago-area communities. For additional information please contact: Robert Glavin - 630-231-6060
“Gov. Blagojevich understands that investing in electronics recycling is both an environmentally and economically sound decision. This program is helping to turn what could have been our trash into reusable commodities that are spurring private investment and putting more and more people to work. These types of progressive partnerships are what Opportunity Returns is all about,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
Recycling has grown into a vibrant industry in Illinois with more than 1,300 collection and processing entities, employing approximately 23,000 individuals, generating an annual payroll of $703 million, with annual receipts of $2.1 billion.
As a driver of economic activity, the recycling industry compares favorably to other key industries, such as automobile manufacturing and mining. Especially significant is the finding that recycling far outpaces the waste management industry because recycling adds value to materials, contributing to a growing labor force. Recycling also provides a large number of jobs that generally pay above the average national wage.
Nearly $340,000 in grants to support traditional recycling projects involving paper, glass, metal and plastics have also been awarded:
The Department of General Services, City of Chicago will receive a $50,000 grant in order to expand office recycling to an additional 160 facilities, including police and fire stations. The funds will be used to purchase various types of recycling collection containers. For additional information please contact: Sterling Fields - 312-742-1965
LaFruteria Recycling of Chicago has received a $38,950 grant to develop and implement recycling opportunities for businesses and citizens located in South Chicago, South Deering, East Side, Hegewisch, Village of Burnham, Calumet City and Lansing. LaFruteria Recycling will develop and service a drop-off recycling site and will also offer recycling collection services to commercial establishments. As the target area of this project has a large Hispanic population, recycling efforts will be supported by a multilingual promotion and education campaign. This project is expected to divert additional recyclable commodities from Illinois landfills. For additional information please contact: Antonio Macias - 773-410-3410
Loop Paper Recycling, Inc. of Chicago has been selected to receive a $50,000 grant to help it develop a document destruction, shredding and recycling service with mobile capabilities. This project will allow it to expand by diversifying the services offered to its current and potential new customers. Companies and organizations that need to manage sensitive information (e.g., medical information) will be targeted for participation in the program. The project is anticipated to annually divert an additional 4,000 tons of recyclables from being landfilled. For additional information please contact: Wally Cotton - 312-942-0042
National Waste Service, Inc. of Chicago has been awarded a $50,000 grant to work with various partners to implement recycling opportunities at major special events that are held in Chicago (including the Taste of Chicago, the Jazz Fest and the Air and Water Show). Further, a portion of the grant funds will be used to expand recycling collection efforts at the AON building where approximately 10,000 people work. This project is anticipated to annually divert an additional 778 tons of recyclable materials from being landfilled. For additional information please contact: Kevin Kruis - 773-579-3600
The Village of Algonquin has been selected to receive a $50,000 grant to implement a single-stream recycling collection program for residents. The single-stream system to be implemented will allow residents to commingle all their recyclables in one container. This project is anticipated to divert an additional 295 tons of recyclable commodities from being landfilled. For additional information please contact: Jenna Kollings - 847-658-2700
Ecology Inc. (d.b.a. St. Charles Scrap), located in West Chicago, has been provided a $100,000 grant to expand its recycling processing capabilities. Grant funds will assist with the purchase of a baler system that will be dedicated to plastics recycling, a material that the company does not currently process. This project is expected to expand recycling opportunities for communities, waste haulers and individual businesses in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. The project is expected to capture an additional 3250 tons of materials. For additional information please contact: Barry Segal - 630-377-0008
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.