DeKalb County recycles half-million pounds of electronics

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) - DeKalb County communities recycled more than a half-million pounds of computers, TVs and other electronics since it hired a new company to handle "e-waste" a year ago.

Officials say New Life Electronics Recycled in Oswego provided statistics unavailable from a previous contractor.

The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1M9dQFE ) that the company rotates pickup sites among DeKalb, Genoa (JEHN'-oh-wuh), Sandwich, Sycamore and Waterman.

DeKalb collected the largest amount - more than 234,000 pounds - and saw a jump in junked TVs after the new year.

Mark Espy is DeKalb's assistant director of public works. He says post-Christmas disposals usually have a lot of televisions.

New Life president Matt Gatz says hardware from the recycled items is salvaged, leaving a bounty of "precious matters" such as plastic, copper, aluminum, glass and lead.

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Information from: The Daily Chronicle, http://www.daily-chronicle.com