Local Recycling Resources
Recycling consists of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. In Glen Carbon we have the convenience of Single Stream recycling. Single Stream recycling is the collection of mixed materials (glass, plastic, paper, metals) which are then taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) which is a specialized plant that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers. Your discards are then used to create new products, but with less resources and energy than would otherwise be required.
Recycling benefits our community and the environment. It
Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators; Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals; Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials; Saves energy; Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change; Helps sustain the environment for future generations; Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.
For each ton of plastic recycled we save the equivalent of
The energy used by 2 people in 1 year. The amount of water used by 1 person over two months. Over 8 barrels of oil.
Enough plastic is produced in the United States each year to shrink wrap Texas. Enough plastic bottles are thrown away in the United States each year to circle the Earth four times.
Every pound of steel recycled saves 5,450 BTU’s of energy…
Enough to light a 60-watt bulb for over 26 hours. Recycling just one can saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours, and a TV for 2 hours.
Americans throw away enough aluminum every month to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. Americans throw out enough iron and steel to continuously supply all the auto makers in the entire nation.
Recycling one ton of paper would …
Save enough energy to power the average American home for 6 months. Save 7,000 gallons of water. Save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE). Save 17 mature trees. Save 2 barrels of oil. Save 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. Produce enough energy to power the average American home for 5 months.
Recycling Household Discards
Recycling with Single Stream recycling is very easy. Place all of your recyclables in the blue recycle cart with the light blue lid provided by Republic Services and place it out next to the curb on your designated recycling day.
Please do place in the cart: newspapers, inserts, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, paperback books, phone books, cardboard, clean pizza boxes, office and school papers (including colored paper), boxboard (cereal, cake & cracker boxes), brown paper grocery bags, aluminum cans & clean foil, tin /steel cans, glass bottles & jars and plastics #1-5 and 7 (lids removed and discarded). Look for the number in the recycle symbol on the bottom of the container.
Please do not place in the cart: plastic #6, diapers, cooking/motor oil, plastic grocery bags, or styrofoam packing materials.
In addition to curbside recycling, residents may also drop off recyclables at two local drop off stations provided by Madison County: one in the Home Depot parking lot at Troy Road and Goshen Road (this facility is 24 hours a day, Monday –Thursday); the second is recycling bin on M Street west of Schiller Avenue in Edwardsville. Small amounts of glass, plastics, and aluminum can be recycled at Target.
Newspapers, magazines, office paper, catalogs, junk mail and cardboard can be dropped off in the two bins at head of the driveway to St. Cecelia’s Church, 155 N. Main Street, Glen Carbon. Proceeds from the recycled materials benefits the parish.
Other Local Recycling Opportunities
Almost Any Type of Batteries Plus Bulbs Light Bulb
Batteries: Batteries Plus Bulbs Lead acid (Pb) Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Lithium Ion (Li Ion) Lithium Polymer (Li Poly)
CFL Bulbs Home Depot, Lowe’s, Batteries Plus Bulbs Wires, Cords, Gift Cards Best Buy
Ink Cartridges Best Buy, Office Depot, Target
MP3’s, Cell Phones Target
Plastic Bags Best Buy, Dierbergs, Lowe’s, Schnucks, Target, Walmart
Styrofoam UPS Store (17 Junction Drive, Glen Carbon) Packing Peanuts
Rechargeable Batteries Batteries Plus Bulbs, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s
Toner Cartridges Best Buy, Office Depot
Disposing of Medications
Medications whether prescribed or over the counter should never be disposed of in the trash or by flushing them down the toilet. Either way residual medications could eventually find their way into the water supply. Disposing of them is simple and easy. There is a secure drop box in the lobby of the Glen Carbon Public Safety Facility (Police Department) in back of the Village Hall that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is also a drop box your local Walgreens. All medications collected at these locations will be incinerated and safely disposed of.
Recycling Electronics
Effective January 1, 2012 a new law in the state of Illinois effectively banned most types of electronics being dumped at a landfill. The law established a statewide system for recycling and/or reusing computers, monitors, televisions, and printers discarded from residences by requiring electronic manufacturers to participate in the management of discarded and unwanted electronic products. There are several options available to Glen Carbon residents.
The Village of Glen Carbon sponsors several electronic recycling events during the year making easy for residents to drop off unwanted electronics at the Village hall. Notices of these events are posted in the Village Communicator, on the Village website ( www.glen-carbon.il.us ) and on monthly utility bills.
CJD E-Cycling, the vendor which handles the Village’s E-cycling days, now has a drop off facility in Edwardsville at 5257 N. St. Rt. 157, 618-659-9000. They accept most electronic devices and accessories for free, though there will be a fee for most monitors and TV’s. http://www.cjdecycling.com/ Another local resource is Best Buy in Edwardsville Crossing. In accordance with the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act, they accept almost all electronics and large appliances. Call the Edwardsville location at 659-9895 or visit www.bestbuy.com to learn more about how to recycle your electronics and large appliances here.
Additional Resources
Trash & Recycling Hauler for Glen Carbon http://www.republicservices.com/residents
EPA Hints for Reducing, Reusing, Recycling https://www.epa.gov/recycle
Extensive Guide to Recycling http://www.earth911.com/
Comprehensive List of Recycling Resources in Metro East http://www.co.madison.il.us/document_center/Planning_Development/MCoGS%20Recycling% 20Resources.%201.12.15.pdf
Another Source of Local Recycling Resources http://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades/recycling