Chicago Opens Chemical, Computer Recycling Facility

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced the opening of the city's only permanent Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility. The $3.8 million 24,000 square foot facility will accept computers for recycling and will allow for the safe disposal or recycling of household hazardous chemicals.

"We need to dispose of these household hazardous products responsibly and recycle, where possible, to ensure our City maintains a safe and clean environment," said Mayor Daley. "Rather than putting toxic paints out in the trash where they can burst and endanger our trash collectors and others, we encourage residents to bring these materials to this new facility.

"Rather than tossing a dead battery in the trash where it will go to a landfill and expose toxins to the city’s groundwater, recycle batteries at this facility or at a neighborhood Walgreen's or Chicago Public Library."

The facility accepts the following materials for recycling or safe disposal, including: antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, aerosol paints, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, cleaning products, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, mercury, fluorescent lamps and bulbs, computers and cell phones.

These materials are accepted during the facility's hours of operation: Tuesdays from

7 am - 12 pm, Thursdays from 2 pm - 7 pm, and the first Saturday of every month from 8am - 3pm.

People can also use the Paint Exchange Room to swap old paints with one another for free.

Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Computers for Schools, the City also developed an 11-week training program that will utilize the center to train ex-offenders in electronics recycling. Inmates at the Illinois Department of Corrections made the furniture in the training center.

"This program offers ex-offenders an opportunity to straighten out their lives by giving them hands-on experiences in computer repair, with the opportunity to lead to permanent jobs once their training is completed," said Mayor Daley.

Many of the electronics will be taken apart and recycled while newer computers will be refurbished through this program and made available to local schools, churches, non-profit groups and low-income families.

Recycling electronics such as computers and cell phones conserves energy and raw materials, reduces pollution, and also allows the metals and plastics to be used in other products. Electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing items of waste in the United States.

The facility has the capacity to divert up to 500 tons of obsolete and out of date electronics from area landfills, and expects to divert another 500 tons of discarded batteries.

Mayor Daley also explained that the new center is one of the City's most state-of-the-art environmentally friendly buildings.

"In addition to a green roof, the building features the first solar wall in the State of Illinois. This wall will absorb heat and reduce energy consumption," said Daley.

The building was also constructed from existing materials, recycles heat, and retains storm water.

The center was funded in partnership by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Clean Energy Fund, and the City of Chicago.