The city of Aurora has announced the first four dates in 2015 at which old and unwanted electronics can be dropped off for recycling.

This year’s first four collection events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 31 and Feb. 28 at the city’s Customer Service Center, 3770 McCoy Drive; and Feb. 14 and March 14 at Aurora’s Central Garage, 720 N. Broadway Avenue (Route 25). Additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

The recycling opportunities are nice compliments to the super-popular monthly recycling events, quarterly document-shredding events and once-a-year recycling extravaganza hosted by Kane County Recycles and held on the second Saturday of each month at 540 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. The next events are Feb. 14 and March 14.

More than 223 tons of electronics were collected at the Aurora drop-off events in 2014. That is more than the equivalent weight of a 747 jet airplane.

At the Aurora event, eligible electronics that will be collected include monitors, computers (both PCs and Macs), laptops, televisions, printers, fax machines, scanners, computer accessories (mouses, keyboards and modems), video game consoles, telephones, answering machines, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, cameras, camcorders, servers and networking equipment, DVD players, stereos, and VCRs. Microwaves are the only kitchen appliances accepted for recycling.

Large appliances such as air conditioners, stoves, refrigerators, freezers; smaller appliances including toasters and coffee makers; and household hazardous waste materials are not accepted.

Vintage Tech Recyclers, the city’s vendor, continues to offer front-door collection service to Aurora residents by appointment only. The list of eligible electronics remains the same, but a maximum of 10 items – with at least one item being a television, computer or printer – will be accepted per pickup.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling 630-305-0922 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents will need to provide their names, addresses and phone numbers along with item count for collection.  All electronics should be placed at the front door before 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.

The home electronics recycling collection is available for those who have front doors at ground level.  The service is not available to second floor or higher units.  For more information, visit www.vintagetechrecyclers.com. A $25 pickup fee is charged for the service.

The city of Aurora began providing free electronics recycling to residents in 2010 and expanded the program year-round in 2012 when a state law took effect barring electronics from being disposed of in landfills.

For more information on city of Aurora collection events, call the Customer Service Center at 630-256-INFO.

SOURCE: city of Aurora press release