If you haven’t done so already, consider dropping off your old electronic devices at one of Kane County’s three newly resurrected recycling drop-off locations.

Apparently, residents really like the convenience and the service.

The new drop-off locations in Batavia, South Elgin and West Dundee just opened in September, but end-of-the-year stats show that 2,334 Kane County residents dropped off more than 160,000 pounds of electronics in less than three months.

Batavia Leads the League

After the temporary, mid-year suspension of the electronics recycling program, the Fabyan Parkway site opened on Sept. 12, the South Elgin Public Works site opened on Sept. 19, and the former West Dundee Public Works site opened on Sept. 26.

The site on Fabyan Parkway in Batavia has seen the most traffic. While the drop-offs located at public works facilities in partnership with the villages of South Elgin and West Dundee were a bit slow on the get-go, numbers have begun to increase as word has spread that there are convenient daily drop-off locations for the residents of Kane County to use.

Batavia residents are also led the league in drop offs in 2016.

Top 10 Towns Using Drop Offs

• Batavia — 398
• Aurora — 313
• Geneva — 270
• Elgin — 258
• South Elgin — 210
• St Charles —181
• West Dundee — 163
• Montgomery — 105
• Elburn — 69
• Sleepy Hollow/ North Aurora — 59

What’s New and Different

Obviously, the big change between the old electronics recycling program and the new one is the cost of recycling television sets and computer monitors.

The fee to recycle a TV or computer monitor is $25 for anything with a screen that measures under 21 inches diagonally. The cost is $35 to recycle units with screens measuring 21 inches or more diagonally.

You can pay onsite with cash or card, or you can pay online in advance at countyofkane.org/Recycling. The fee goes directly to the county’s contracted electronics recycler, eWorks, a non-profit whose main mission is to employ developmentally disabled individuals.

All other acceptable electronic items can be dropped off for free.

Kane County Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Jarland said another big difference is the level of service. From her personal observation and the comments she’s received from residents, Jarland says the quality of the eWorks service has been outstanding.

“The sites are now staffed, so you have someone there to unload your equipment for you,” she said.

Where to Go to Recycle Electronics

Kane County has a special, winter recycling event scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Kane County Branch Court, 540 S. Randall in St. Charles.

But don’t let that stop you from using the new electronics recycling center before, during or after the event. Here’s where to go:

Fabyan Parkway, Batavia

• Address: 517 Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, IL 60510 (former jail site)
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
• SEE MAP

South Elgin Public Works

• Address: 735 Martin Drive, South Elgin, IL 60177 (Old Public Works Department)
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
• SEE MAP

West Dundee Public Works

• Address: 900 Angle Tarn, West Dundee, IL 60118
• Hours:  7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Note that these hours are an hour earlier than other sites.)
• SEE MAP​​ 

Read More

• West Dundee Opens Electronics Recycling Site — All 3 Kane Drop-Offs Up and Running
• South Elgin Electronics Recycling Open; Monthly Recycling Event Is Saturday!
• Kane County Electronics Recycling Redux Off to a Great Start