Grants Will Expand Electronics and Traditional Recycling Efforts in Will, Grundy, Kankakee and Kendall Counties
CHICAGO – In his continued efforts to promote environmentally-friendly ways to expand the Illinois economy, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced $410,000 in funding from the Illinois Recycling Grant Program (IRGP) to seven programs in Will, Grundy, Kankakee and Kendall counties that will increase recycling opportunities in communities across the region and create eleven new jobs. These recycling grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and come as a part of Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich’s pro-active, regional economic development strategy designed to create even more jobs and spur continued growth across the region.
“By encouraging more recycling, communities and businesses throughout the region are improving both our environment and our economy. These grants will go a long way in expanding the recycling industry across Northeast Illinois, so it is even easier for more people to become a part of this important process. By supporting these kinds of innovative programs that are recycling everything from cans to computers, we are lessening the demand on our landfills and creating more jobs for our working families,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
Will County is receiving a $51,533 recycling grant to expand an existing government office recycling program to include additional county facilities and buildings. The effort, to be overseen by the Waste Services Division of the Land Use Department, will address the unique nature of the different departments that constitute County government. Grant funds will be used to purchase recycling collection containers and a baler. This project expects to divert an additional 1,792 tons of recyclable commodities annually. (Contact: Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist – 815/774.4343).
Lewis University, in Romeoville, is receiving a $59,997 recycling grant. Grant funds will be used to purchase recycling collection containers and to help pay for project related promotion and education efforts. The goal of the expansion is to divert an additional 74 tons of recyclable commodities from Illinois landfills during the first year of the project. (Contact: Laura Kiran – 815/836.5297).
Cardinal Recycling, located in Morris, is receiving an $85,500 recycling grant to expand its existing processing capabilities. The company is relocating to a larger, 10,000 square foot facility and will be expanding its processing efforts to include additional types and volumes of recyclable commodities. The company also will establish a new recycling drop-off site at its new facility. Grant funds will purchase a baler and forklift and will also be used to make project necessary facility site improvements. This project is expected to divert an additional 3,000 tons of recyclable commodities annually and lead to the creation of at least two new jobs. (Contact: Michael Reinert, President – 630/688.6389).
The City of Kankakee is receiving a $34,283 electronics recycling grant to establish and operate two permanent collection sites at the City of Kankakee Department of Public Works and the Village of Bradley. These sites will serve area businesses, residents and schools located in the counties of Kankakee, Livingston, Vermilion and Ford. Grant funds will be used to purchase recycling collection containers, wheeled carts, pallet movers with scales, prefabricated shelters, security fencing, and video security equipment, as well as project-related promotion, education and site improvement costs. (Contact: Rich Schultz – 815/936.9209).
Monitex Illinois, LLC, located in Oswego, is receiving two electronic recycling grants totaling $120,000 to expand its Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) collection and processing capabilities, which is expected to create seven new jobs. A $60,000 grant will be used to help the company establish a permanent facility for the collection of CRTs, serving area residents and businesses throughout Illinois. Grant funds will be used to purchase a recycling collection vehicle, trailers and a forklift. This project is anticipated to divert 1,000 tons of electronics from Illinois landfills. A second $60,000 electronics recycling grant will help the company establish a processing facility to recycle monitors and extend the life of old, used and obsolete CRTs through reuse. Grant funds will be used to purchase a glass cutting machine, forklift, pallet jacks, compressor, baler, baler tools, and a shrink wrap machine. This project will allow the company to more efficiently process the volumes of material brought in by its collection efforts. (Contact: Todd Gibson – 817/701.1200).
The Village of Oswego is receiving a $3,568 electronics recycling grant to establish and operate a computer and electronic equipment collection site at the town’s public works facility. This site will serve area businesses, schools and residents. Grant funds will be used to purchase recycling collection containers, carts, a scale, heater, handi-mover, pallet truck, and storage shed. (Contact: Lisa Dicke – 630/554.3622).
Vintage Tech Recyclers, Inc., located in Plainfield, is receiving a $55,000 electronics recycling grant to expand its recycling collection capabilities. In addition to establishing a permanent drop-off site for area residents and businesses, the company will offer on-site collection of old, obsolete, and end-of-life electronic equipment from businesses and other organizations. Grant funds will help purchase a recycling collection vehicle, disk duplicator, a shrink wrapper, pallet scale, barcode scanning system, hard drive crusher, and assist with project-related promotion and education needs. This project is expected to annually divert 349 tons of electronic scrap and create two new full-time jobs. (Contact: Karrie Gibson – 815/609.7013).
The goal of the IGRP is to divert recyclable commodities from Illinois landfills and to expand and enhance the recycling collection and processing infrastructure in Illinois. Funded projects also can demonstrate public economic benefits, which includes job creation and retention, and assistance to economically distressed areas.
All entities, including private businesses, local governments and not-for-profit organizations, are eligible to apply for funding. Grants are awarded for traditional recycling projects involving paper, glass, metal and plastics, and also for electronics recycling, which focuses on the development and expansion of permanent collection and processing facilities that handle end-of-life electronics and computers.
“Investing in companies and communities that are creating more opportunities to recycle is an important way to help protect our environment while putting more people to work. My thanks to Gov. Blagojevich for his continued support behind these innovative recycling efforts,” said State Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete).
“Building our economy in a way that helps our environment can be accomplished by expanding the recycling industry throughout the region. Gov. Blagojevich and I will continue to support these efforts that are cleaning our communities and expanding our economy,” said State Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield).
“Recycling should be something every person and business in Illinois does every day. Through this grant program, Gov. Blagojevich and I are supporting important efforts to divert more recyclable products from our landfills, which is also helping to enhance the regional economy,” said State Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-Crest Hill).
“By enhancing recycling efforts in Kankakee and across the state we are creating a stronger system in Illinois that is improving the economy and the environment. I commend Gov. Blagojevich for his continued support of this important program,” said State Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee).
“I am pleased Gov. Blagojevich understands that economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand. Recycling is a vital way to divert more waste from our landfills and, through this support, we will keep expanding these efforts, which are making a positive impact on the regional economy,” State Rep. Careen Gordon (D-Coal City) said.
“I appreciate the Governor’s efforts in helping to secure this new funding, which should be a boost to the Joliet region,” State Rep. Jack McGuire (D-Joliet) said. “I am hopeful that this program will stimulate our economy by creating more jobs and provide a way to reduce the production of waste throughout Illinois.”
“Gov. Blagojevich understands that strategically investing in recycling is both an environmentally and economically sound decision. This is helping to turn what could have become trash into a reusable commodity that is spurring private investment and putting more and more people to work. These types of progressive partnerships are what Opportunity Returns is all about,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.