This year’s Residential Electronics and Recycling Extravaganza is May 20 from 8 a.m. to noon at the McHenry County Administration Building (north parking lot) located at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock.

For close to 15 years, the McHenry County Department of Health has encouraged recycling.

This year’s Residential Electronics and Recycling Extravaganza is May 20 from 8 a.m. to noon at the McHenry County Administration Building (north parking lot) located at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock.

MCDH partnered with Solid Waste Management and several businesses and community organizations to collect and recycle residential electronics and a vast number of other recyclable materials.

Harvard Lions Club takes used eyeglasses. Volunteers at the Lions Clubs clean, sort by prescription strength

For a complete list of items accepted at the Extravaganza, visit www.mcdh.info.

and package the glasses. Most of the recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact.

Latex paint is recyclable, but not oil-based paint, which is household hazardous material. The Extravaganza will not collect spray or aerosol paint products, varnish or water sealant products, solvents or chemicals, driveway sealer or roofing products. This recycling event is for residential items only.

Earth Paints Collection Systems recycles Latex paint. Latex paint must be in sealed, leak-proof containers. Smaller containers of latex paints may be combined into larger containers before drop-off. Recycling paint is a safe,

clean, cost-effective solution to unwanted paint and their containers. Besides recycling the paint inside the containers, Earth Paints helps repurpose or recycle the cans, lids, and labeling.

Accurate Document Destruction provides onsite shredding of documents, which is then recycled. No one needs to worry about exposing sensitive documents. Residents may bring documents with staples, paperclips, small spiral bindings, file folders with small metal pieces, and cellophane envelope windows. ADD asks that residents remove all binder clips, three-ring plastic binders and any larger metal pieces. Periodicals, magazines, or other paper that does not contain sensitive or confidential information should be recycled in your regular curbside recycling service.

Home of Sparrow takes used clothing in good condition. They also accept lightly stained or torn clothing. The clothing brought to the Extravaganza goes to their resale stores. All donations and sales support assisting victims of domestic violence.

Even stained or ragged clothing can be recycled. Chicago Textile Recycling takes damaged clothing and recycles it into wiping rags. Clothing and textiles not suitable for wiping purposes get processed back into fibers that are then remanufactured into paper, yarn, insulation, carpet padding, sound proofing, etc.

Battery Solutions teams up with MCDA to recycle alkaline batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, button cell, 9-volt only. Please attach button cell batteries to clear tape. Rechargeable batteries, no more than 11 pounds each, are also recyclable.

Ken Santowski with Chicago Logistics Service helps transport the recyclables to the proper recycling sites.

A few of the other items that may be recycled at the Extravaganza are:

* Residential electronics including televisions, computers, VCRs, video game consoles, printers (limited to ten devices per participant);

* Fluorescent lamps and CFLs (Fees range from 50 cents to $3.00.)

* Styrofoam, packing peanuts and bubble wrap.

The Extravaganza is for residential recycling. No commercial or business waste accepted.

Volunteers from Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and MCDH organize the event and rally more than 100 volunteers for traffic control and unloading.

EDMHC publishes the McHenry County Green Guide, which includes sites for recycling events and drop-offs.

New in the 2017 Green Guide are sites that accept old tires and Styrofoam. EDMHC offers “green tips” throughout the Guide, for example, “Did you know that both Algonquin Township and McHenry Township give away free paint?”

For a complete list of items accepted at the Extravaganza, visit www.mcdh.info or contact Kristy Hecke, Solid Waste Manager at (815) 334-4585 or email KLHecke@co.mchenry.il.us.