Where in Coles County can I recycle...

Aluminum cans ~ the Coles County Senior Center collects aluminum cans for a money-raising project. The collection point is located at the entrance to the Rotary Swimming Pool off 18th Street, Charleston. If you wish to be paid, the facility is attended Saturday morning 9-12; otherwise, you can throw the cans over the chain link fence at any time.

Another group which uses cans as a fundraiser is the Boy Scouts of America, Charleston troops 41 and 141. Contact Scoutmaster Keith Kohanzo 348-5860.

Cans can also be put in the drop box on Adkins Drive off Rte 130 N by the water tower.

Motor oil and tires ~ Neal Tire at Madison and 5th Streets will take used motor oil for no charge and car tires for $2.50 each. Larger tires, such as tractor tires, cost more. Also Midas Muffler in both Mattoon and Charleston will accept motor oil.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs ~ Home Depot - no charge They will also take tube fluouescent bulbs and incandescent bulbs.

Computer ink cartridges ~ Staples - no charge

Household and car batteries ~ The eRecycling site, 777 Windsor Drive, Charleston off Route 316 near the new Post Office annex. Open 7:30-9:30 am Mondays. Home Depot will take batteries also. The eRecycling will also take CFLs.

Bubble wrap and packing peanuts ~ EZ Parcel, 1312 Broadway, Mattoon

Prescription pill bottles ~ Remove the label. Word has it that veterinarians are happy to use them for their 4-legged patients.

Old athletic shoes
This note from Stan Adkins: Old athletic shoes of ALL BRANDS can be recycled by donating them to one of our Charleston Unit #1 schools. I started last year and will continue this year transporting all athletic shoes collected by our students to the Nike store in Tuscola. They ship them to Oregon to be ground up and reused in community programs through Nike's LET ME PLAY PROGRAM.
The Nike Grind and Let Me Play Program plus other interesting tidbits can be read at the following website:
http://www.nikeresueashoe.com/
This would be another item kept out of landfills through a positive reuse program.
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And a PS from Bob Whittenbarger:
If the tennis shoes still have a lot of useful life left in them, you can drop them at the Newman Catholic Center on Roosevelt St. and they will be shipped to Haiti.

Electronics eRecycling Collection Site

ELECTRONICS eRECYCLING COLLECTION SITE NOW OPEN ON MONDAYS AND SATURDAYS FROM 7:30 A.M. TO 9:30 A.M.

LOCATION: 777 WINDSOR DRIVE, CHARLESTON, IL (north of the Fairgrounds off Rte. 316

IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL OR BATTERY-OPERATED DEVICE, WE WILL RECYCLE IT !
NO WHITE GOODS—refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, or air conditioners.

We accept your old computer equipment, copiers, faxes, phones, answering machines, batteries, entertainment systems, radios, cameras, radios, stereos, typewriters, clocks, compact fluorescent bulbs (not tube lights at this time) and other related items.

Disposal Fees ONLY on the following:

Microwaves - $5
Monitors - $5 ($20 if broken tube)
TVs - $10 for up to 15” ($25 if broken tube)
TVs - $15 for up to 27” ($30 if broken tube)
TVs - $25 for over 27” ($40 if broken tube)

Sponsored by: Lincoln Heritage Resource Conservation & Development Council NFP, Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and good neighbors like you!Residents and Businesses are welcome.

For more information call: Lincoln Heritage RC&D at 217/345-3901 ext. 4

Helpful websites:

electronics recyclingEcologue: Green Living Made Easy, Eco-friendly ideas and products ...Live a green lifestyle today with easy eco-friendly ideas for green building and home decor, organic lawn care and gardening and energy-efficient products.

Facts about batteries
http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/pdf/facts-battery.pdf

A Guide to Non-Toxic Alternatives For Toxic Household Cleaners
http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/pdf/facts-ourhome.pdf