JOLIET - The Will County Board today approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Romeoville to create a Pharmaceutical Take-Back program for residents. The partnership will provide residents with the ability to safely dispose of prescription and nonprescription drugs. A 2002 study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that drugs flushed down the drain often ended up in local waterways.
 
"Just like with electronics, we're finding out that drugs and medications can't simply be tossed down the drain or in a landfill," said Don Moran (D-Romeoville). "This partnership with Romeoville will give residents the ability to dispose of extra medications in a safe and easy way."
 
Romeoville's police department is authorized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to take back controlled substances. They will coordinate with Will County, which has special collection containers for unwanted medications from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), to host Pharmaceutical Take-Back events.
 
"I encourage all residents to keep an eye out for these events," said Beth Rice (D-Bolingbrook). "You can bring in old inhalers, over-the-counter meds, anything collecting dust in your cabinets."
 
Residents can bring in prescription and nonprescription medications;  medicated shampoos, soaps, and creams; inhalers and aerosol medications; and mercury thermometers. The partnership will continue for three years or until IEPA ceases funding for containers.

JOLIET--  Will County has struck another agreement on electronics recycling, this time with Channahon Township. Through an intergovernmental agreement between the county and Channahon, residents will now have the ability to recycle old computers, televisions, and other residential electronic products at Channahon events.
 
"Ensuring residents have the proper facilities to recycle electronics is critical," said Board Member Debbie Militello (R-Channahon). "I'm glad we could come to this agreement with Channahon. It also dovetails nicely with the electronics recycling agreement we finalized with Wilmington earlier this month."
 
As of 2012, electronic products were banned from landfills under the state's Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act. This includes items such as computers, monitors, televisions, keyboards, printers, fax machines, video game consoles, scanners, satellite receivers, electronic mice, and more. Instead, electronic products are required to be disposed of in specified sites.
 
"Increasing access to proper electronics recycling ensures residents can dispose of these items in an environmentally friendly and safe way," said Board Member Don Gould (R-Shorewood).
 
Channahon residents will be able to drop off electronics every first and third Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Families of Faith Ministries. The recycling center will accept residential electronics and take up to two televisions per household. Residents must show and ID.

​JOLIET--  Will County residents will soon have another spot to drop off old computers, televisions, and other electronic products thanks to an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the City of Wilmington. Under the agreement, Wilmington has agreed to host and maintain a collection site over two one-day collection events in 2017.
 
"Cell phones, televisions, laptops, you name it-- electronics are everywhere these days," said Board Member Don Gould (R-Shorewood). "It's important we dispose of these items in an environmentally friendly and safe way."
 
As of 2012, electronic products were banned from landfills under the state's Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act. This includes items such as computers, monitors, televisions, keyboards, printers, fax machines, video game consoles, scanners, satellite receivers, electronic mice, and more. Instead, electronic products are required to be disposed of in specified sites. The Wilmington recycling events will accept both electronic and traditional recyclables.
 
"The residents of Wilmington take pride in their city, and this program will help keep these products out of their ditches and off the side of the road," said Board Member Debbie Militello (R-Channahon). "I'm happy we could provide this service through the agreement between the county and Wilmington."