truckload,” according to its website. Its clients include industrial or commercial customers doing inventory write-downs or plant reconfiguring, environmentally conscious homeowners who are remodeling or replacing appliances, or full-time scrappers, “the classic Chicago alley metal collectors who provide an invaluable service to our communities and municipalities. “These hard-working folks prevent tons of recyclable material from filling our landfills. We treat the full-time scrapper with the friendliness and professionalism they deserve with minimal waiting, while paying top prices for their collected materials.” JayBen Scrap Metal West, 2910 W. Carroll, Chicago; 7 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon Sunday. JayBen Scrap Metal South, 6301 S. Bell Ave., 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MondayFriday, 7 a.m. -2 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.noon Sunday; Chicago Scrap Iron and Metal North, 4555 W. Grand Ave.; 7-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 773.533.4200; jbscrapmetal.com. JayBen accepts aluminum (even pots and pans), aluminum cans and rims, brass, cell phones, computers, copper, die cast, electric motors, electronics, laptops, lead, nickel, precious metals, stainless steel, steel, steel case batteries and zinc, even scrap from home renovations. JLG Recycling, 3252 W. 31st St., Chicago; 773.321.9734; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday. JLG takes aluminum and steel among a variety of scrap metals. Bring identification. South Chicago Iron and Metal, 1313 W. 74th St., Chicago; 733.488.1313; 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.1 p.m. Saturday; scimco.com. South Chicago’s website says it purchases scrap from the public with a technology that allows them to pay well and deter theft. The site accepts aluminum cans, wheels and siding; car batteries; copper wire and pipe; electric motors; appliances, radiators and catalytic converters, pots, pans.
car batteries. Even old cars (with title) are accepted at a rate of $200 per ton. The fluid is removed and pumped to a liquid storage facility. PAINT RECYCLING The City of Chicago’s Household Chemical & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. Branch St. accepts oil-based paint. However, it no longer accepts latex paint because of its high disposal cost and low environmental impact. 7 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, 2-7 p.m. Thursdays and 8 a.m.-3p.m. first Saturday of the month cityofchicago.org Regarding latex paint, both the City website and that of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency advise mixing kitty litter, sawdust or shredded paper into the can to absorb the remaining paint, then pouring it into a bag and throwing it away when dry. GotPaintPICKUP.com service to both homeowners and condo buildings with 9 a.m.-4 p.m. pickup on prearranged day. Rates are $2 for a one-quart can, $5 for a one-gallon can and $20 for a five-gallon bucket. Solid Waste Agency of Lake County accepts oil-based, but not latex, paint by appointment only on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. 1311 N. Estes St., Gurnee; 847.336.9340; swalco.org
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS Why should you recycle your expired or unused medications instead of flushing them down the toilet? The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) treats wastewater and provides stormwater management for Chicago and 128 suburban communities in Cook County. According to the MWRD’s Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, Allison Fore, “Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to process pharmaceutical waste. As a result, medications which pass through the system are released into area waterways and can harm aquatic life.” The MWRD has a blue Medsafe drug dropoff box in the lobby of its office building at 100 E. Erie St. (9 a.m.-6 p.m. M-F). If the box is locked, do not leave it outside; come back another time. Dropoff boxes are also available 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 7 days a week outside MWRD’s three water reclamation plants: Stickney WRP, 6000 W. Pershing Road, Cicero 708.588.3000; Calumet WRP, 400 E. 130th St, Chicago, 773.256.3500; and O’Brien WRP, 3500 Howard St., Skokie, 847.568.8223. Medications generally should be in their original packaging and containers when possible. Use a permanent marker to block out your name and
Center column from top: Abco Metals Co.; Central Metal Recycling; Aluminum cans at JayBen Scrap Metal West; JLG Recycling; South Chicago Iron and Metal. Right: Paint recycling.
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