If You Recycle It, They Will Come

Old printers were stacked neatly on a pallet and wrapped in plastic, waiting for the forklift to place them into the trailer. Another pallet held CPUs; yet another, stereo components.

"Every bit of it will be recycled," said Ed Young. "Every bit. We sort out the better-quality items that might be refurbished, and they are then donated to local schools."

Sat., Oct. 15 was the third year for the city-sponsored recycling event. The southeast corner of parking lot was set up for the event with orange cones to direct traffic.

Volunteer Ann Finklang met me at the entrance when I pulled in with my load of old computer equipment, and she directed me to the proper drop-off. A second drop-off area handled lawn equipment and appliances.

The event was manned by members of the and the Lake Saint Louis Green Environmental Advisory Committee and by Web Innovations and Technology Services (W.I.T.S.) staffers.

Alderman John Pellerito volunteered at the event. He told the board of aldermen Monday night that 270 cars went through the drop-off and the volunteers filled two and a quarter semi trailers with recyclables. The event the previous year filled three trailers, Pellerito said, possibly due to the large number of televisions dropped off last year because of the change to digital broadcasting.

The G.E.A.C. is also moving ahead with the placement of new blue recycling bins in various locations around Lake Saint Louis. "They'll be in the parks, C.A. properties, and some businesses," Young said.

In 2011, even more services will be offered at the annual event. Pellerito announced to the board of aldermen Monday night that next year's recycling event would include paper shredding.

The most unusual item to be dropped off in the event's history? "Last year we had a big Lowery piano," Young said. "That thing was heavy. It must have weighed 800 pounds."

It's good to know that's 800 pounds of piano that won't be sitting in the bottom of a landfill.