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When that energy-saving compact
fluorescent (CFL) bulb finally burns out or you’ve changed
the oil in your lawn tractor, what do you do with the waste?
EnerStar Electric Cooperative can help
you “be green” and clean up clutter with two recycling
resources. One is for disposing of that used up light
source, the other for used oil.
EnerStar is an authorized drop-off
center for used CFLs. Members may bring their used bulbs to
the office in Paris, Ill. located at 11597 Illinois Highway
1. In addition, the co-op partnered with the Paris Public
Library and the Marshall Public Library to offer this
recycling service to the community. Anyone can drop off
bulbs at either of the libraries. The service is available
free of charge.
The condition of the bulb is important.
Broken bulbs or long tubes are not accepted. The smaller
broken bulbs should be doubled bagged in a press-to-seal bag
and disposed of with regular trash.
“We are very pleased to offer this
service to the community,” said Angela Griffin, EnerStar’s
Manager of Member Services. “We have received a very good
response at all of the three locations.” Griffin added that
several containers of CFL bulbs have already been recycled.
The local electric cooperative also
accepts used oil from residential “do-it-yourselfers” at its
headquarters during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. However, if the size of the container is larger than 5
gallons, people are asked to call the office for an
appointment.
Before draining cars or machinery of
oil, be sure you have a suitable container on hand, one that
can be sealed and transported. Also, be sure that you do not
mix the oil with other liquids such as antifreeze, gasoline,
paint thinner, brake fluid or water.
Mike Clark, EnerStar’s Manager of
Operations, says the used oil is a type of renewable energy
for the cooperative. The cooperative takes in about 700 to
800 gallons a year. It in turn is burned at the EnerStar
headquarters to heat a shop and a truck garage, one where
the diesel trucks are stored.
“It’s a win-win situation for the
community,” said Clark. “It allows those who change their
own oil to recycle it properly, and EnerStar can use the oil
to save money on heating costs, thereby reducing operating
costs.”
For additional information on the
recycling programs contact EnerStar at 217-463-4145 or
800-635-4145. Clark can be reached at extension 616
regarding oil recycling and Griffin can be reached at
extension 603 regarding CFL recycling.
EnerStar Electric Cooperative is a
member of Touchstone Energy — an alliance of more than 685
local, consumer-owned electric utilities around the country.
EnerStar is committed to providing superior service based on
four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation
and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than
5,334 members over 1,520 miles of line in parts of Clark,
Coles, Douglas, Edgar and Vermilion counties. For more
information visit
www.enerstar.com. |
