Normal withdraws recycling agreement

Residents can drop of electronics for recycling at the Normal Public Works Department. (Photo courtesy Flickr/JoshuaKopel)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Town of Normal has withdrawn a proposed intergovernmental agreement to share the cost of electronics recycling.

The agreement would have been between the town, Bloomington, and McLean County. Normal City Manager Mark Peterson said the agreement essentially became unnecessary.

"We found out a couple of weeks ago that our recycling contractor had obtained manufacturing contracts that would allow them to handle out e-waste recycling, I'm talking specifically CRT's, televisions, and monitors," said Peterson. "It would allow them to process those for free for the rest of our contract period that goes to October."

The agreement had already been approved by Normal. Bloomington and McLean County had yet to take a vote. Rather than taking more time to modify the agreement, Peterson thought it would be better to withdraw the agreement for now.

"We left it that the three entities would meet again, probably in August, as that contract gets closer to expiration and take a look at our options at that time," he said.

The intergovernmental agreement might be revisited if the contractor is not able to continue processing the electronics for free.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…