Free book recycling and document destruction event to be June 6-8

     JOLIET – The 15th annual Will County book recycling and document destruction event will be held June 6-8.

     The three-day event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, June 6- 8, at Joliet Park District’s Pilcher Park Nature Center, 2501 Highland Park Drive. It is co-sponsored by the Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division and the Joliet Park District.

    Schools, libraries and individuals may bring unused and unwanted books for reuse and recycling.

     “Last year, about 55,000 books exchanged hands at the event,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “That means about 55,000 books were kept out of our landfill.”

      All types of hardcover and paperback books will be accepted and shared for free to anyone in attendance.  Categories include fiction, non-fiction, children’s, romance, hobby, travel, health and living, religion, textbooks and cookbooks, Magazines will also be accepted.

      “Last year, many Will County students participated in this event by bringing children’s books to the annual Earth Flag Ceremony,” said Tim Anderson, Senior Waste Analyst. “The Earth Flag Ceremony, hosted by the Resource Recovery and Energy Division, recognizes schools in the Will County Region for their recycling efforts. This participation by the students brought in well over 5,000 books to the start of the event last year.”
     The event has a dual purpose, Anderson said. “Instead of going into landfills, these books are redistributed free of charge to promote literacy. Books that are not reused will be shipped for recycling at the end of the three-day event.  Our goal is to promote literacy and improve the environment through recycling.”

    In addition, document destruction will be offered. A secure drop-off container will be stored onsite for residents who wish to bring confidential documents for destruction.

     Documents will be shredded and recycled at Document Destruction Company in Chicago.  An Affidavit of Destruction is available upon request for residents.  Last year about 8,000 pounds of documents were destroyed, about twice the number of pounds shredded the year before.

     The Land Use Department is led by Director Curt Paddock and is under the County Executive’s office.

    For additional information about Resource Recovery and Energy Division projects, go to www.willcountygreen.com.