ELPC has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator, the independent non-profit rating agency. This 4-star “exceptional” rating means that ELPC’s fiscal management “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.” Only 12% of non-profits have attained this rating for three consecutive years. Click here for more details.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
AIA Honors ELPC for Leadership on Green Building Code
ELPC was honored to receive the President’s Award from the American Institute of Architects Illinois for extraordinary achievements in advancing livable communities. ELPC’s Al Grosboll, left, and Melville Nickerson, right, accepted the award on behalf of ELPC at AIA Illinois’ annual conference from AIA Illinois President Tim McGinn, AIA.
In particular, the award recognizes ELPC’s years of leadership and advocacy to establish Energy Efficient Building Codes for residential and commercial buildings in Illinois.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
U.S. Green Building Council Names ELPC a “Natural Leader”
In recognition of ELPC’s leadership on Illinois’ Energy Efficient Building Code and the Chicago Climate Action Plan, the Chicago Chapter of the US Green Building Council honored ELPC as a Natural Leader. ELPC’s Howard Learner and Jill Geiger, pictured center, accepted the award on behalf of ELPC from USGBC-Chicago Chapter Executive Director Doug Widener, left, and Board Chair Joseph Clair, right.
The “Intent to Matter” award was presented to ELPC at the Emerald Gala, USGBC’s annual celebration of the sustainable building movement, on May 16, 2009.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
Chicago Magazine Names ELPC’s Learner a Green Leader
In recognition of his work to make the planet ‘greener and better,’ Chicago Magazine honored ELPC President Howard Learner with a ‘Green Award’.
The April issue of Chicago Magazine included a profile of Howard that highlights some of ELPC’s successes, including bringing renewable energy and energy efficiency standards to Illinois, reducing mercury pollution in Illinois waters and working to bring high-speed rail to the Midwest.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Assembly passed the Electronic Products Recycling Bill (Senate Bill 107) that requires manufacturers to take responsibility for the growing problem of electronic waste.
ELPC helped create Illinois’ e-waste recycling bill and advised on policy and built support for Wisconsin’s legislation.
“Electronic waste is the fastest growing toxic segment of the solid waste stream, and this Wisconsin legislation is part of the solution,” said ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner. “This legislation helps solve our e-waste problems, creates jobs and makes recycling easier for residents. It’s a win-win-win for Wisconsin.”
You may know that recycling obsolete electronics conserves resources and keeps lead, mercury and other toxins out of our land and water. But it’s harder to know exactly where you can recycle those old electronic devices.
A new website, eWasteCalendar.com, collects information about electronic waste recycling opportunities nationwide so users will be able to find a easy, safe way to dispose of e-waste and share info about recycling events.
eWasteCalendar.com will be important as e-waste recycling legislation takes effect in Illinois and other states and the number of recycling options increases.
On June 12, television broadcasts in the U.S. switched from analog to digital. After the switch, older televisions require a digital converter to receive broadcasts.
This conversion could prompt millions of Americans to dispose of older television sets. Each television contains large amounts of toxins such as lead and mercury that can end up in our soil and groundwater if televisions aren’t recycled.
ELPC worked with the state of Illinois to enact one of the toughest e-waste recycling and reuse laws in the nation. When Illinois’ e-waste recycling law takes effect January 1, 2010, manufacturers will begin creating more options for consumers to recycle electronics at no cost.
Here are some important facts about the digital tv conversion:
1. If you use cable or satellite TV, you don’t need to change anything.
2. You don’t need to dispose of older analog TV’s, but you’ll need a digital tv converter box to recieve broadcasts. Find out how to get a converter box at www.dtv.gov
3. If you decide to replace your television, please take it to a responsible recycler. You can locate a recycler near you at this website. A list of TV recycling options in the City of Chicago is available here.
ELPC Staff Attorney Melville Nickerson was honored by Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry as leader in the environmental movement for his work in 2008 to draft and negotiate Illinois’ Electronics Recycling and Reuse Act. The Electronics Reuse and Recycling Act is the nation’s strongest e-waste recycling bill and will keep toxins out of landfills and create new green jobs in Illinois.
Mr. Nickerson will be featured in “Green Revolution” – an exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry that explores green technology and innovation and features African American leaders in the green movement. The exhibit is open through March 1, 2009.
Illinois passed new legislation today requiring electronics manufacturers to collect and recycle or reuse electronic waste (e-waste). Senate Bill 2313 is one of the most comprehensive pieces of e-waste recycling legislation in the nation. Sponsored by State Senator Susan Garrett and State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, the bill creates a system by which manufacturers will partner with recyclers, refurbishers, and others to ensure that home computers, laptops, monitors, televisions, and printers will be kept out of Illinois landfills. ELPC Policy Advocates Joe Shacter and Mel Nickerson have played lead roles in framing the e-waste policies, negotiating with a wide range of industry interests, and advocating effectively for enactment of this important legislation.
“E-waste recycling will be easy for people, create new jobs for our state’s economy, and reduce toxic pollution of our environment. It’s a real win-win-win for Illinois,” said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, which helped draft the legislation. “Illinois is now a national leader in solving the problem of e-waste, the fastest growing element of our country’s solid waste stream.”
ELPC Video
ELPC Advocate Mel Nickerson discusses the e-waste bill’s benefits to Illinois.
The Illinois Senate unanimously passed amendments to an Electronic Waste or E-Waste legislative bill today championed by ELPC. The passage today marks another significant accomplishment of the campaign to bring a market-based approach to recycling E-Waste to all Illinois residents. The Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act will require electronic manufacturers to set up a take back program for used electronics or to partner with local recyclers to offer residents more E-Waste recycling venues close to home.
Electronic waste, or E-Waste, includes TVs, computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment. It is the fastest growing part of the solid waste stream, and can pollute ground water if it leaks out of even the most well-run landfill. ELPC is proposing legislation in Illinois to create an E-Waste recycling program.
Check your knowledge of current environmental issues by listening to the annual Earth Day quiz on Chicago Public Radio’s Worldview with ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner. This year’s quiz featured questions and answers about the electronic waste recycling bill that recently passed the Illinois Senate, as well as a few upcoming environmental events. Listen to the show.
Electronic waste, or E-Waste, includes TVs, computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment. It is the fastest growing part of the solid waste stream. Only about 12 percent of E-Waste is recycled nationwide and the rest ends up being either landfilled or shipped abroad, where it becomes mountains of trash on which third world kids climb. Furthermore, according to the U.S. EPA, even the tiniest amounts of the toxic substances in E-waste can pollute ground water if leak out of even the most well-run landfill. In Illinois, ELPC fought for legislation that was successfully passed in September 2008 requiring electronics manufacturers to collect and recycle or reuse electronic waste. The legislation makes both environmental and economic sense, and acts as an economic development tool to create jobs and revenue for residents and business.
ELPC’s Mel Nickerson discusses electronic waste recycling in Illinois before the 2009 the digital TV conversion.
Great news! Electronic Waste or E-Waste legislation, SB 2313, passed unanimously out of the Illinois Senate to establish an E-Waste recycling system in Illinois. Now, it’s on to the House and we need to make sure that our representatives know that we want to make Illinois a national leader in E-Waste recycling. Write a letter to your state representative to support E-Waste recycling in Illinois (SB 2313) today.
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