Abt Electronics unveils recycling center

Abt Electronics, an electronics retailer based in Glenview, Illinois, has debuted a recycling center at its facilities in Glenview.

According to a news release from the company, the new recycling center features a GreenMax machine for recycling expanded polystyrene (EPS). The machine melts EPS into raw materials used for picture frames, home construction materials and more. The center also has an auger compactor, a machine designed for compacting large volumes of materials.

"This was a significant but important investment for the company," says Mike Abt, co-president of Abt Electronics. "We are committed to expanding our green program as the company continues to grow. One of our core values has always been to create a more sustainable world for future generations."

Abt constructed its first on-site 12,000-square-foot recycling center in 2008. The company says this site is about three times larger than it at 30,000 square feet.

Abt Electronics says it recycles 95 percent of its own materials, including cardboard, plastic, wood pallets and packing materials that merchandise is shipped in. Abt's recycling efforts save 2.2 million pounds of cardboard and paper going to the local dump, more than 350,000 pounds of EPS, more than 13 million pounds of appliances and 1.4 million pounds of electronics from going to landfills.

In addition, Abt also accepts broken or unwanted electronics and appliances from its customers and the public. There is no fee to drop off unwanted items, no matter their size. TVs are the only exception, as they contain hazardous materials and must be properly recycled. Abt charges a nominal fee for TVs and sends them to a third-party facility for processing. The glass from the TVs' picture tubes is recycled into kitchen backsplash tiles, according to the company.