3S International has opened its first e-waste recycling facility, in Tinley Park, Ill.
The Mount Pleasant, Mich.-based company said the 60,000-sq.-ft. facility is the only United States-housing of its Bluebox technology, which can reduce electronics into recyclable fragments and safely extract rare earth elements, including mercury. The technology can do that extraction at a rate of 2,200 pounds an hour and 15 million pounds of electronics each year, according to a news release.
3S is the only company in the United States with the rights to the technology.
3S already is collecting and receiving end-of-life electronics throughout Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. It is seeking additional locations.
Individuals who want to drop off their end-of-life electronics can do so at any Land of Lincoln Goodwill Store. 3S regularly picks up from those locations.