Illinois program awards grants.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has awarded more than $550,000 in Opportunity Returns grants to help boost recycling goals in the Chicago area.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administers the grants.

The grant program focuses on developing and expanding of permanent collection and processing plants that handle end-of-life computers and other electronics.

Digital Workforce Education Society (DWES), Chicago, a nonprofit organization, has been awarded $73,900 to expand and enhance its electronic equipment refurbishing, de-manufacturing and recycling program. The organization will use the funds in part to purchase vehicles to collect and transport computer systems, an inventory database tracking system and a baler to consolidate recyclable commodities. DWES will also partner with the Illinois Department of Human Service's "Team Illinois" initiative to bring significant technology improvement into areas of Illinois with high poverty, including Pembroke Township in Kankakee County. DWES says it expects to process an additional 1,000 tons of discarded electronic equipment.

Gallagher Businesses Inc., operator of the franchised business "Cartridge World" in Chicago, was awarded a $50,000 grant to expand its retail operations to include accepting obsolete electronic equipment for recycling. Grant funds will be used in part to purchase recycling collection containers and a collection vehicle.

PC Rebuilders, Chicago, has been awarded $62,200 to expand and enhance its computer de-manufacturing and refurbishing capabilities. Funds will be used in part to purchase a hard drive sanitizer, a disk duplicator, pallets, a scale, a tracking system and a truck.

River Shannon Recycling of Riverdale, Ill., a collector and recycler of universal waste, has been awarded two grants to expand its services to include the collection and processing of old electronics. The company will use its $48,180 grant to establish a permanent drop-off site at its facility and on-site collection of old, obsolete and end-of-life electronic equipment from businesses and other organizations. To help expand and enhance its ability to process and recycle electronic equipment captured by its increased collection efforts, River Shannon Recycling has been awarded $49,800 to buy material handling and processing equipment.

Supply-Chain Services Inc. of Lombard, Ill., has been awarded $75,000 to expand and enhance its electronic equipment de-manufacturing and recycling capabilities. The company will purchase a baler with a conveyor system and security fencing.

United Recycling Industries Inc. of West Chicago, Ill., has been awarded $64,800 to expand and enhance its processing capacity and capabilities. United currently processes more than 17,000 tons of electronics yearly, and the company estimates that enhancements will allow it to process at least 2,000 additional tons annually and to add two full-time employees.

Vintage Tech Recyclers Inc., Plainfield, Ill., was awarded $46,100 to advance its recycling collection capabilities. In addition to establishing a permanent drop-off site at its facility for area residents and businesses, the company will offer on-site collection of old, obsolete and end-of-life electronic equipment from businesses and other organizations. Funds will be used in part to purchase a recycling collection vehicle, a forklift and pallet racks.