PEKIN – Peoria area residents were able to clear their homes of broken and outdated electronics in a safe, environmentally friendly manner thanks to an electronics recycling event hosted by State Senator Dave Koehler.

The event took place at Area Recycling in Pekin with the help of Kuusakoski Recycling, an e-waste recycler with corporate offices in Plainfield.

“The partnership between my office, Area Recycling, and Kuusakoski has been extraordinary,” Koehler (D-Peoria) said. “It’s my sincere hope that we will be able to provide this service to area residents, and I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure the continuation of this event.”

The total amount of electronics collected for this event weighed in at 170,322 pounds, an improvement over last year’s 130,000 pounds.

“It’s really important to the environment that we sponsor these events, because we hear from our township road commissioners all the time that the lack of a responsible means of disposal just ends in fly dumping. If people don’t have somewhere to dispose of old electronics, they throw them in a ditch.” Koehler said. “This is a safe way of disposing of these items. It’s also nice knowing that they’re going to be recycled, and I think people appreciate it.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler joined with colleagues for a press conference today highlighting a solution to counter the skyrocketing cost of prescription insulin.

“For far too long pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to take advantage of people who require this medication to live, and it’s unacceptable,” Koehler (D-Peoria) said. “Working to ease the financial burden on families who require prescription insulin is the humane thing to do.”

Senate Bill 667 would cap out of pocket insulin expenses at $100 for a 30-day supply.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are over 30 million Americans who have diabetes, with 7.4 million of them who require prescription insulin to survive. The increasing cost of the medication has forced many of these patients to choose between purchasing vital medication and other financial obligations.

“There shouldn’t be a choice to make in the first place,” Koehler said. “Those who suffer from diabetes should be able to acquire the necessary prescription medication without it breaking the bank.”