NIU’s campus may be eco-friendly, but living off campus can present recycling issues.

DeKalb Iron & Metal Company (DIMCO), 900 Oak St., accepts aluminum cans from organizations like fraternities, sororities and student clubs.

DIMCO makes donating easy by giving the money directly to the cause the organization sponsors.

“We drop off the cans [at DIMCO and] we have them donate directly to the organization we sponsor, which is Habitat for Humanity,” said Amy Hall, a senior and president of Sigma Kappa sorority.

DIMCO Vice-President Mark Hein said the company would be happy to establish accounts with other fraternities and sororities. Hein added as long as the organization has an account set up with DIMCO, they are able to send the check to them.

“We go through a lot of cans, and a lot of members are angry that we don’t recycle,” said Justin Walter, president of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. “I would definitely like to see money going to philanthropies instead of wasting them in the dumpster.”

Walter said he would consider opening an account at DIMCO to turn in cans and donate the money to an Alzheimer’s disease group, which is their fraternity’s national philanthropy group.

A few organizations that have accounts and receive donations in the DeKalb area are TAILS Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity and DeKalb Women’s Club.

Depending on how many pounds of aluminum cans are turned in, the rates range from 63 to 71 cents per pound. DIMCO’s hours are from 8 to 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

B & O Recyclers of America, 800 Brickville Road in Sycamore, also buys aluminum cans at the rate of 60 cents per pound. B & O’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.