The Village recently received a courtesy letter from HomeServe USA, a Connecticut-based company, that it intends to conduct a direct mail solicitation effort beginning in January to sell private water line insurance to Carol Stream residents and businesses. In the Village, as in most local communities, home and business owners are responsible for all repairs to their water service from their property to the service line valve (usually found in the front yard or parkway). Residents and business owners will soon receive a letter from HomeServe USA that explains this fact and then details the specifics of their water line repair coverage contract. The Village advises all home and business owners who receive this sales letter to be wary. The letter makes dubious claims about the company’s profile, and in addition makes an unsubstantiated claim about the increased likelihood of private water main breaks throughout 2013.

Elgin Recycling, in partnership with the Village, Park District and Public Library will be sponsoring a holiday light recycling program through Monday, February 4^th.  The copper wire within holiday light strands and extension cords has considerable value on the reclaimed metals market but poses a contamination risk if disposed of in the general waste stream, leaching overtime metals into a landfill.