Illinois EPA announces spring 2007 Household Hazardous Waste collection schedule

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott announced today that 10 household hazardous waste collection events have been scheduled to be held across the state, starting Saturday, March 17.

"We estimate more than 11,000 households will be served through these events this spring," said Director Scott.  "In partnership with local communities and organizations, this program gives Illinois homeowners the opportunity to dispose of common household products that are potentially hazardous to human health and the environment."

The program, which began in 1988, has already served 368,033 households.  Since the program's inception, 418 one-day events have been held, and 72,131 fifty-five gallon drums of toxic materials have been collected from Illinois citizens.

The collections give citizens the opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover household products commonly found in homes, basements and garages statewide. The materials are handled in an environmentally sound manner, diverting them from local area landfills.

"The program is beneficial not only to citizens who are able to get potentially harmful chemicals out of their homes; it also benefits the environment by keeping those chemicals out of landfills through various treatment technologies and recycling." said Director Scott.  "This continues to be an extremely popular program, and we are grateful to Gov. Blagojevich for his support and dedication to the environment as well as to the Illinois General Assembly, and our local partners."

Citizens are encouraged to bring, oil-based paints, thinners, chemical cleaners, old medicines, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides, pesticides, adhesives, hobby chemicals, household batteries and similar products.  Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collections.  The public is encouraged to find alternative uses for latex paint since it is not considered hazardous.

Residents are also encouraged to bring mercury and mercury containing products such as fever thermometers, old thermostats and elemental mercury, as part of an initiative by Gov. Blagojevich and IEPA to reduce the amount of this hazardous material in our environment.

Items not accepted include explosives, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, medical waste, sharps, agricultural chemicals and all business wastes. Propane tanks and lead acid auto batteries cannot be accepted at most of the events, but should be taken to local recyclers.   

Spring 2007 Collection Schedule and Co-Sponsors

One-day collections are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on scheduled Saturdays

DATE ADDRESS LOCATION COSPONSOR(s)

March 17 Dixon High School Parking Lot
315 Lincoln Statue Drive, Dixon Lee County Lee County Solid Waste

April 14 Henry County Fairgrounds
E. North Street, Cambridge Henry County Henry County Farm Bureau

April 21 Illinois State Fairgrounds
(Enter Gate 11) off Sangamon, Springfield Sangamon County Sangamon County, City of Springfield

April 21 Carroll County Highway Dept.
10735 Mill Road, Mt. Carroll Carroll County Jo-Carroll Solid Waste, U of I Ext. & Carroll County Health Dept.

April 28 DeVry Technical Institute
3300 North Campbell, Chicago Cook County Chicago Department of Environment

May 5 DeKalb County Farm Bureau
1350 West Prairie Drive, Sycamore DeKalb County DeKalb County Farm, Bureau

May 5 Schaumburg High School
1100 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg Cook County Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

May 19 Kane County Fairgrounds (enter on Oak Street west of Randall Road), St. Charles Kane County Kane County Dept of Environment

May 19 Norris City Parking Lot, 103 East Main Street, Norris City, White County, Egyptian Health Dept. and Village of Norris

June 2 County Complex Parking Lot
421 North County Farm Road, Wheaton DuPage County DuPage County

For more information, please call 217/785-8604.  The schedule and other collection information can also be found on the Agency's web site: www.epa.state.il.us. 
In addition, these long-term facilities are available for disposal of household hazardous waste: 
(Please phone ahead to determine availability and operating hours.)

Naperville: 1971 Brookdale Road
Fire Station No. 4
Phone: 630/420-6700 #7559 Rockford: 3333 Kishwaukee
Rock River Reclamation District
81May  987-5570

Lake County:   The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) currently operates a long-term household chemical waste collection program.  Information and a collection schedule can be found on the SWALCO Web site at http://www.co.lake.il.us/swalco/, or by calling 847/336-9340.
Chicago:  1150 N. North Branch on Goose Island.  Visit the City's web site at: www.cityofchicago.org.