Illinois EPA Fall Household Hazardous Waste Collections Announced

SPRINGFIELD --- Governor Rod Blagojevich today announced the Illinois EPA will conduct 17 additional household hazardous waste collection events this fall in partnership with local communities and organizations, on Saturdays, starting Sept. 10 through Oct. 29.

 

"The events are a chance to safely dispose of potentially hazardous materials in an environmentally responsible manner and I commend citizens and community leaders for their continued participation across the state," said Governor Blagojevich.

 

"These collections also keep potentially harmful chemicals out of landfills by processing them for recycling, reuse or neutralization," said IEPA Director Doug Scott. "We are grateful for the continued strong support of this popular program by Governor Blagojevich and the General Assembly."

 

The collections to be held this fall will bring the total to 35 for this year, one of the largest numbers since the program started in 1988. Since its inception, 378 collections have been held and more than 331,000 households have participated, turning in 65,732 fifty-five gallon drums of material.

 

Citizens may bring oil-based paints, thinners, chemical cleaners, antifreeze, motor oil, weed killers, insecticides and pesticides and similar household 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 elementary mercury, as part of an initiative by Gov. Blagojevich and IEPA to reduce the amount of this hazardous material in our environment.

 

In addition, cell phones may be turned in and will be passed on to local charitable groups if they are in working order.

 

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

 

Each of the collections is held on a Saturday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The fall schedule is:

 

 

Household Hazardous Waste collection schedule can also be found on the Agency's web page: www.epa.state.il.us

 

For questions concerning the IEPA'S one-day, or long-term, collections please call the waste reduction unit of the IEPA at (217) 785-8604.