Environmental Progress - Winter-Spring 2004

Increase in HHW Collections

Illinois EPA sponsors 20 collections in Spring 2004

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will co-sponsor 20 household hazardous waste collections throughout Illinois this spring, an increase from 12 events held last spring.

20 HHW Collection events will be held throughout Illinois this spring, with additional events to be scheduled for the fall.

The last HHW Colection event held in Springfield serviced approximately 1800 vehicles with a wait time of 1 hour or less.

In addition to our collections of hazardous household materials, two new features have been added this spring. Eyeglasses will be accepted and donated to a distribution program operated by Lions Club International. Used cell phones may also be dropped off and will be donated to charitable organizations.

The events will be held this spring from March 20 through June 12 and are held on Saturdays in partnership with local communities or organizations. They give citizens the opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover household products such as chemicals and pesticides, most of which are recycled or neutralized, rather than going into landfills. The Agency estimate that at least 19,000 more households will be served by the events this spring.

Moultrie, Randolph and Clark counties will host a Household Hazardous Waste collection for the first time this spring. Lee and Ogle counties have combined efforts to host one event so they can serve residents of both counties. Upon completion of the spring schedule, a total of 85 Illinois counties, and more than 300,000 households, will have been served since the program began in 1988.

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 elemental mercury from hobbyists, as part of the multi-phased initiative by Gov. Blagojevich and Illinois EPA to reduce the amount of this hazardous material in our environment.

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.

An Illinois EPA contractor manages the wastes in an environmentally friendly manner, through recycling or other appropriate methods. The events are free to the public and are paid for by a portion of the statewide fees on landfilled solid waste.

• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule