News Releases - 2001

Household Hazardous Waste Collections Announced for Spring 2001

Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will sponsor 12 household hazardous waste collection days between April 21 and June 30. Each of the one-day events will be held on a Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We are very pleased to have increased the number of collections," said Illinois EPA Director Tom Skinner. "During the 2000 legislative session, Governor George H. Ryan proposed an additional $1 million in state funding for this fiscal year, which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly. This allowed us to sponsor 12 collections this spring.

These collections give citizens the opportunity to rid their homes of unused or leftover household products that are potentially harmful. Household hazardous waste reduction is an important component of our overall strategy to make Illinois' environment safer," Skinner said.

Citizens may bring motor oil, chemical cleaners, oil-based paints, thinners, antifreeze, weed killers, insecticides and pesticides and similar household products. Although latex paints will be accepted, citizens are encouraged to find alternative uses since latex paints are not considered hazardous. Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collections. Items not accepted include auto batteries (which should be taken to local recyclers), explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, agricultural chemicals and all business wastes. An Illinois EPA contractor disposes of the wastes in an environmentally friendly manner.

The events are free to the public and are paid for by a portion of the statewide fees on landfilled solid waste. The collections are conducted in partnership with local governments and other organizations.

The spring 2001 schedule is:

April 21: Madison County

Village Hall, 153 North Main Street, Glen Carbon. Co-sponsors: Madison County Solid Waste Agency and village of Glen Carbon

April 28: Fulton County

Fulton County Fairgrounds, 100 South Main Street, Lewiston. Co-sponsors: Fulton County Farm Bureau, and Fulton County Health Dept.

May 5: Sangamon County

Illinois State Fairgrounds, Lot #21, enter Gate 11 at 8th Street and Sangamon Avenue, Springfield. Co-sponsors: Sangamon County and city of Springfield

May 19: Kane County

Kane County Fairgrounds, Randall Road, Between Route 83 and Route 64, St. Charles. Co-sponsor: Kane County

May 19: Jasper County

Jasper County Highway Dept., 12871 E. State Highway 33, Newton. Co-sponsor: Jasper County Health Dept.

June 2: Cook County

DeVry Institute of Technology, 3200 North Campbell, Chicago. Co-sponsor: Chicago Dept. of Environment

June 2: Morgan County

Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 North Westgate Ave., Jacksonville. Co-sponsors: Industrial Alliance and Jacksonville Morgan County ESDA

June 9: Jackson County

Southern Illinois University, Parking Lot 56, Carbondale. Co-sponsor: Jackson Co. Health Department

June 16: Cook County

Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Avenue, Flossmoor. Co-sponsors: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association

June 16: Cumberland County

U.S.D.A Parking Lot, East Main (Route 121, 1 block east of town square) Toldeo. Co-sponsor: Cumberland County Health Department

June 23: St. Clair County

1501 Westfield Plaza Parkway, Belleville (formerly west end K Mart Parking Lot). Co-sponsors: St. Clair County and U.S. EPA

June 30: Knox County

Galesburg High School, 1135 West Fremont Street. Co-sponsor: City of Galesburg

In addition, the following long-term facilities are available for disposal of household hazardous wastes. Please phone ahead to determine availability and hours.

Related Information

• Household Hazardous Waste Program