News Releases - 2002

Household Hazardous Waste Collections Announced for Spring 2002

Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will sponsor 17 household hazardous waste collection events between April 6 and June 29. Each of the one-day events will be held on a Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Due to the popularity and importance of this program, we have increased the number of collections again this spring," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano. "Local communities work with the Illinois EPA to 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. Governor Ryan has provided strong leadership in obtaining the resources for making this popular program available at more locations and on more days throughout the state," Director Cipriano added.

Citizens may bring oil-based paints, thinners, chemical cleaners, antifreeze, motor oil, weed killers, insecticides and pesticides and similar household products. Citizens are encouraged to find alternative uses for latex paint since it is 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 spring 2002 schedule is:

April 6, Massac County

County Highway Department, 2736 North Avenue, Metropolis
Co-sponsored by Massac County Farm Bureau

April 13, McHenry County

McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake
Co-sponsored by Algonquin Township, Algonquin Township Road District, Villages of Bull Valley, Cary, Fox River Grove, Spring Grove, Trout Valley, City of McHenry, McHenry Township, McHenry County Defenders, McHenry County Dept. of Planning and Development

April 13 Edgar County

County Civic Activities Area, 1104 North Main Street, Paris
Co-sponsored by City of Paris

April 20, Wayne County

County Recycling Center, 501 S. W. 10th Street, Fairfield
Co-sponsored by Wayne County Health Dept.

April 20, Marshall County

Farm Bureau, 509 Front Street Henry
Co-sponsored by Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau

April 27, Gallatin County

City Hall (on the Mall) at Lincoln Street, Shawneetown.
Co-sponsored by Gallatin County Soil and Water

April 27, DeKalb County

DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 West Prairie Drive, Sycamore
Co-sponsored by DeKalb County Farm Bureau

May 4, Madison County

Highland Middle School, 2813 State Rte 160, Highland
Co-sponsored by Madison County Solid Waste and Highland Area Clean-up Committee

May 4, Cook County

Oak Lawn Community High School, 9400 Southwest Highway, Oak Lawn
Co-sponsored by Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Southwest Conference of Mayors

May 18, Kane County

Kane County Fairgrounds, Randall Road between Route 38 and Route 64, St. Charles
Co-sponsored by Kane County Dept. of Environment Management

May 18, Kankakee County

Kankakee Community College, 817 River Road, Kankakee
Co-sponsored by Kankakee Municipal Utility

June 1, Cook County

Commuter Parking Lots North of 720 Old Greenbay Road, Glencoe
Co-sponsored by Village of Glencoe and Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County

June 1, Kankakee County

Herscher High School, 501 North Main Street, Herscher
Co-sponsored by Herscher Students for Environmental Action

June 8, Cook County

DeVry Institute of Technology, 3300 North Campbell, Chicago
Co-sponsored by City of Chicago Department of Environment

June 22, Woodford County

County Highway Department, 301 South Main Street, Roanoke
Co-sponsored by Woodford County

June 22, Cook County

Elk Grove High School, 500 Elk Grove Boulevard, Elk Grove Village
Co-sponsored by Village of Elk Grove and Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County

June 29, Kendall County

Yorkville High School, 702 Game Farm Road, Yorkville
Co-sponsored by Kendall County Farm Bureau and Health Department

In addition, the following long-term facilities are available for disposal of household hazardous wastes.

Please call ahead for availability and hours of operation.

Related Information

• Household Hazardous Waste Collections