News Releases - 2003

Illinois EPA Announces Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule

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

“This program continues to be an important service to Illinois citizens”, said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano. “Each year, the Illinois EPA coordinates these collections with local cosponsors. Since they began 1989, 262,100 households have participated in 292 events, with 53,765 drums of material collected.”

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.

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 2003 schedule is:

One-day collections are open from 8 am to 3 pm on the above scheduled Saturdays. In addition, the following long-term facilities are available for disposal of HHW. Please phone ahead to determine availability and open hours.

Naperville: 1971 Brookdale Rd., Fire Station #4, 630-420-6700 #7559

Rockford: 3333 Kishwaukee, Rock River Reclamation District, 815-967-6737

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, or by calling 847-336-9340.

For questions concerning the IEPA's one-day or long-term collections, please call the Waste Reduction Unit at 217/785-8604.