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Illinois EPA announces fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection schedule

Press Release - Monday, August 28, 2006

SPRINGFIELD --- Illinois EPA Doug Scott announced today that 10 household hazardous waste collection events have been scheduled to be held across the state this fall, starting Saturday, September 9.
 
"We estimate more than 12,000 households will be served through these events this fall," said Director Scott.  "In partnership with local communities and organizations, this program gives Illinois homeowners the opportunity to dispose of common household products which are potentially hazardous to human health and the environment."
 
The program, which began in 1988, has already served 358,945 households.  Since the program's inception, 408 one-day events have been held, and 70,587 fifty-five gallon drums of toxic materials have been collected from Illinois citizens.
 
The collections give citizens the opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover household products commonly found in homes, basements and garages statewide. The materials are handled in an environmentally sound manner, diverting them from local area landfills.
 
"The program is beneficial not only to citizens who are able to get potentially harmful chemicals out of their homes; it also benefits the environment by keeping those chemicals out of landfills through various treatment technologies and recycling." said Director Scott.  "This continues to be an extremely popular program, and we are grateful to Gov. Blagojevich for his support and dedication to the environment as well as to the Illinois General Assembly, and our local partners."
 
Citizens are encouraged to bring, oil-based paints, thinners, chemical cleaners, old medicines, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides, pesticides, adhesives, hobby chemicals, household batteries and similar 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, as part of an initiative by Gov. Blagojevich and IEPA to reduce the amount of this hazardous material in our environment.
 
Items not accepted include explosives, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, medical waste, sharps, agricultural chemicals and all business wastes. Propane tanks, and lead acid auto batteries cannot be accepted at most of the events, but should be taken to local recyclers.
Fall 2006 Collection Schedule and Co-Sponsors
One-day collections are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on scheduled Saturdays
 
DATE
ADDRESS
LOCATION
COSPONSOR(s)
Sept. 9
City Garage
102 S. Marshall Street
McLeansboro
Hamilton County
City of McLeansboro
Sept., 16
Beardstown Public Works Yard 1101 Edwards, Beardstown
Cass County
City of Beardstown
Sept. 16
Morgan County Fairgrounds
110 North Westgate Avenue Jacksonville
Morgan County
Industrial Alliance, Morgan County ESDA
Sept. 30
Commuter Parking Lot
5000 Belmont Avenue
Downers Grove
DuPage County
DuPage County
Oct. 7
Alexian Field (Flyers Stadium)
West Parking Lot
1999 Springinsguth
Schaumburg
Cook County
Village of Schaumburg, Schaumburg Park District, Rep. Terry Parke's Environmental Committee, Schaumburg Flyers
Oct. 7
Interstate Center
2301 West Market Street Bloomington
McLean County
Ecology Action Center & McLean County
Oct. 14
City Parking Lot
11059 South Hale
Chicago
Cook County
Chicago Dept of Environment
Oct. 14
Storage Facility on Route 32
just North of Stewardson
Shelby County
Shelby County Health Department
Oct. 21
Metra Station
147th Place & Waverly
Midlothian
Cook County
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Oct. 28
Monmouth Park
(north on North 11th off U.S. 34, east of Monmouth Airport)
Monmouth
Warren County
Warren County & Tri-County Resource & Waste Management Council
 

In addition, the following long-term facilities are available for disposal of household hazardous waste:
 
(Please phone ahead to determine availability and operating hours.)
Naperville:
1971 Brookdale Road
Fire Station No. 4
Phone: 630/420-6700 #7559
Rockford:
3333 Kishwaukee
Rock River Reclamation District
815/987-5570
 
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 at http://www.co.lake.il.us/swalco/, or by calling 847/336-9340.
For questions concerning the IEPA's one-day or long-term collections, please call 217/785-8604.  The spring schedule and other collection information can also be found on the Agency's web site: www.epa.state.il.us.  
 
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