Daily, SWANCC staff receives inquiries from residents asking how to manage items that should not be thrown away due to reusability, recyclability, or the need for proper disposal. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you have other questions, please send an email to
All answers pertain to materials from residential households, not from businesses, schools, or institutions.
According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, single-use Alkaline batteries AAA, AA, C, D 6v & 9v are classified as "non-hazardous" and may be safely disposed with household trash. When possible, recycle Alkaline batteries to recover metals including zinc, manganese, brass and steel.
Lithium Primary and rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh), and Lithium-Ion batteries contain mercury and other heavy metals and according to the IEPA, should be recycled. These batteries are found in cordless electronics like power tools, laptop and tablet computers, cell and cordless phones, as well as some toys, power banks, home security alarms, cordless vacuums, toothbrushes, and other devices that are plugged in an outlet to recharge the battery.
Because single-use Alkaline and Lithium batteries look amazingly similar, the best way to know is to read the label. To eliminate the risk of generating a spark that can cause a fire, before taking batteries to a recycling drop-off put clear packaging tape around the terminal ends of lithium primary AA, AAA, 9V, and D batteries, place coin cell batteries on clear packaging tape in a line on the top and bottom (like a sandwich), or place individual lithium and coin cell batteries in separate plastic baggies.
Call2Recycle partners with retail stores such as Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowes that accept lithium primary and rechargeable batteries only – NO alkaline batteries! Go to call2recycle.org/locator to find a location and for more information.
SWANCC sponsors a program for batteries. Check with your Village/City to see if they collect these items from residents.
Propane Tanks
Propane tanks, also called propane cylinders, are commonly used to fuel stoves, grills, and water heaters. Propane tanks are made of recyclable steel and copper. But due to the gas and pressure inside, these tanks cannot be recycled with your other curbside recycling or thrown in the garbage. If any gas is left in the tank, it could cause a fire or explosion at the landfill. You should not open a tank to let the rest of the gas leak out because it’s highly flammable. These pressurized containers are not welcomed in the trash because they create a potential hazard of explosions or fires in compactor trucks – and definitely not recyclable in the curbside cart.
So, what are your options?
Chicago HHW
1150 N. North Branch Street
Tues: 7 am to noon
Thurs: 2 pm to 7 pm
First Sat. of each month: 8am to 3 pm
Naperville HHW
156 Fort Hill Drive
Sat: 9 am to 2 pm
Sun: 9 am to 2 pm
AmeriGas
522 South Vermont St
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 359-6450
For a large, bulk propane tank at a home or business, contact a licensed propane company, such as your propane supplier for removal. They’ll be able to safely purge any remaining propane from the tank. They’ll also have the specialized tools to remove the tank safely.
Helium Tanks
Helium tanks can be dangerous if not properly prepared for recycling. Helium tanks, much like propane tanks or fire extinguishers, contain pressurized gas that can explode if handled incorrectly. This is unlikely to happen around your house, but if a full helium tank goes into the back of a compactor truck it can blow up, hurting or even killing sanitation workers.
Steps to Take:
The metal that makes up your old helium tank is very easy for a metal recycler to turn into something else. There is no reason to throw this valuable resource in the trash when it can have a second life as a useful product. Check with a HHW facility or find a local metal scrap yard for a recycling option.
Here are the basic recycling guidelines for curbside programs in SWANCC communities. Check with your village or city for updates.
To prepare your items for recycling:
There are four very important words to remember: Empty – Clean – Loose – Dry!
Smoke detectors typically fall within two categories: photoelectric and ionization. It is legal to dispose of smoke detectors in a trash cart because they are not considered hazardous waste. First, remove the batteries and recycle them properly. Find a battery drop-off location at call2recycle.org/locator.
Ionization detectors contain a small amount of Americium 241, a radioactive isotope. When in use, these detectors are perfectly safe, as the radioactive material is shielded by a metal chamber inside the device. If dismantled, however, the radioactive material can become exposed. For this reason, you should never try to take apart an old ionization detector. To determine whether or not your detector is an ionization type, look on the back; it should either have the letter "I" or say ionization.
First Alert has a complimentary disposal program for up to 4 intact ionization smoke detectors (postage not included). These must be First Alert, BRK, Family Gard, or Onelink brand.
Curie includes a mail-in label with the purchase of a smoke detector.
CO Detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors can be disposed in the trash cart, but first remove the batteries and recycle them properly. Find a battery drop-off location at call2recycle.org/locator.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and fluorescent light tubes contain mercury and should not be thrown away in the garbage. They are accepted at IEPA-sponsored Household Hazardous Waste sites for recycling. Find other locations on SWANCC's Reuse and Recycling Directory .
There are a number of local, no-cost opportunities for residents to safely dispose of their unwanted and expired medications.
Medications:
The Cook County Sheriff Department’s Prescription Drug Take Back offers its residents year-round drop-offs at secure Collection Boxes at:
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partners with local Police Departments to host a fall and spring Drug Take-Back Day.
Many Walgreens and CVS pharmacies provide an in-store disposal kiosk that are available during pharmacy hours. The types of medications accepted include prescription medications and other items.
SWANCC sponsors a program for non-controlled pill medications. Residents should visit their respective community’s website or call their municipal recycling coordinator for details.
Sharps:
SWANCC sponsors a Sharps Collection Program for member-community residents that administer home injections and provides industry regulation containers to store needles at home. The Agency contracts with a permitted company to pick up the needles from participating communities for safe disposal. Residents should visit their respective community’s website or call their municipal recycling coordinator for details.
If you do not live in a SWANCC member community, the US EPA recommends that home sharps users store their needles in a thick-plastic, puncture-proof container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a detergent bottle. Residents are asked to write on the bottle with a permanent marker, “Sharps” – “Do Not Recycle!” After filling the bottle with used needles, heavy duty tape should secure the lid and the bottle thrown in the garbage.
NEVER put sharps into the recycling cart. Home sharps users need to be mindful to keep the storage container out of the reach of children and pets.
For additional information on US EPA recommendations for disposal of medications and sharps see the US EPA website.
Visit your community’s website or call the City/Village recycling coordinator to see if there is a provision in the municipal recycling contract to have electronics picked up at your door. Non-tube televisions, monitors, and other electronics and can be taken to retailers such as Abt Electronics in Glenview, Best Buy, or Goodwill for recycling. Please call to verify your items will be accepted and if there will be a fee.
SWANCC provides year-round and seasonal Electronics Recycling drop-off locations, as well as one-day events during the spring, summer and fall. There is a limit of 7 items per household and drop-off locations will be closed on National Holidays and in severe weather. Residents of a SWANCC-member community may utilize any of the Agency’s options.
Polystyrene, known as Styrofoam, is made into two types; (1) expanded white blocks for packaging and (2) rigid which is clear for cups, cutlery, clam shells and more. Abt Electronics in Glenview only accepts white block Styrofoam and the Dart Corporation in Chicago and Aurora and the Mount Prospect Public Works accepts a variety of Styrofoam products. Each business is listed in SWANCC’s Reuse and Recycling Directory.
There are two basic types of house paints, latex and oil. Latex paint is water based that does not contain hazardous chemicals and can be dried out and thrown away in the garbage cart – with lid off so the hauler knows the paint is completely dried. There are also programs that charge a fee to recycle latex paint - listed in SWANCC’s Reuse and Recycling Directory.
Oil-based paint contains harmful chemicals and needs to be taken to an Illinois Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW).
Lead acid batteries such as automotive, marine and sump pump are prohibited by IL State law from being disposed of in the trash. See options for getting rid of these batteries at gas stations, auto parts stores, and other locations on SWANCC's Reuse and Recycling Directory .
There are four very important words to remember: Empty – Clean – Loose – Dry!
Each condominium association and apartment building landlord contracts with a private hauling company to provide garbage service. It is up to the managing company or landlord to include a recycling provision in the contract – which will be an additional fee. Join forces with your neighbors to make this request.
See SWANCC's Document Destruction page.
Find other options for paper shredding on SWANCC's Reuse and Recycling Directory .
Earth911provides a directory of locations to recycle may vairous items as well as information and resources on living sustainably. Visit their website at Earth911.com.
TerraCycle® collects hard-to-recycle materials and turn them into new products. For more information on their programs and collection boxes visit terracycle.org.
If it lights up, moves, or makes noise, it has a BATTERY! Now what?
Have you noticed that many household items light up, move, or make noise? If so, they contain a battery, and those batteries are likely rechargeable.
Batteries are designed to pack a lot of energy into a tiny space. Many batteries are similar to child who eats to much candy and ends up "exploding" with the energy that is trapped within. Similarly, when batteries become overcharged, discharged to quickly, or damaged, they too can explode - literally. A particular culprit in this category of batteries are the lithium chemistries. From the tiniest buttons to the larger blocks, these batteries come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. This can often make them challenging to identify.
Where do we find these batteries? Everywhere! Cell phones, computers, tablets, radios, power tools, smoke detectors, power banks, remote controls, light up shoes, bikes and scooters, gaming systems, musical cards, electric toothbrushes, e-cigarette and vape devices, watches, ear buds, hobby toys (rc cars, drones, planes, etc), and children's toys are just on the list of common locations for lithium chemistry batteries.
These batteries enhance our lives, but with such convenience comes responsibility. Purchase devices that have been tested and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and batteries from a trusted retailer. Keep lithium chemistry batteries out of direct sunlight, away from sources of heat, and always follow manufacturer protocol.
Most often we can use these batteries over and over again without issue. However, if you notice an odd odor, discoloration, or the battery begins to change shape, that could be a sign of danger. Do not spray a lithium battery with water. Instead, bury the battery in a bucket with sand, kitty litter, or potting soil and dispose of it properly.
While recycling plain old alkaline batteries is preferred (through a special collection - not curbside), they are eligible material for the landfill. However, NO OTHER TYPE OF BATTERY CAN GO INTO THE GARBAGE OR RECYCLING BIN! Putting other chemistries of batteries, especially the lithium batteries into either bin is extremely dangerous. They MUST be packaged appropriately and brought to a special collection point.
The good news? All SWANCC communities are eligible to be part of a battery take-back program that includes all chemistries of batteries, including alkaline! This program has no additional cost to residents. Check with your community to see if this program is available to you. If not, encourage them to take part!
If your community does not participate in SWANCC's battery takeback program, you still have other options. Check out:
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Solid Waste Agency of Lake County
Search SWANCC's Reuse and Recycling Directory for more options!
This is a very common question, and a good one to ask! After all, shredded paper is still paper, and paper can be recycled - right?
Let's look at it this way...Have you ever thrown confetti or done an art project with glitter? If so, then you have experienced first-hand how it gets everywhere, into everything, and you find it hiding away months later!
In a Materials Recovery Facility, shredded paper acts much the same way. The tiny shreds can't be captured in the sorting process, they cling to other objects and flutter around the facility. This causes contamination of other materials. In addition, the small shreddings become embedded in machinery and clog up the sorting equipment.
So, shred at home if needed, but avoid contamination in the recycle stream. Be sure to put shredded paper into the trash, NOT the recycle cart!
Metals are elements that start out as rocks called ores. It takes a lot of energy to mine, grind, and heat them to get the parts we want. This process is very energy intensive and invasive to our Earth. To reduce this environmental impact, recycling metals is important.
However, NOT all metal can go into your curbside recycling cart! The only metals accepted curbside are clean aluminum and steel food-based items. These items include steel soup, vegetable, and pet food cans. Also accepted are aluminum beverage cans, foil, and other disposable aluminum cooking tins.
It’s important to remember that most recycling facilities are designed to capture items disposed of with regularity. So, aside from the steel and aluminum items mentioned above, other metals cannot be recycled curbside. This is because it is unlikely to be identified and sorted properly, and because of the danger it poses to the recycling workers and automated sorting machinery. While magnets and sorters may capture some items, small parts and sharp objects can be hidden. This contributes to dangerous work conditions and contamination.
Items that are not food related containers are considered "scrap metal”. These metals include copper, steel, brass, and iron. Examples of these scrap metals include lawn mowers, snow blowers, metal grills, bicycles, cast iron sinks/bathtubs, metal fencing, metal car parts, furniture, chains, etc.
Generally, there are two options for recycling scrap metal:
A helpful app to locate a scrapyard near you is the iScrap App.
Boxes, boxes, boxes...Everything we buy, or order, seems to be packaged in boxes!
The good news is that cardboard and paper boxes can be recycled. While you can leave tape and labels on the box, it is important that boxes are CLEAN, DRY....AND FLATTENED!
It’s important to keep your cardboard boxes clean and dry because contaminated or wet items will affect the integrity of the material and may end up thrown away since saturated cardboard is difficult to recycle.
Why do we flatten boxes and not other items?
In single stream recycling, the burden of mechanically sorting accurately is on the materials recovery facility (MRF) and is determined by the composition of each material. Containers should be kept in their original shape for the best chance of proper mechanical sorting. For example, if a container is in an unfamiliar shape, like a crushed can or water bottle, then it may be mistaken as something different, sorted incorrectly, and contaminate other materials.
Cardboard & corrugated boxes not only take up valuable space when not flattened, but they too are identified by their shape and the only consistent shape for boxes of all kinds is FLAT. So, if you care enough to recycle those boxes in the first place, then take the time to flatten them and keep them dry by closing the lid on your cart.
Expired fire extinguishers cannot be put in garbage or recycling carts.
Depending on the type of fire extinguisher, most portable fire extinguishers contain powdered CO2 and other chemicals. Here are the best disposal options:
Chicago Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility
1150 N North Branch St
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 744-3060
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
156 Fort Hill Dr
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 420-6095
3. Contact a company that sells and manages fire extinguishers for a drop-off option. Call for details.
Henrichsen's Fire & Safety Equipment Co.
563 North Wolf Road
Wheeling, Illinois 60090
(847) 459-7877
U.S. Fire & Safety Equipment Company
2412 Millennium Dr
Elgin, IL 60124
(773) 763-4422
Can I recycle plastic bags? Can I recycle plastic shipping packaging? Can I recycle plastic wrap?
Plastic bags and wraps DO NOT go in curbside recycling bins.
Plastic bags and wraps DO go to participating retail store recycling bins.
But why can't it go into the curbside cart? The short answer is that they gum up the works. Stretchy plastic bags and wraps often get stuck in the sorting equipment. Then, workers must shut down the machinery to cut and yank out the contamination. This can be dangerous, and it's a waste of time, money, and material.
Can I put my recyclables in a plastic bag and toss it all into my curbside bin?
NO!
Like other plastic bags and wraps, that plastic trash bag holding your recyclables gums up the works (see above). All recyclables must go into your curbside bin loose (i.e., not in a bag).
Can I put my recyclables in a paper bag and toss it all into my curbside bin?
NO!
Even though the paper bag can be recycled too, restraining recyclable items prevents them from being sorted properly. They must be loose to be identified in the sorting process.
If you do collect your recyclables in a plastic or paper bag, dump the recyclables out of the bag into your curbside bin and reuse the bag if you can!
Foil paper, ribbons, bows, and bags...Ooh my! NO, NO, NO!
One of the most common mistakes is tossing garbage bags full of wrapping paper into the recycle bin. While most wrapping paper is recyclable, placing it all in a bag removes it from the stream. Remember, everything that goes into your recycle bin MUST BE LOOSE - NO BAGS!
Think twice when purchasing wrapping paper. In order to qualify for recycling, it must be 100% paper. So, the rolls that sparkle, or have shiny foil mixed in are NOT eligible for the recycle bin.
We also need to watch out for the ribbon and bows that comes along with the wrapping paper, as those are tanglers. They get caught up in the mechanics, bog down the system, and can shut down the entire sorting line.
All paper has the best chance of being sorted properly if it is folded, not crumpled into a ball.
So, when recycling wrapping paper, remember:
Electric does NOT mean Electronic!
This may sound like another case of Tomayto, tomahto and potayto, potahto. However, electric and electronic devices are quite different and commonly confused.
All electronics are electrical, but not all electrical systems are electronic. The distinction between the two comes down to how devices manipulate electricity to do their work.
Typically, if something uses electricity as energy, it is electric. If it uses electricity for manipulating information, it is electronic.
Electrical devices take the energy of electric current and transform it into a form of energy such as light, heat, or motion. For example, the heating elements in a toaster turn electrical energy into heat so you can toast your bread. Likewise, the motor in your vacuum cleaner turns electrical energy into motion that drives a pump to suck up the toast crumbs that fall into your carpet.
In contrast, electronic devices do much more. Instead of just converting electrical energy into heat, light, or motion, electronic devices are designed to manipulate the electrical current itself and coax it into doing interesting and useful things. For example, electronic devices can add sound information to an electric current so that you can listen to music or talk on a cellphone and video devices add images to an electric current so you can watch movies.
As technology advances the distinction between electric and electronic becomes blurry. For example, a run of the mill toaster versus a toaster that lets you program an image to burn into the toast and then sends you an email when the toast is done. While this example is laughable it highlights that blurry line.
So why is it important to distinguish the difference? SWANCC receives a plethora of calls questioning if an item is accepted into our electronic recycling program. Most often the items in question (such as toasters, coffee makers, lamps, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, hairdryers, mixers, blenders, stereo equipment, etc.) are not electronic at all, but instead electric.
Electric items do have value to recycle (but can NOT go into your curbside recycle bin). They can often go to a special collection point where the valuable materials will be separated and recycled. When recycling or scrapping is not an option, they may be accepted by your hauler in weekly collections and can safely be sent to the landfill.
In 2012, Illinois adopted legislation that prohibits landfilling of "Covered and Eligible Electronic Devices". Thus, the electronics accepted into SWANCC's program are limited to the IEPA accepted items. Check the Electronics Recycling page on our website for details. Other electronic devices not on this list are also important to recycle but must be done through other special collection options.
Electric or electronic - if it not accepted into SWANCC's program here are some resources for recycling:
SWANCC's digital Reuse and Recycling Directory
Elgin Recycling, located in Arlington Heights. (847) 741-4100
Local Best Buy Stores
What Do Those Symbols Mean?
Everyone thinks they recognize the recycle symbol. Typically, it looks like three arrows chasing each other in the shape of a triangle, but what about all the other versions and symbols? Don't they mean recycle too?
In 1970, the original design of the recycle symbol was created by 23-year-old student, Gary Anderson. He was the winner of the Container Corporation of America’s (CCA) inaugural Earth Day competition. Little did anyone realize that it would become such a commonplace icon of the 21st century!
However, the commonplace, unregulated printing of this symbol has become a problem. This is because when people see what they interpret to be a recycling symbol, they automatically think, “I can recycle this!” and toss the item into the recycling bin. The belief that these emblems mean an item is recyclable is a common misconception.
Just because a circular symbol with arrows is printed on an item, doesn’t mean an item is recyclable in your current system!
It’s mind-blowing and maddening, isn’t it?!
Let’s break it down:
The overall looping design represents circularity. This means keeping materials in the loop to reduce waste. The three chasing arrows represent the concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, these should be viewed as separate entities:
Reduce: First, do you recognize the amount of waste you produce? Are you actively taking steps to reduce it?
Reuse: Second, are you utilizing the materials you have by reusing them to their maximum potential instead of getting rid of them after one use?
Recycle: Then, LASTLY, consider how to manage the waste you have and ask yourself “Is it appropriate material for the recycle bin?” If not, it MUST go to the landfill.
If you look at the recycle symbol piece by piece, and ask yourself those questions, it makes more sense!
Now, what about those numbers? Aren’t those numbers supposed to tell us if we can put an item into our recycling cart?
The simple answer is NO! Generally, ignore them. There are more than 30 kinds of plastics, with more being developed every day, and our best Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) can usually identify and recover 5 of them. These numbers are called resin codes. They were designed by manufacturers to identify chemistry classifications of plastics, NOT for residents to determine if the item is eligible for the recycling cart.
Yes, this can all be frustrating and sometimes even make us want to give up. It’s important to remember that if you feel this way, you are making it too complex and overburdening yourself. Take a step back and remember to keep it simple. Review the curbside guidelines below, ask yourself the questions listed above, and stick to recycling those items only. Don’t get bogged down in the occasional item you have in hand that is not pictured. If you are uncertain if it’s appropriate material for the recycle bin, then don’t risk contamination by wishcycling. Put it in the trash and keep the value of the truly recyclable material high.
As the world comes to terms with the growing amounts of waste generated every day, understanding what can and can’t be recycled is increasingly important. Not only do we need to divert more waste away from landfills, but we also need to keep materials in the loop for as long as possible so that we can reduce our reliance on virgin materials and avoid the environmental impacts associated with extracting them.
With so much information coming our way every day, it can be difficult to differentiate between true facts and myths, especially when it comes to recycling. SWANCC is here to clarify some of those myths that you may have read or heard about relating to recycling processes.
One thing we can all agree on is that we produce trash, and a lot of it. Some of that trash goes to landfills. An estimated 30% of food scraps and yard waste (that could have been composted) and 55% of what could have been recycled, end up in landfills.
Statistics aside, why would we go through all the trouble and cost of recycling outreach, collecting recyclable materials, and sorting them in our facilities if we were just going to put it all in the landfill?
Let’s set the record straight…..
RECYCLING MYTH: I thought I saw the garbage truck pick up my recycling!
This could be true. Just like you may use your vehicle to drive family or friends to dinner and a concert, you use the same vehicle to transport flowers and plants from the garden center. Sometimes communities use the same trucks for trash and recycle collection. However, they are not collected in the same load and recyclables are NOT taken to the landfill, they are taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where they are separated and bailed to sell back to manufacturers for recycling!
RECYCLING MYTH: Material placed in a landfill will decompose.
Two essential components of decomposition are oxygen and moisture. Landfills are designed so that very little oxygen or moisture flows through them. Landfills are not meant to break down trash, but simply to bury it. This design helps prevent decomposing materials from contaminating groundwater.
RECYLING MYTH: Recycling just becomes trash.
Recycling as an industry is NOT a myth. However, truthfully, some materials may eventually end up in the landfill. This is because some material should NOT have been placed into the recycle bin in the first place! In addition, while it is true that contamination can render some materials unfit for recycling, the industry works hard to find markets for materials to be recycled. In fact, it’s such an important piece to the economy, that in 2020, it was declared an essential industry and service by the Department of Homeland Security!
RECYCLING MYTH: It doesn’t matter if something belongs in the recycling cart, the hauler will sort everything anyway.
There are increasing amounts of non-recyclable items sent to Material Recovery Facilities, and all of them must be removed so they don’t contaminate the high-value recyclables. We are not becoming a less wasteful global society, so it has become increasingly challenging to remove all the garbage people toss in with recycle. Non-recyclable items placed in your recycling containers increase the cost of recycling, slow the process, and pose safety risks to employees. Focus on only recycling the most valuable materials – clean and empty bottles, jars, jugs, tubs, cans, paper, and flattened cardboard. All recyclable items must go into your cart loose – NOT IN BAGS of any kind! If you’re not sure whether something is recyclable, throw it in the trash!
Many of us enjoy camping, backpacking, etc. during the summer and find the use the small fuel canisters helpful when cooking meals. But what do we do when we are finished with them?
They can NOT go into the trash and can NOT go into your recycle bin!
Why? That's a good question!
Even though the canisters may seem empty, they can still contain explosive gas. Garbage and recyclables are tossed, tumbled, and compressed when collected from our curbside carts. These processes can easily rupture a cylinder and cause a fire or explosion. Fires at a waste or recycling facility and in collection vehicles are dangerous for workers and the public. This can also drive up the costs of processing waste.
So, what do we do?
There are drop-off locations that take these cylinders and see to it that they are safely and properly managed. In this process, the canisters get purged with nitrogen to remove the propane. The reclaimed propane is then sold. The steel gets canister itself, gets compacted and recycled.
The outlets that accept these canisters are the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities as well as Flat Can Recycling. Links to each site are below. Be sure to call first to check on collection and if there are any nominal fees that may be involved!
Chicago Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Rockford Rock River Reclamation District
Summer is a time for celebration, which often means fireworks. But once the celebrations are over and the smoke has cleared, fireworks can be a mess to clean up. Fireworks, when incorrectly disposed of, can also be dangerous to you, waste haulers, and the environment.
Likewise, flares are an essential safety tool for road emergencies, maritime navigation, and various outdoor activities. However, like many safety items, flares have an expiration date because over time the chemical compounds within them degrade, reducing their effectiveness and reliability.
In many areas, local fire and police departments can assist with the disposal of old flares and unused fireworks. They have the expertise and facilities to handle potentially dangerous materials safely. In summertime, some communities even host takeback events for these unused materials so be sure to check in your area.
If local fire or police do not collect, you can follow these steps as an alternate means of disposal:
Please note, that even though fireworks can be purchased in neighboring states, according to Illinois law, most consumer fireworks are illegal. SWANCC supports Illinois law. The above information is to help guide you for proper management of materials you may encounter within and outside of Illinois.
Trash. It’s a part of everyday life, whether you’re tossing an empty bag of chips or getting rid of an old couch. It’s easy enough to see where garbage comes from, but what happens after you lug it to the curb on pickup day?
When your curbside trash is picked up by the garbage truck, it is brought to a facility called a transfer station and then continues its journey to the landfill.
But what is a transfer station and what happens there? Good question!
In simple terms, a transfer station is an industrial facility where your garbage is unloaded from the trucks that picked it up, temporarily held, and reloaded into large trailers for transport to the landfill. Transferring waste from the small trucks onto larger trailers significantly reduces transportation costs and environmental impacts of moving the trash from homes and businesses to landfills. At SWANCC's Glenview Transfer Station, approximately 3 garbage truck loads can be packed into a single trailer!
Your garbage goes to the SWANCC Transfer Station.
How does SWANCC's transfer station work?
There’s a standard process that most garbage trucks, contractors, and individual residents follow when making a stop at SWANCC’s Glenview Transfer Station.
1. Arrival: When vehicles arrive at the transfer station, they are directed to a scale where
they are weighed.
2. Unloading: Trash is then unloaded onto the floor inside the building. Equipment like
bulldozers move trash around the facility.
3. Reweigh and Payment: When necessary, private vehicles are reweighed upon exit. This determines the amount of waste left behind and payment is made accordingly.
4. Reloading: Excavators are then used to load the waste onto trailers that hold a large
capacity of material and then sent to its next destination – the landfill.
Everything a SWANCC resident puts into their curbside garbage bin ends up at the Glenview Transfer Station. Material is not sorted for recycling or reuse – its destination is the landfill. For a fee, contractors and residents can also bring garbage - including from home renovations and old furniture - to the transfer station for disposal. NO liquids, paints, electronics, compressed gases, or hazardous materials are accepted. Last year, approximately 340,000 tons of waste left the Glenview Transfer Station and was landfilled at the Winnebago Landfill near Rockford. The transfer station also accepts landscape waste from garbage companies and landscape contractors; we do NOT accept landscape waste at the transfer station from individuals.
THINK FIRST before simply throwing away materials that end up in the landfill. SWANCC encourages residents to reduce the waste they produce overall and to reuse all material as many times as possible. For items that are reusable, search for avenues to give away materials locally free of cost, such as online Buy Nothing groups, donating to reuse facilities, and utilizing scrap metal facilities. Check out SWANCC's guide "Cleaning out Quickly and Responsibly or search our Reuse and Recycling Directory for outlets for many materials.
For more information on SWANCC's Glenview Transfer Station, please visit: swancc.org/transfer-station
Landfills are specialized structures designed to minimize the effects of trash on human health and the environment by reducing contamination of the surrounding soil or water. Due to updated regulations and better understanding of science, modern landfills have come a long way in the last few decades!
While there are several types of landfills. The garbage picked up at your curb each week is destined for the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF) in Winnebago County, IL. MSWLF landfills are specifically designed to receive nonhazardous household and commercial waste.
How are these landfills created and managed?
Landfills are mostly compressed layers of trash and soil. According to the EPA, modern landfills are completely sealed to reduce contamination of the nearby groundwater. To do this, first, the ground is lined with clay then a thin layer of flexible plastic is placed on top of the clay layer. As trash is dumped, creating a pile, it is compacted into a dense mound. Each day a layer of soil is used to cover the garbage. This helps to prevent odor and rodent problems. The flexible plastic layer of the landfill allows the collection of leachate, the liquid that passes through the landfill that may draw toxins from the trash. The leachate is collected though a drainage system that leads to a pool where it can be treated to remove the toxins before being released back into the environment. When a landfill is full and needs to be closed, it is sealed with another layer of clay and thin plastic. Then it is covered with several feet of soil so that plants can grow on top.
Last year SWANCC member communities contributed approximately 250,000 tons of garbage to the Winnebago Landfill. This is a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill that opened in 1972. The Winnebago landfill uses gas-to-energy processing. This allows the conversion of naturally occurring landfill gas into clean renewable energy. In addition, the liquids that are collected from the drainage system are treated at our modern wastewater treatment facility in Rockford.
For addition information, please use the following links:
EPA: Basic Information about Landfills
EPA: Information About Landfill Gas
EPA: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
It’s Hazardous, and It’s in Your House!
Household hazardous waste (HHW) consists of household products that have hazardous characteristics - meaning they can catch fire, react with other substances to create a dangerous liquid or gas, cause explosion, are corrosive, or are toxic - and that you wish to dispose or can no longer be used. If not disposed of properly, HHW can pose a threat to human health and the environment.
Hazardous waste rules do not apply to households the same way they do to businesses – households are exempt from hazardous waste rules because of the small amount of material they generate. State and federal laws therefore allow HHW to be disposed of with other residential garbage (NEVER put these materials into curbside recycle or dump them down your household drains or the sewer!).
However, even though it is allowed, disposing of HHW in the trash may cause injury to your family or trash collector and is not environmentally friendly. Taking this waste to an HHW collection site or event that is specifically designed to handle such problematic materials is more protective of human health and the environment. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) provides funding to support drop-off facilities and one-day collections that are FREE for residents!
Visit the IEPA website for one-day events and see below for permanent drop-off facilities. For a fee, there are also services that will collect HHW materials from your home. Interested in learning more about HHW from the EPA? Click HERE
HHW can include items like:
Aerosol products
Asbestos-containing products
Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze, brake and transmission fluids, etc.)
Batteries (lithium, marine, sump pump and non-alkaline)
Corrosive cleaners (such as drain cleaner and lye-based oven cleaner)
Fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides
Fluorescent light bulbs (including CFLs)
Fuels (gasoline, propane, diesel)
Mercury
Paints (oil-based), wood stains or varnishes
Pool chemicals
Solvents
Vapes (nicotine-based)
FREE EPA Drop-Off Facilities:
Chicago Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility
Madison County HHW Collection Facility
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Rockford Rock River Reclamation District
Solid Waste Agency of Lake County
What to do with EMPTY HHW containers?
You can recycle nearly all plastic/metal containers, even with residual waste inside (excluding motor oils, gasoline and antifreeze). Aerosol cans are fully recyclable if they are empty and depressurized! Empty propane tanks can be recycled at your local scrap yard.
Don’t throw them in the trash or wash them down the sink. Don’t flush them down the toilet.
The EPA states that flushing medicines or pouring them down the sink can create the potential for harmful chemicals to end up in our waterways and drinking water. In fact, traces of medicines have been found in water samples in 30 states!
Through the passage of the Drug Take-Back Act every Illinois resident has FREE access to disposal of medications. These drop-off sites are located conveniently around the state and mail back envelopes are also available.
Remember, this service is FREE of charge for Illinois residents and is completely ANONYMOUS.
Participating local law enforcement, government agencies, and pharmacies will accept most unwanted medications, including most prescription and over-the-counter medicines for disposal. SWANCC recommends calling the location to double check the collection point.
To find a drop off location near you, please visit the sites below. Locations may vary through each resource.
Cook County Sheriff’s Prescription Drug Take Back Network
For more information on medication disposal, the Drug Take Back Act, and more, please visit the IEPA