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.