Now is the time to get rid of any old or unwanted pesticides in your chemical storage area. The Illinois EPA one-day household hazardous waste collection schedule for this fall has been released to the public. Please note, all one-day collections require pre-registration. More information can be found below. Here are a few options you have for disposing of your old or unwanted pesticides:
- Use them up. You can usually apply them to a labeled-use site regardless of whether or not pests are present. Be sure to read and follow all label directions. Sometimes pesticides are taken off the market, or certain uses are removed from the label. In those cases, existing stocks can typically still be used. Rarely does US–EPA order a stop-use on the product. However, it is illegal to apply old stocks of chlordane or 2,4,5-T. To learn about the registration status of your product in question, you can contact the manufacturer or the Illinois Department of Agriculture, (217)785-2427.
- Give them away. Fellow neighboring gardeners may be interested in your castoffs. It's not recommended that you sell unwanted pesticides. To sell a pesticide legally, it must still be in the original packaging with the complete label. If the pesticide is restricted use, you must be licensed in order to sell it. If the product registration has been cancelled, selling is illegal.
- Take them to a hazardous waste collection event. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has scheduled a few one-day household hazardous waste (HHW) collection events to be held across Illinois this fall. See below for the schedule.
For a list of household hazardous waste materials that are acceptable or unacceptable at these collections, please visit Illinois EPA's Website.
There are special hazardous material collection events for other non-household types of pesticides:
- Agricultural pesticides are collected at various scheduled "Agricultural Pesticide Clean Sweep" events. Contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture, (217)785-2427, for more information.
- Structural pesticides (those used by professional applicators to control pests in and around structures) are collected at "Structural Pesticide Clean Sweep" sites. Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health, (217)782-4674, for more information.
Always transport pesticides safely. Illinois EPA recommends that you:
- Pack HHW items in a disposable box to avoid spilling during transport.
- Keep like chemicals together and separate unlike chemicals.
- Secure lids and make sure containers are not leaking.
- Place box(es) of HHW in the empty trunk or storage compartment of your vehicle, away from passengers during transport.
One-day Collection Schedule
September 9
Dekalb (Dekalb County)
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
2200 Pleasant Street
DeKalb, IL 60115
Pre-register here.
Sponsored by:
DeKalb County Health Dept.
Recycle@dekalbcounty.org
815-748-2408
September 23
Normal (McLean County)
Heartland Community College
1500 West Rabb Road
Normal, IL 61761
Pre-register here.
Sponsored by:
Ecology Action Center
mbrown@ecologyactioncenter.org
309-454-3169
September 30
Springfield (Sangamon County)
Illinois State Fairgrounds
801 East Sangamon Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702
Pre-register here.
Sponsored by:
City of Springfield Public Works
Public.Works@springfield.il.us
217-789-2255
October 7
East Moline (Rock Island County)
Rock Island County Fairgrounds
4200 Archer Drive
East Moline, IL 61244
Pre-register here.
Sponsored by:
Rock Island County Waste Management Agency
gmccullough@bistateonline.org
309-788-8925
October 7
Quincy (Adams County)
Adams County Highway Department
101 North 54th Street
Quincy, IL 62305
Pre-register here.
Sponsored by:
Adams County Health Dept.
health@adamscountyil.gov
217-222-8440
October 14
Orland Park (Cook County)
Village of Orland Park
14700 South Ravinia Avenue
Orland Park, IL 60462
Pre-register here.
Sponsored by:
Orland Township Highway Dept.
highway@orlandroaddistrict.org
708-403-5148
Remember, all events require registration in advance. For additional questions, please contact the event co-sponsor listed above.
One-day collections are open from 8 am to 3 pm on the above scheduled Saturdays. Please note these are open to all Illinois residents. In addition, the following long-term facilities are available for disposal of HHW. Please phone ahead to determine availability and open hours.
Long-term Facilities
City of Chicago
Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility
1150 N. North Branch on Goose Island
Tues: 7 am - noon
Thursday: 2 pm - 7 pm
First Saturday of each month: 8 am - 3 pm
For information: (312) 744-3060
Rockford:
Four Rivers Sanitation Authority
3333 Kishwaukee
Sat: 8 am - 4 pm
Sun: Noon - 4 pm
For information: (779) 348-7425
Naperville:
Household Hazardous Waste Facility
156 Fort Hill Dr.
Sat: 9 am - 2 pm
Sun: 9 am - 2 pm
For information: (630) 420-6095
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 Website or by calling (847) 336-9340.
Madison County:
Madison County Building & Zoning
249 N. Old St. Louis Road, Wood River
First Saturday and Third Friday of every month 8 am - 3 pm. Appointments are required. See website to schedule your appointment. Questions: 618-296-5237 or recycling@co.madison.il.us
For questions concerning the IEPA's one-day or long-term collections, please call the Materials Management Unit at (217) 524-3300. Illinois EPA HHW collections continue to be contactless for the safety of participants and workers. Remain in your vehicle at the collection site. On-site personnel will remove the HHW from your vehicle.