Spring is the perfect time for cleaning your chemical storage area and disposing of any old or unwanted pesticides. To assist with this effort, the Illinois EPA will hold one-day household hazardous waste collections. Their schedule for this spring 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 spring. 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
April 11, 2026
Western Illinois Fairgrounds
516 South Oak Street
Griggsville, IL 62340
More info
April 18, 2026
Kankakee Public Works Building
401 W. Oak St.
Kankakee, IL 60901
More info
April 25, 2026
Whiteside County Highway Department
18819 Lincoln Road
Morrison, IL 61270
More info
May 16, 2026
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
2200 Pleasant Street
DeKalb, IL 60115
More info
June 6, 2026
Marlowe Middle School
9625 Haligus Road
Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
More info
June 6, 2026
Southern Illinois University Arena South Parking Lot
425 Saluki Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901
More info
Remember, all events require registration in advance. For additional questions, please contact the event co-sponsor at the link 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:
Community and Economic Development
3315 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 at 1311 N. Estes St. Gurnee. 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: recycling@madisoncountyil.gov
For questions concerning the IEPA's one-day or long-term collections, please call the Materials Management Unit at (217) 524-3300.
Photo: nudda, Adobe Stock
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michelle Wiesbrook provides subject matter expertise and training in pesticide safety with an emphasis on horticultural weed science. She serves as the Illinois Pesticide Review newsletter editor, collecting and organizing material; and co-coordinates social media information for the PSEP program and ensures its timely publication. Her other interests include herbicide injury and invasive species.