One way that Illinois households can help the environment is by making sure that hazardous waste items from their personal property are turned in for safe disposal. Tests of groundwater and surface water are finding significant quantities of chemicals, including pharmaceutical drugs, in the water used by Illinoisans for drinking and day-to-day life.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has developed a network of collection sites for safe disposal of household hazardous waste. Oil-based paints and paint thinners, household weed killer, motor oil, cleaning products and drain cleansers, and household batteries are among the types of chemicals to be safely disposed of. Drop-off locations will be in operation in both greater Chicago and Downstate. Some of the disposal points will operate seasonally in fall 2019, while others are permanent. Households are urged to learn more about this drop-off program as a preferred alternative to tossing hazardous materials into the household waste stream.