Local communities will be able to collect and dispose of household hazardous waste in a May 11 collection in Zion sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County.
Residents in participating communities that meet IEPA guidelines are encouraged to bring cans of paint, oil and old household chemicals to designated sites in their communities.
The communities can then dispose of the household hazardous waste May 11 at Browning-Ferris Industries’ Zion landfill, Green Bay Road and 9th Street, Zion. The event is co-hosted by Zion, Beach Park, Wadsworth and Winthrop Harbor.
The IEPA recently issued guidelines to allow SWALCO member communities to hold their own collections earlier in the day and bring the materials to Zion that afternoon, SWALCO executive director Andrew Quigley said at a recent SWALCO meeting in Grayslake.
Participating communities wishing to hold their own collection must obtain IEPA approval in advance and certify that the material is generated from private residences, according to the guidelines.
Communities also must assume responsibility and liability for any material not accepted at the household hazardous waste collection site.
Communities must agree to deliver the material only at a specified time at the IEPA’s convenience, probably early afternoon.
SWALCO administrative staff members will work with any member communities considering operating a local collection site, Quigley said.
