Hazardous Waste Collections

Courtesy of the Sierra Club Shawnee Group:

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL COLLECTION ON OCT. 17

A free household chemical collection will be held at Southern Illinois
Airport near Carbondale on Saturday, October 17. This collection
program helps residents safely dispose of old and unwanted household
chemicals. Residents can drop off waste at the site on the date of the
event between 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. only.

Items to be accepted at the collection include: paint, paint thinner,
aerosols, household cleaners, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides,
motor oil, antifreeze, old gasoline, batteries of all types, solvents,
polishes, pool chemicals, and lawn chemicals. Also accepted will be
unwanted or outdated medications, both prescription and
over-the-counter. These items should be brought in their original
container, but you may black out all personal information other than the
drug name. Do not bring in controlled substances, needles, syringes or
inhalers.

Citizens are especially encouraged to bring in mercury-containing
devices, such as thermometers, thermostats, and compact fluorescent
bulbs. Mercury is a silver, liquid element that can be harmful to human
health and the environment when such devices are broken or disposed of
in landfills.

Items which will absolutely not be accepted at the collection include:
explosives, ammunition, fireworks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors,
propane tanks, farm machinery oil, electronics, appliances, tires,
radioactive material, and medical waste. No business, industrial,
agricultural or government wastes will be accepted. Eligible
participants wishing to dispose of materials in containers larger than
five gallons should contact Jackson County Health Dept. prior to the
event.

This rain or shine, one-day collection is open to all Illinois
residents. The event is being sponsored by Jackson County Health Dept.
and the Jackson County Board. To get to the collection, from Illinois
Route 13 west of Carbondale, take Airport Road north and follow the
signs.

Please contact Jackson County Health Department at 684-3143, ext. 128
for more information, or visit www.RecycleJacksonCounty.org
<http://www.recyclejacksoncounty.org/>; .