Household Hazardous Waste
Too Toxic to Trash - Safe Disposal for Household Chemicals
Hazardous waste disposal is NOT available at SCARCE. View a list of locations below.
Cleaning supplies, batteries, lead paint, and yard chemicals pose a threat to our soil, water, and air if not disposed of properly. Despite being common household materials, they should never be disposed of at home.
Illinois residents can responsibly dispose of household hazardous waste for free at permanent collection sites and one-day collections throughout the state. Click here for a list of scheduled one-day collections.
Why? First off, it is illegal to dispose of liquids in the trash – hazardous or not. Second, our sanitary landfills are not equipped to safely contain hazardous materials. A small amount from your home may not seem to matter but once landfilled, household chemicals from millions of households can pose serious threats. Learn more of the basics of hazardous waste from the EPA.
Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities
156 Fort Hill Drive
630-420-6095
Sat & Sun 9am-2pm except holiday weekends
Visit website
1150 N. North Branch
312-744-7672
Tues 7am-noon
Thurs 2pm-7pm
First Sat of month 8am-3pm
Visit website
3333 Kishwaukee
Rock River Reclamation District
815-987-5570
Sat 8am-4pm
Sun noon - 4pm
Visit website
Note: Only residential hazardous waste is accepted at the facilities above. No waste from businesses or organizations including schools, non-profits, houses of worship, and rental property managers. These organizations must contact a commercial hazardous waste company.
Accepted Materials
- Acid
- Aerosol spray cans (only if contents remain)
- Asbestos (sized to fit in 55-gallon drum; not to exceed 50lbs)
- Automotive Fluids (oil, gasoline, anti-freeze)
- Batteries (automotive, marine and sump pump, and non-alkaline only)
- CFL Bulbs & Fluorescent Tubes**
- Fire Extinguishers
- Fertilizer & Herbicides
- Flammables
- Fluorescent Tubes & CFL bulbs**
- Fluorescent Light Ballasts
- Hobby Chemicals
- Household Cleaners & drain openers
- Insecticide, Pesticide
- Lawn & Garden Chemicals
- Medicine (non-controlled prescription and over-the-counter)
- Mercury
- Oil (motor & cooking oil)
- Oil-based Paint
- Paint Stripper
- Poison
- Pool Chemicals
- Propane tanks (20lbs or less)
- Solvents
- Stain
- Thermostats & Thermometers (mercury)
- Varnish
- Unknown hazardous substances
**CFL bulbs should be placed into sealed plastic bags. View more locations to recycle fluorescent bulbs.
Materials NOT Accepted
The following items are NOT accepted at hazardous waste collections.
- Ammunition
- Compressed gas (other than propane)
- Electronics
- Empty aerosol spray cans & containers (recyclable at home)
- Explosives
- Helium tanks
- Fireworks
- Latex paint
- Paper, glass, metal, wood, styrofoam
- Radioactive materials
- Sharps (needles or lancets)
- Smoke Detectors (must be sent to manufacturer)
- Tires
- Trash and/or non-hazardous materials
- Unopened, useable consumer products
Download the Eco-Cheat Sheet PDF from the sidebar on the left for a hard copy of this info as well as SCARCE collections, cooking oil recycling locations, and medicine disposal drop-offs.
Note: Hazardous waste disposal is NOT available at SCARCE. Items must be taken to one of the facilities listed above.