New household hazardous waste site opens in south Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new household hazardous waste drop-off site has opened in the city to provide a place to dispose of corrosive and toxic materials that don’t belong in the landfill.
The city of Rockford, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Four Rivers Sanitation Authority opened the new site at 3315 Kishwaukee St., which is just north of the sanitation authority headquarters. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the site was held Thursday in the lead up to its first drop-off days this weekend.
“This facility is a much-needed tool to prevent hazardous and toxic materials from entering our regional landfills,” said Rick Pollack, president of the Four Rivers board of trustees.
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The new site, a paved lot with drive-up service at the northwest corner of Kishwaukee Street and Martin Road, replaces the previous facility on adjacent land to the south.
That site, however, was in a floodplain with a nearby creek flowing into the Rock River. When major storms struck the city, floods could send collection barrels floating down the creek toward the river.
“This is the first upgrade that this household hazardous waste facility has had since 1995, so it’s long overdue,” Mayor Tom McNamara said.
The site is the spot to bring materials such as cleaning supplies, tires, batteries, paints, motor oil and other hazardous waste. Drop off times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
It is a statewide hazardous material disposal site with about 84% of the users coming from Winnebago County, according to County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli. The site helps divert more than 220,000 pounds of waste from landfills each year.
“This is very important to Winnebago County that we sustain our beautiful environment and planet,” Chiarelli said.
About | Household hazardous waste disposal
Where: 3315 Kishwaukee St., Rockford
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 4 p.m. Sundays
Cost: There is no cost for Illinois residents
Materials: Commonly acceptable hazardous waste includes cleaning materials, antifreeze, aerosols, corrosives, oxidizers, solvents, oil-based paints, motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, batteries (no alkaline), and fluorescent lamps. Up to four passenger tires are also accepted per day. See the complete list HERE.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
