Free Chemical Collection At Southern Illinois Airport
A free household chemical collection will be held at Southern Illinois
Airport near Carbondale on Saturday, September 20. 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unwanted or outdated medications, both prescription and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 or syringes.
Citizens are especially encouraged to bring in all mercury-containing
devices, such as thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent bulbs.
Mercury is a liquid element that can be harmful to human health and the
environment when such devices are broken or disposed of in landfills.
The first 100 residents to bring in a mercury thermometer will receive
one new, non-mercury digital thermometer in exchange. Mercury
thermometers can be identified by the silver liquid inside them. Please
bring thermometers in a sealed plastic bag to help prevent breakage and
spills. All thermometers with red liquid do not contain mercury and
should continue to be used.
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.,
Jackson County Board and Southern Illinois Airport. To get to the
collection, from Illinois Route 13 west of Carbondale, take Airport Road
north and follow the signs.
Event flyer is posted online at:
http://www.jchdonline.org/docs/Sept_event_flyer.pdf
For more information call Jackson County Health Dept. at 684-3143, ext. 136.
