© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Planned For Fall In Bloomington-Normal

lines of cars at the old Mitsubishi plant.
Charlie Schlenker
/
WGLT
Hundreds of vehicles lined up around the old Mitsubishi test track at the Rivian Auto plant in Normal on September 9, 2017, during the last Household Hazardous Waste Collection event in Bloomington Normal.

The Ecology Action Center is optimistic a household hazardous waste collection event can happen this fall in Bloomington-Normal. The center is asking for private donations to help offset expenses.

Center Director Michael Brown said sponsors and partners for the collection include the Illinois Farm Bureau, Compeer Financial, Rivian, Republic Services, Henson Disposal and Recycling, Area Disposal Services, the City of Bloomington, McLean County, and the Town of Normal.

In the absence of reliable Illinois EPA funding, Bloomington-Normal has held several such events in recent years, removing nearly 75,000 gallons of hazardous waste from people’s homes, and potential unsafe disposal, the EAC said in a news release.

We are “the only community anywhere that I am aware of that provides this service through a combination of public and private funding,” said Brown. “We encourage all local residents to donate to the McLean County HHW Fund and support this important effort.”

The Ecology Action Center hopes to raise $35,000 to allow for a growing awareness of the need for proper hazardous waste disposal and related increases in attendance at the fall household hazardous waste collection. The EAC asks residents to make tax-deductible donations at HHWmclean.org.

“Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes pollutes local water supplies and the environment.  Whether it is thrown out with regular trash going to a municipal waste landfill, dumped illegally down the drain, storm sewer, or in a ditch, these actions compromise the safety of drinking water thereby threatening the health and well-being of area residents,” said Brown.

The Ecology Action Center acts as a central resource for environmental education, information, outreach, and technical assistance in McLean County.

wate_collection_long_.mp3
Waste Collection Full Segment

People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.

WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.