Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS FACILITY DOES NOT ACCEPT LATEX PAINT OR ELECTRONIC WASTE.
The City of Rockford, Illinois EPA, and Four Rivers Sanitation Authority co-operate the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Center where Illinois residents (not businesses) can dispose of common household hazardous waste items. The facility is located at 3315 Kishwaukee Street and is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m., excluding the holidays of New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day and Christmas. Waste items will only be accepted during operational hours. Commonly generated acceptable household hazardous wastes include aerosols, corrosives, oxidizers, solvents, oil-based paints, waste oil, pesticides, fertilizers, batteries (no alkaline), and fluorescent lamps (see list). All liquid wastes are required to be in secure containers of no more than five gallons. There is no cost for dropping off household hazardous waste items for Illinois residents. Additionally, City of Rockford residents may drop off up to four (4) passenger tires per vehicle per day. Commercial vehicle and agricultural tires will not be accepted.
Latex paint is no longer being accepted. Residents are encourage to dispose of latex paint by dropping off at a local PaintCare drop off site for recycling. There is no charge for residents and businesses using the PaintCare sites. Residents may also leave containers of latex paint open to dry. The solidification process can be speeded up by mixing in cat litter, oil dry, or quick set cement powder. Paint cans containing completely dry paint can then be placed next to garbage cans containing general household refuse on normal pick-up days. Please place out for collection with the lids off to show the paint is no longer a liquid. Other unacceptable wastes generally include radioactive waste, compressed gas cylinders and tanks (propane, helium, etc.), explosives, and other bulk packaged materials exceeded 5 gallons. Waste generated from a commercial or agricultural source will not be accepted and requires disposal using a licensed special waste contractor. The facility accepts a large variety of batteries with the exception of alkaline, automotive, and marine batteries. All batteries must have the terminal ends taped off non-conductive tape like electrical tape to be accepted. Alkaline batteries are not recyclable and should be discarded with your general trash. Automotive and marine batteries should be returned to a local automotive store, battery retailer, or a Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful recycling center. Please refer to the Battery Management Guide to determine how to properly dispose of several common battery types. Prescription medication and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals are not accepted at the facility. Please refer to the Pharmaceuticals section of our website for medication disposal options.
The facility will accept some non-friable and generally intact asbestos containing building materials as long as they are generated from a residential property that is four or fewer dwelling units and not part of a larger commercial or public project. Acceptable materials include intact floor tile, small transite (asbestos cement) panels, adhesives/glues/mastics, air duct gaskets. These materials shall be wetted and double bagged in heavy duty contractor bags. The City recommends that all asbestos be handled and disposed of by licensed asbestos abatement professionals. Only professionals should test, remove and dispose of asbestos-containing materials. Please refer to the Asbestos webpage for additional information on safe handling and disposal of asbestos. If dropping off asbestos, please call 779-348-7425 ahead for pre-approval.
Directions
To navigate the facility, please enter on the Kishwaukee Street side only. Residents with household wastes shall follow the traffic cones to the left upon entering. Please remain in your vehicle and a staff member will approach you and unload your items. Users are prohibited from smoking while at the facility.
Users with only tires may keep to the right upon entering the site and drive directly to the used tire shipping container. Users are required to self-load tires into the shipping container. Upon unloading household waste and tires, users must exit the facility onto Martin Road to return to Kishwaukee Street.