9 things banned from Illinois landfills — and what you should do with them instead
You know certain items can’t go in your recycling bin. But did you know there are things that can’t go in your garbage, either?
Given their potential to cause environmental damage or endanger human health, Illinois bans certain items from landfills. That means you can’t toss them out with your regular garbage.
What items are banned? And how are you supposed to get rid of them?
We’ve got you covered. Here are 9 common items banned from Illinois landfills and how to properly dispose of them.
1. Appliances
Year banned: 1994
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Household and commercial appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioning units, freezers, ranges and water heaters, may contain components that are harmful to the environment, like mercury switches, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant gas (Freon) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Certain landfills with approval from the Illinois EPA may receive these appliances (also known as white goods) once the harmful component parts are removed.
What To Do Instead: Appliances that are still in working condition should be donated. Chicago residents with broken appliances may request a bulky item pickup by the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
2. Used Tires
Year banned: 1994
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Every year in Illinois, 14 million tires drive their last mile. They are unwelcome in landfills because their shape invites a watery home for disease-carrying insects.
What To Do Instead: Tire retailers must accept your used car tires when you purchase new ones.
3. Yard Waste
Year banned: 1990
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Illinois banned landscape waste to address concerns about declining landfill space. Decomposing organic matter like yard waste produces methane, so this ban also aims to reduce emissions of this potent gas and climate change contributor.
What To Do Instead: Chicago provides a free yard waste service between April 1 and November 30. Call 3-1-1 or (312) 744-5000 to request a pickup, or make a request online. Grass, leaves, yard trimmings and small branches should be placed in a paper yard waste bag for pickup.
For other debris like rocks or large branches, contact a landscape or yard waste removal company. You can also leave clippings and leaves on your grass (grasscycling), or compost them.
4. Car Batteries
Year banned: 1990
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Lead-acid batteries, often found in cars, motorcycles and RVs, are harmful to the environment. These batteries are mostly made of lead and acid, and if placed in a landfill they may corrode and release lead and lead-contaminated sulfuric acid.
What To Do Instead: Drop your used battery off at an auto service center, exchange your old one for a new battery, or sell it to a salvage yard or recycling center.
While we’re on the subject of batteries: You shouldn’t throw away rechargeable batteries, either. You’ll also find many options for dropping off your rechargeable batteries in the Chicago recycling guide.
5. Motor Oil
Year banned: 1996
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Motor oil poses a significant danger to the environment. Just one gallon can make a million gallons of fresh water undrinkable. A film of oil atop the water blocks oxygen and sunlight from entering the water, making it harder for plants to grow and damaging an entire ecosystem.
What To Do Instead: Save the oil in a leak-proof container and drop it off at a vehicle service center that accepts used oil or take it to the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF) on Goose Island.
6. Hazardous Chemicals
Year banned: 1970s
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Items like oil-based paints and paint thinner, lawn chemicals, cleaning products and pesticides can pose dangers to humans and the environment when they are thrown away. Look on the label, and if you see words like “warning,” “hazardous,” “toxic,” “flammable,” “oxidizer,” “caution,” “poison” or “corrosive,” that means you should NOT be throwing that item away in your garbage can.
What To Do Instead: Take your items to the HCCRF or review additional disposal options in the Chicago recycling guide.
7. Thermostats and Other Mercury-Containing Products
Year banned: 2011
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Items like thermostats, thermometers, barometers — even switches in children’s light-up sneakers — may contain mercury. If it’s not safely enclosed, mercury can cause severe health problems.
What To Do Instead: Take your items to the HCCRF or another Illinois household hazardous waste collection site.
8. Fluorescent and High-Intensity Discharge Lamps
Year banned: 1998
Applies to: Primarily commercial and industrial facilities
Why It’s Banned: Fluorescent lamps contain mercury and other metals that may leak into the landfill.
What To Do Instead: Commercial and industrial facilities must follow the specific Universal Waste Rule disposal guidelines, which outline rules for storing, transporting and disposing of items like fluorescent lamps. Although households are permitted to throw mercury-containing lamps in their trash, the Illinois EPA recommends taking items to a household hazardous waste collection site or a retail store that collects fluorescent bulbs for recycling.
9. Electronics
Year banned: 2012
Applies to: All households, businesses and industries
Why It’s Banned: Electronics like computers, televisions, printers, faxes, DVD players and video game consoles contain materials that can be hazardous to land and water. They also contain precious metals that can be recaptured through recycling.
What To Do Instead: Recycle your electronics with a licensed electronics recycler.
Find Answers to All Your Chicago Trash and Recycling Questions
Need more info about trash and recycling guidelines? Find all the trash and recycling disposal tips you need in the official Chicago recycling guide.
