Our office receives numerous inquiries on how to dispose of household hazardous waste and farm chemicals. The Illinois EPA and area cities and agencies have announced that a Champaign County Household Hazardous Waste Collection has been scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2006 from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Solo Cup north parking lot at 1500 E. Main Street, Urbana. Acceptable wastes include oil based paint, paint thinner, aerosol paint, solvents, cleaning products, drain cleaners, pool chemicals, lawn chemicals, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, household batteries, lead acid batteries, antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, fluorescent lamps, fire extinguishers, propane tanks, hobby chemicals, cell phones, and mercury or mercury containing items like thermostats or thermometers. Items that will NOT be accepted are tires, fireworks, latex paint, and smoke detectors. Due to the popularity of the event, be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes. If you have any questions, contact the City of Urbana at 384-2302, City of Champaign at 403-4770, or Illinois EPA at 782-9284.

For the farm community, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has scheduled an Agricultural Pesticide Clean Sweep Program for Champaign and Vermilion Counties. The focus of this program is to dispose of unwanted pesticides which may be posing an unnecessary threat to the owners and the environment.

Items eligible for disposal include pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and other agrichemical related products. Disposal of unwanted pesticides through this program is FREE OF CHARGE. The Illinois Department of Agriculture will be assuming generator status for all products disposed of through this program. This eliminates the participant's liability for the disposal of their products. Please be advised, it is not illegal to own these products, but it is illegal to dispose of them improperly. ONLY THOSE PESTICIDES WHICH HAVE BEEN PRE-REGISTERED BY MAY 26, 2006, WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM. Clean Sweep forms are available at:

Champaign County Extension Unit
801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite D
Champaign, IL 61821

Vermilion County Extension Unit
12190 U. S. Route 150
Oakwood, IL 61858

Champaign County Farm Bureau
801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite A
Champaign, IL 61826-3098

Vermilion County Farm Bureau
1905 Route 150W, Suite C
Danville, IL 61832

Champaign County SWCD
2110 W. Park Court
Champaign, IL 61821

Vermilion County SWCD
1905A U.S. Route 150
Danville, IL 61832-5396

Please complete the forms as completely as possible with product's name, manufacturer, and EPA registration number if available. If product is unknown, please state on the form. Also indicate the type and condition of containers. These forms are then forwarded to the IDA and a card will be returned to you indicating a time, date, and location of the collection. If you have questions, contact the IDA Pesticide Hotline at 800-641-3934.

National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program Update

The NSTMOP for 14 and 15 year olds working off their home farm still has openings for the spring training. The program is now offered on Saturday, April 1, 22, and May 6. Contact Amy Hunter at Carle Center for Rural Health and Farm Safety at 383-4606 for information.