What items are banned from Illinois landfills?

The full list of banned items in Illinois

Electronics (under the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act)

• Televisions (CRT, plasma, LCD, LED, OLED, projection)
• Desktop and laptop computers
• Tablets
• Computer monitors
• Printers, scanners, fax machines
• Computer peripherals (keyboards, mice)
• Cable boxes, DVRs, satellite receivers
• DVD players, VCRs, Blu-ray players
• Video game consoles
• Cell phones
• MP3 players, e-readers
• Digital converter boxes

Refrigerant-containing appliances (federal Section 608 requires recovery before disposal)

• Refrigerators (all sizes)
• Freezers (chest and upright)
• Air conditioners (window, portable, central, mini-split)
• Dehumidifiers
• Heat pumps
• Water coolers (chilling units)
• Wine and beverage refrigerators

Hazmat-classified items

• Motor oil and oil filters
• Antifreeze
• Lead-acid batteries (car, motorcycle, UPS)
• Rechargeable batteries (some types — lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium)
• Mercury thermostats, switches, thermometers
• Fluorescent lamps and CFL bulbs (contain mercury)
• Paint (some types — latex is sometimes allowed if dried; oil-based always hazmat)
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Pool chemicals
• Propane tanks (when not empty)

Other items requiring special handling

• Yard waste (separate curbside program in Aurora)
• Tires (most landfills don’t accept; tire-specific recyclers required)
• Asbestos-containing materials (licensed abatement required)
• Medical waste (separate disposal channel)
• Construction debris in some volumes (separate C&D facilities)

How each item should be handled

Electronics

Licensed e-recycler, Best Buy take-back, or junk removal company that routes to licensed recycler. See our TV recycling options guide.

Refrigerant-containing appliances

Junk removal (compliant hauler), retailer haul-away, ComEd appliance recycling program, or transfer station that accepts.

Motor oil and antifreeze

Auto parts stores (AutoZone, O’Reilly, Advance) accept used motor oil free. Kane County hazmat events.

Lead-acid batteries

Auto parts stores typically accept free (and pay a small core charge). Battery retailers (Batteries+, others) accept.

Rechargeable batteries

Home Depot and Lowe’s have battery recycling drop-offs. Best Buy also accepts.

Fluorescent lamps and CFLs

Home Depot and Lowe’s accept. Kane County hazmat events.

Paint and solvents

Kane County household hazardous waste collection events (1–2 per year). Some PaintCare drop-off locations.

Propane tanks

Many propane retailers (Blue Rhino, AmeriGas exchange locations) accept empty tanks. Hardware stores sometimes too.

Tires

Tire shops accept (small fee per tire). Kane County hazmat events sometimes accept.

Yard waste

Aurora has separate curbside yard waste collection. Compost facilities also accept.

What Junk Nurse handles

We routinely take:

• All electronics (routed to licensed e-recyclers)
• All refrigerant-containing appliances (routed to Section 608 compliant processors)
• Lead-acid batteries (separated and recycled)
• Fluorescent lamps in small quantities (routed appropriately)
• Motor oil if drained from equipment we’re hauling
• Tires in small quantities

We don’t take:

• Bulk hazmat (paint, solvents, chemicals)
• Asbestos-containing materials
• Medical waste
• Live ammunition or explosives
• Large quantities of pesticides

For items we can’t take, we’ll point you to the right resource (typically Kane County hazmat events).

Why this matters

Items banned from landfills contain materials that don’t belong there:

• Lead, mercury, and cadmium leach into groundwater
• Refrigerants contribute to ozone depletion and climate change
• Recoverable materials (metals, glass, plastic) get wasted
• Specific items (mattresses, tires) take disproportionate landfill space

Compliant disposal isn’t just legal — it’s the right way to handle the material.

For more on the regulatory landscape, see our appliance and furniture removal authority guide.