What can’t junk removal companies take in Illinois?

Hazardous waste junk removal can’t legally accept

Paint

Liquid paint — latex or oil-based — can’t go in the truck. How to handle it: dry latex paint by stirring in cat litter or paint hardener, leaving the lid off until it solidifies. Once fully dry, it’s ordinary trash (we can take it). Oil-based paint must go to a HHW event — it doesn’t dry the same way.

Propane tanks

20-pound BBQ tanks contain pressurized fuel. How to handle it: exchange at any Blue Rhino, AmeriGas, or local hardware store (most Aurora Ace Hardware locations). They take old tanks when you buy a new one. Empty tanks also accepted at HHW events.

Motor oil, gasoline, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid

How to handle it: AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Advance Auto Parts in Aurora accept used motor oil free. Antifreeze and other fluids go to HHW events.

Pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals

How to handle it: Kane County and DuPage County HHW events accept all of these.

Asbestos and asbestos-containing materials

Popcorn ceiling material, some old floor tiles, old pipe insulation, certain old plaster systems. How to handle it: hire an asbestos remediation specialist licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. This is not a DIY situation.

Medical waste and sharps

Used needles, lancets, syringes. How to handle it: pharmacies in Aurora (CVS, Walgreens, some Mariano’s) often have sharps disposal containers. Kane County also runs sharps disposal programs.

Prescription medications

How to handle it: most Aurora-area police departments and many pharmacies have drug take-back programs. Don’t flush; don’t put in the trash.

Tires

Some haulers (including Junk Nurse for limited quantities) take a few tires for a small per-tire fee. Tire shops accept tires with new tire purchase. Bulk tires go to specialty disposal.

Biohazards

Items contaminated by sewage, rodent infestation, or bodily fluids. How to handle it: biohazard remediation specialists handle these. Some cleanup overlaps with hoarding cleanouts — see Hoarding Cleanup.

Kane and DuPage County HHW options

• Kane County hosts HHW collection events spring and fall, typically at the county fairgrounds in St. Charles. Check kanecountyrecycles.org for the next date.
• DuPage County runs a permanent HHW facility in Naperville (3rd Avenue) open select days year-round.
• City of Aurora periodically partners with both counties on collection days — check the city sustainability page.

For more on what we do take, see What Can Junk Removal Take? and the main Junk Removal Guide.