Results from the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event held on September 29, 2012 in Champaign revealed that households properly disposed of 205,127 pounds of oils, paints, solvents, old gasoline, adhesives, sealers, flammables, mercury, asbestos, lead-acid batteries and poisons and pesticides.
The collection event was an overwhelming success with more than 2,200 households participating. The 2012 event surpassed the last event, held in the City of Urbana in 2006. At that event 92,690 pounds of materials was collected. The 2012 event showed a 121% increase in materials collected from the 2006 event, indicating the need for more frequent events. Two local vendors also participated at the 2012 event: Interstate Batteries of Champaign collected 256 lead-acid batteries, and Hick’s Gas of Urbana collected more than 500 propane tanks.
The event was sponsored by the Illinois EPA and cosponsored by the cities of Champaign and Urbana, Village of Savoy, Champaign County, Prairie Rivers Network, and MTD, with The News-Gazette serving as the host.