Welcome. Please use the menu to the left and/or scroll down for links to
information and pages on SWALCO programs, services and more.
Use the SEARCH engine above to search the website by topic or item.
View our Where Should My Stuff Go?: Recycle and Redirect Guide to find out what to do with much of your unwanted "stuff", including batteries, latex paint, documents, cell phones, and so much more. You can also find listings for local scrap and recycling facilities in our community, places to donate and resell items. Learn about places like the Freecycle Network, as well as much more helpful information.
- Back to School time.... remember to apply the 4Rs when considering back to school supplies. Check out these Back to School Tips.
- ComEd Appliance Rebate Program
For a limited time ComEd subscribers can recycle their working old, inefficient appliances and receive a $25 rebate! Most second refrigerators or freezers are 15 years or older and use up to 5 times more electricity than newer models-- you could be wasting as much as $150 a year in electricity! CHECK OUT THE COOL REYCLED FRIDGE ART EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15, 2010.
- Looking to make a few home improvements -- want to save a little and help a lot???
Donate or shop at The Habitat for Humanity Restore here in Lake County. Every item at the Lake County Restore and all Restores nationwide, is another item that has been kept out of one of the world's many landfills. The store is located at 2545 Grand Avenue in Gurnee. Shop for new and used building materials and home furnishings, including, cabinets, windows, flooring, doors, lighting fixtures, sinks, furniture, paint and much more. You never know what you might find there. Currently Restore is holding a 50% off door sale on all doors... front doors, back doors, screen doors, bathroom and bedroom doors, oak, maple and pine doors, shower doors, dog doors: they've got them all!
Your purchases from the Restore help to fund affordable and durable housing for families in need, right here in Lake County. For more info on the Restore or the homes they are building, visit their website at the link above.
- The Plastic Bag Recycling Task Force has concluded the pilot program. To view or print their May 2010 report to the Illinois General Assembly and to find out more about plastic bag recycling in Lake County, click here for a link to the Plastic Bags Recycling Page of our website.
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On April 13, 2010, The Lake County Board approved the 2009 Solid Waste Management Plan Update as prepared by SWALCO and the Citizens Advisory Committee. View the Final Report under our
Publications page of the website.
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- Interested in saving on your water bill and helping the environment? Consider purchasing a rain barrel. Soil & Water Conservation District of Lake County IL has rain barrels and accessories you can purchase for your home.
_________________________________________________________________________Household Chemical Waste
SWALCO is continuing its expanded HCW (Household Chemical Waste) Program. Residents have two ways to dispose of their household chemical waste FREE OF CHARGE.
(Commercial Waste will be turned away)
1) Year-round Collection Events held twice a month (the second Saturday and the fourth Monday) at SWALCO's permanent facility,1311 N. Estes St., Gurnee (by appointment only) or
2) SWALCO's Mobile Events, held at locations throughout Lake County from April through November (no appointment).
Visit our HCW information page under Collection Events:
- For a list of upcoming Mobile and Drop-off Collection Events
- For a list of accepted items
- To find out more about the program
- To make your appointment online.
Upcoming 2010 drop-off events at Gurnee include: Saturday September 11 and Monday September 27, 2010 - Limited appointments available - sign up early. Sign up now!
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Household Electronics
The Household Electronics Collection locations are also available under our Programs menu. There are several events at locations around the county. Please check back periodically for a location near you. These events are only open to Lake County residents. No business, institutional, not-for-profit, or governmental education electronics will be accepted.
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Reuse-A-Shoe Gym Shoe Recycling Program
SWALCO continues to coordinate the Reuse-A-Shoe athletic shoe recycling program. 2010 will be our 6th year in the program. For more information on where to take shoes, or how you can participate take a look at our
Reuse-A-Shoe Page.
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Compost Bins Sales
Purchase for your home. Compost bins are available at locations around Lake County as supplies last. For more information and purchasing details, see Compost Bins page under Programs.
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School Education
Attention All Educators and Parents:
Have your School earn a beautiful Earth Flag! In addition to offering assistance to Lake County schools on projects related to recycling, 4Rs, waste managements and disposal, and other related environmental topics, SWALCO also offers a program to promote the 4Rs -- Earth Flag.
If you are an educator, school administrator or interested parent, please check out our School Education Corner and find out how your school can make a difference in the community by participating in a most rewarding program called Earth Flag. The Program is designed to educate students, teachers, administration and parents about the need to rethink trash habits and the impact waste reduction, reuse and recycling have on the environment. Find out how your school can earn its very own, beautiful Earth Flag. In addition to our regular SWALCO Announcements elist, Educators can also sign up for a special SWALCO Educators elist service for occasional announcements and notices that may be of interest to teachers and other educators.
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SWALCO ELists
In addition to the SWALCO Educators elist mentioned above, you can receive email announcements about SWALCO programs and collections. Please sign up for the SWALCO Announcements elist.
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You can find out more information about the agency, including its programs, events, members and meetings. If you are looking for information about how to dispose of something specific, check out the Disposal Guide where you can find out about trash, recycling, yardwaste, electronics, chemical wastes and many other types of materials that can be difficult to dispose of. We also have a list of facilities that provide solid waste disposal services, such as landfills, scrap yards, and recycling centers.
