When was the last time you changed your motor oil, painted your house, or filled your snowblower?  All of these tasks involve using household hazardous materials, motor oil, paint, and gas.  Recently the City of Chicago opened a new recycle center for household hazardous materials.  The center is located in the Goose Island area of Chicago and will accept most common hazardous materials including the following materials for recycling or safe disposal: antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, aerosol paints, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, cleaning products, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, mercury, fluorescent lamps and bulbs, computers and cell phones. 

The center will also recycle old computers and works with Computers for Schools a non-profit organization making computers available to schools.

Mayor Daley explained that the new center is one of the City’s most environmentally friendly buildings.  “In addition to a green roof, the building features the first solar wall in the State of Illinois. This wall will absorb heat and reduce energy consumption,” said Daley.  The building was constructed from existing materials, recycles heat and retains storm water

The center was funded by a partnership of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Clean Energy Fund, and the City of Chicago. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency provided financial assistance for the ongoing disposal of the chemicals collected at the facility.