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Prohibited Items

For safety and legal compliance, there are certain hazardous materials we are unable to transport or dispose of. Please review this list before scheduling a pickup.

What We Can't Take

Hazardous & Prohibited Materials

Chemicals & Cleaners
  • Household cleaning chemicals (bleach, ammonia, lye-based cleaners)
  • Drain cleaners / pipe unblockers (e.g., Drano-type products)
  • Oven cleaners and heavy-duty degreasers
  • Mold/mildew removers containing strong biocides
  • Disinfectants in bulk or industrial quantities
  • Pool chemicals (chlorine tablets, shock treatments, algaecides)
  • Acid-based cleaners (toilet bowl acids, descalers)
  • Formaldehyde-containing products
  • Unknown or unlabeled chemical containers
  • Mixed or combined chemical waste
Paints & Solvents
  • Oil-based paints (opened or unopened)
  • Latex/acrylic paint in liquid form (fully dried latex is typically fine)
  • Paint thinners and reducers
  • Mineral spirits and turpentine
  • Lacquer and varnish products
  • Stains, sealers, and wood preservatives
  • Spray paint cans (especially partially used)
  • Epoxy resins and hardeners (liquid state)
  • Adhesive solvents and industrial glues
  • Paint sludge or partially dried paint containers
Lawncare & Gardening Products
  • Herbicides (weed killers like glyphosate products)
  • Pesticides and insecticides
  • Fungicides for lawn and plant treatment
  • Fertilizers containing reactive chemicals (nitrogen/phosphorus blends)
  • Rodent poison / bait pellets
  • Soil treatments with chemical additives
  • Tree stump removers (potassium nitrate-based, etc.)
  • Pool or pond algae control chemicals
  • Growth regulators or plant hormones
  • Pressurized garden chemical sprayers with contents
Automotive Products
  • Motor oil (used or new in containers)
  • Transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid
  • Antifreeze / coolant (ethylene glycol products)
  • Fuel additives and octane boosters
  • Gasoline, diesel, kerosene (even small amounts)
  • Car batteries (lead-acid and lithium automotive batteries)
  • Air conditioning refrigerants / Freon containers
  • Carburetor or fuel injector cleaners
  • Automotive degreasers and engine cleaners
  • Oil filters saturated with used oil
Flammable Materials
  • Gasoline and fuel containers (even empty if not properly drained)
  • Propane tanks and cylinders (grill tanks, torch tanks)
  • Butane canisters (camping fuel, lighters in bulk)
  • Charcoal lighter fluid
  • Fire starters and accelerants
  • Kerosene heaters and stored fuel
  • Alcohol fuels (denatured alcohol, ethanol fuel)
  • Oil-soaked rags or absorbent materials
  • Industrial solvents with flash-point risk
  • Camp stove fuel canisters
Aerosols
  • Spray paint cans (full or partially full)
  • Pesticide/insecticide spray cans (full or pressurized)
  • Cooking spray cans (full or pressurized)
  • Cleaning sprays (oven cleaner, glass cleaner, disinfectant sprays)
  • Personal care aerosols (hairspray, deodorant in bulk disposal)
  • Spray adhesives and foam insulation cans
  • Dusting gas / air duster cans
  • WD-40 or similar pressurized lubricant cans (full or pressurized)
  • Air freshener aerosols
  • Any punctured or damaged aerosol containers
Explosives & Highly Reactive Materials
  • Fireworks (consumer or professional-grade)
  • Flares (marine, road, emergency)
  • Ammunition and spent/unused cartridges
  • Gunpowder or black powder
  • Model rocket engines
  • Explosive blasting caps or detonators
  • Homemade explosive materials or unknown powders
  • Reactive chemical mixtures (peroxide concentrates, unstable compounds)
  • Magnesium or thermite-based materials
  • Shock-sensitive compounds (old laboratory chemicals)
Other Restricted Hazardous Items
  • Medical waste (sharps, needles, biohazard containers)
  • Mercury-containing items (thermometers, switches)
  • Fluorescent light bulbs (contain mercury — check local HHW drop-off)
  • Lithium batteries (loose or damaged)
  • Asbestos-containing materials
  • Radioactive materials (smoke detectors, lab equipment)
  • Pressurized industrial gas cylinders (CO₂, oxygen tanks)
  • PCB-containing electrical components (old transformers/capacitors)

Not sure if your item is on this list? Don't guess — just ask us before your appointment and we'll let you know right away.

Call (309) 929-9209

Need to Dispose of Hazardous Waste?

McLean County residents can drop off household hazardous waste at the McLean County Regional Planning Commission's HHW facility. Many auto parts stores also accept used motor oil, batteries, and antifreeze for free.

Get a Quote for Everything Else

Disclaimer We reserve the right to refuse collection or disposal of any items not explicitly listed above if, in our sole judgment, they are deemed hazardous, dangerous, or unsafe to handle, transport, or dispose of.