Recycling and Environmental Education Program

Bart Hagston, Manager, 618-684-3143, ext. 128, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to email

Click Here for Enviromental Education Program Information

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Jackson County Recycling Program

Jackson County Health Department serves as the County’s lead agency for implementing recycling efforts.  Since 1997, JCHD has worked to increase public awareness of recycling and improve access to recycling opportunities.  For these efforts, we have received multiple awards, including “Outstanding Government Program” (2003) and “Outstanding Government Electronics Recycling Program” (2008) from the Illinois Recycling Association and the Lt. Governor’s “Environmental Hero” award (2008).  This program is made possible by the financial support provided by the Jackson County Board, through solid waste management fees received via a permitted disposal facility.
 

Click here to view the 2010 Jackson County Green Guide, a directory of solid waste & recycling services.

Click here to view the Jackson County Waste Management Ordinance, as updated in 2008.  Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document regarding the updates to the Ordinance.
 

Recycling Program Activities

  • Promote and educate the public about recycling and proper solid waste disposal
  • Develop and publish brochures, flyers, a recycling directory, and other literature
  • Work with schools, municipalities, businesses, and other organizations on recycling and waste management projects
  • Conduct presentations and special events
  • Administer the County's waste hauler licensing program
  • Work with waste haulers and recycling centers on improving the recycling services provided
  • Conduct special recycling collections for hard-to-handle items, such as electronics, and household chemicals
  • Coordinate implementation of the Jackson County Solid Waste Management Plan and continue planning efforts into the future

Recycling Drop-Offs

In 2001, JCHD initiated a Recycling Drop-Off Program for residents of apartments and rural areas without access to curbside recycling service. In 2004, the program expanded to its fourth site. Over 600,000 pounds of recyclables were collected at the four sites in 2009 alone.

Materials accepted: glass bottles and jars; aluminum and steel cans; #1 and #2 plastic bottles; newspaper; cardboard and paperboard; magazines, catalogs, and phonebooks; office paper and junk mail

These items may be dropped off at the following locations:

  • Jackson County Health Department, 415 Health Dept. Rd., Murphysboro
  • University of Illinois Extension Office, 402 Ava Rd., Murphysboro
  • City Lot, Rock Crusher Road, Campbell Hill
  • Intersection of Main Street & Keller Highway, Ava

Click here for a flyer on Jackson County's Recycling Drop-off Program

Household Chemical Collection Program

Jackson County Health Department encourages residents to buy household chemicals only in quantities they will use, and to properly manage all chemicals they wish to dispose of. In addition, we encourage residents to use less-toxic alternatives to common household chemicals. 

A total of 840 vehicles came though the household chemical collection even held on May 1st, 2010.  This was the eleventh such event hosted by JCHD in the past nine years.  The next collection event will be held in 2011 (date to be determined).  Local outlets are avialable year-round for some items, like motor oil, antifreeze and lead-acid batteries.  Please call JCHD for disposal guidance. 

Disposal of CFLs is a concern due to the presence of a small amount of mercury in each lamp. Residents can drop-off CFLs inside the Health Department’s back building during normal business hours.  No fluorescent tubes or incandescent bulbs are accepted.  Residentially-generated CFLs only; no CFLs are accepted from businesses or institutions.  Also, please remember that no lamps or bulbs should ever be placed into curbside or drop-off recycling containers.  For more information, call the phone number at the top of the page. 

Electronics Recycling

Since September 2002, Jackson County Health Department has sponsored an ongoing recycling program for unwanted electronic equipment. This program was the first of its kind sponsored by a local government in Illinois. In 2009, over 360,000 pounds of electronics were recycled through this program.

Residents and businesses can drop off small amounts of electronics for free at Southern Recycling Center, Jackson County Health Department's electronics recycling partner, during their regular business hours. Southern Recycling is located at 300 W. Chestnut St. in Carbondale, just off Route 51 on the north side of town.

The list of items accepted includes:

Computers and accessories - desktop and laptop computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, scanners and other peripherals.
Office equipment - fax machines, typewriters, word processors and similar equipment.
Household equipment - televisions, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, speakers, receivers, radios and CD players, camcorders, cameras, video game players, telephones, cellular telephones, pagers, answering machines, calculators and power tools.

Items not accepted include large appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators and stoves, and small appliances, such as microwaves, fans, lamps, toasters, blenders, coffee makers, space heaters and vacuum cleaners.

Participants are limited to recycling no more than 10 electronic items (not including cords, cables, keyboards and mice). Businesses and institutions that wish to recycle more than the program limits should contact Jackson County Health Department Recycling Program for instructions.

Note: No electronics are available to the public for reuse through this program. Electronics collected are sent to a verified electronics recycling company