Mobile Vaccination Sites Available at Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

SPRINGFIELD - Continuing the state's expansion of COVID-19 vaccine equitability and accessibility, Governor Pritzker today announced a partnership with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and local health departments to provide mobile vaccine clinics in coordination with Household Hazardous Waste Collection events in Herscher and Carbondale.

The vaccine clinic will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and operated by Local Health Departments in coordination with the Illinois EPA, local Co-Sponsors and Heritage Environmental Services. These events will offer the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents.

"My administration is providing as many opportunities as possible for residents to receive COVID-19 vaccines easily, and household hazardous collection events provide added convenience as residents can remain in their vehicles," said Governor JB Pritzker. "These vaccines have been proven to be very protective for those fully vaccinated, and they also reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.  I encourage all residents who have yet to be vaccinated to use this opportunity to make a difference in their health and the environment."

Individuals 18 and older planning to dispose of household hazardous waste at any of these upcoming events can also receive their COVID-19 vaccine from their vehicles.

"Illinois EPA is pleased to partner with the Illinois Department of Public Health to further expand opportunities for residents to be vaccinated through our most popular outreach program for Illinois residents," said Illinois EPA Director John Kim. "While properly disposing of harmful chemicals and other wastes is important to protect the environment, increasing the number of vaccinated residents is important to protect Illinois residents."

"This is a great opportunity to take care of the environment and your health at the same time," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.  "We're hopeful that by making vaccines available at as many places as possible, that it will be almost as easy to be vaccinated as to not be vaccinated.  Without more people becoming vaccinated, the virus will continue to circulate and cause increased hospitalizations and deaths from a vaccine-preventable disease.  It means businesses may be halted from opening at full capacity, attendance at events would be reduced, and a mask mandate would still be needed.  Please take advantage of these vaccination events so we can not only get back to normal, but we can build back better."    

Residents participating in these events are encouraged to bring chemical cleaners, oil-based paints, thinners, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides and pesticides, old or outdated medication, and similar hazardous household products. Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collections. ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED include latex paint, explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, agricultural chemicals, and business wastes.

A complete list of household hazardous wastes that are and are not accepted is available online at https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/household-hazardous-waste/Pages/acceptable-wastes.aspx.

For safe transport of household hazardous waste, residents are asked to:

• Pack household hazardous waste items in a disposable box to avoid spilling during transport.
• Keep like chemicals together and separate unlike chemicals.
• Secure lids and make sure containers are not leaking.
• Place box(es) of household hazardous waste in empty trunk of your vehicle, away from passengers during transport.
• Remain in vehicle at collection. On-site personnel will remove the household hazardous waste from your vehicle.

To date, more than 4.6 million Illinoisans have received at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and find information on other vaccine locations, go to https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location.