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Gurnee approves Swalco host-agreement change to accept limited commercial batteries and paint
Summary
The Village Board approved an amendment to the host agreement with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (Swalco) allowing the household hazardous waste facility in Gurnee to accept limited commercial batteries and paint, with safeguards and monitoring in place.
The Village of Gurnee on April 21 approved an amendment to its host agreement with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (Swalco) to permit the household hazardous waste facility at 1311 North Estes Street to accept a limited amount of commercial batteries and paint.
Swalco Executive Director Walter Willis told the board the change responds to recently passed extended-producer-responsibility laws and to a permit the agency received from the Illinois EPA. "We're not gonna take from big generators," Willis said, adding that the facility will accept only small-quantity commercial generators and will keep commercial materials separate from residential collections.
The change is intended to expand who can legally drop off certain hazardous materials while keeping residential services intact. Willis said Swalco will require documentation to verify small-quantity commercial status and will monitor volumes closely, "and if it becomes too much of a burden for us as an agency, we can back off." He also noted retailers such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams often opt into paint take-back programs, which he expects will reduce pressure on the Swalco site.
Village staff summarized the amendment for the board and reported the village's fire chief had been consulted and had no concerns about the proposed storage and collection at the site. The board approved the ordinance amending the host agreement by roll call vote; all six trustees voted in favor.
The ordinance formalizes operational limits Swalco described: collection of batteries and paint only from small-quantity commercial generators, separate handling from residential collections, required documentation for commercial drop-offs, and the agency's option to stop the practice if it proves unworkable.
The village will monitor implementation and invited Swalco to report back at a future meeting on how the program is functioning.
Ending: The amendment allows limited commercial collection at the Gurnee household hazardous waste facility under conditions intended to limit scale and preserve existing residential services. The board approved the ordinance unanimously.
