home | city code | news | calendar | maps | employment | contact us

Enjoy Evanston

Resident

Business

Government

About Evanston

Streets & Sanitation

MEDICATIONS & MERCURY THERMOMETERS DISPOSAL

The City of Evanston Department of Health and Human Services continues its cooperation with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) to give residents the opportunity to dispose of their mercury-containing thermometers, thermostats and wall switches and unused prescription medications.

Evanston residents can bring their items in to the cashier of the Department of Health and Human Services between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays only. The program will continue until further notice.

At the City’s Health and Human Services Department, mercury thermometers will be exchanged for new, mercury-free oral thermometers at no cost. Supplies of replacement thermometers are limited.

Residentially-generated unused prescriptions, expired over-the-counter drugs, and needles known as “sharps” will also be collected. No other hazardous or special wastes will be accepted.

Residents should follow these guidelines when bringing in their prescriptions: medicines will be accepted only if in labeled containers; personal information on labels should or can be marked out with black felt tip pens; City employees CANNOT touch individual sharps; sharps brought in a coffee can or milk jug must be opened by the person so the City can inspect the contents and then seal the opening with duct tape so it cannot be tampered with; and no bulk turn-ins will be accepted.

SWANCC will provide one-quart sharps containers to residents who administer home-injections. Containers can be obtained at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Items that will not be accepted include institutional or business waste, non-prescription liquids, latex gloves and household chemical waste.

For more information on these SWANCC Programs, contact SWANCC (847) 724-9205, info@swancc.org or visit www.swancc.org.