Solid Waste Options For Consideration Following Flooding

Residents will need to consider a variety of solid waste disposal options after last week’s flooding as not everything can be thrown to the curb for pickup. Disposal of items that typically cannot be picked up in a regular collection include hazardous household items such as fuel, cleaners and paint, electronics, large appliances, furniture, tires, landscape waste and even sandbags that many residents used to hold back flood water.  McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) offers the following tips:

As many communities have designated waste haulers, contact you waste hauler directly to confirm waste removal services and the cost of disposal. In some cases, special arrangements may need to be made with the waste hauler for large quantities and bulk items.

View the recently published “2013 McHenry County Green Guide” http://www.mchenry.edu/recycling/greenguide.pdf for a comprehensive list of disposal and recycling options.

Thousands of sandbags were distributed.  McHenry Township will pick up those sandbags delivered to its residents. Sandbags that did not contact flood water can be reused. If sandbags made contact with flood water, do not reuse in children’s sandboxes or gardens. Flood water contaminated sandbags can be disposed of as regular trash to permitted landfill. More information at MCDH 815-334-4585. County Planning & Development recommends flood water sandbags not be emptied in wetlands or flood plain areas. Call for questions 815-334-4560.

Burning of construction debris, trash and garbage is prohibited. See restrictions in County ordinance http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/health/pdfDocs/ENV/Solid%20Waste/burning%20flyer10-10.pdf.  Also see restrictions that may be in place in your municipality.

Private homes whose well cap was submerged during the flood can have their well water tested for free from the Health Department. Once flood waters have receded, residents should flush the well, disinfect it, and then take a water sample. Sterile water testing bottles must be used and are available; for a complete list of pick up locations, visit the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info.

A residential electronics and recycling “extravaganza” is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, from 8am-1pm, at the McHenry County Government Center campus (West parking lot), 2200 N Seminary Avenue, Woodstock. A flyer detailing accepted items is posted www.mcdh.info.

More details on clean up and disinfection is available at http://www.idph.state.il.us/floodinfo/index.htm. .  For more information about floodwater clean-up and recovery, call MCDH’s Environmental Health Division at 815-334-4585