Improperly disposed pool chemicals in a Gurnee garbage truck caused a chemical reaction, road closures, and a 150-foot isolation zone on Thursday, Sept. 17, according to the Chicago Tribune. Now the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) is urging Lake Forest-area residents to bring their own hazardous household materials to a free drop-off event on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The collection runs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Lake Forest Municipal Services Building, 800 N. Field Drive. Appointments are required. Residents can call SWALCO at 847-377-4950 or visit swalco.org to schedule one.
The event accepts pool chemicals, solvents, pesticides and other household hazardous waste. Any Illinois resident may participate at no cost.
What happened in Gurnee
A Waste Management driver noticed smoke from the back of a garbage truck near Washington Street and Ambrogio Drive on Thursday, Sept. 17, according to the Tribune. The driver dumped the load, a standard safety practice. Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens said firefighters found several five-gallon buckets of pool chemicals in the debris. The pile reacted when water hit it, and the crew backed away.
Firefighters established a 150-foot isolation zone and told nearby businesses to shut windows, close doors and turn off HVAC systems. No one was injured. Roads reopened several hours later.
How to dispose safely
Joe Martino, SWALCO's household chemical waste program and facility manager, told the Tribune that mixing a chlorine stabilizer with calcium hypochlorite can produce toxic chlorine gas and enough heat to start a fire.
"You don't want to hurt your garbage man or the public," Steffens told the Tribune.
Residents unsure whether a product qualifies for the Oct. 24 event can check the container for warnings about corrosive, flammable or toxic contents, Martino said. SWALCO also operates a permanent collection facility at 1311 N. Estes St. in Gurnee, listed by the Illinois EPA as a long-term drop-off site for Lake County residents.
The Oct. 24 Lake Forest event is the next stop on SWALCO's rotating mobile collection schedule. Residents who miss it can check swalco.org for future dates or use the Gurnee facility year-round.
