New, free trash disposal site opens for Peoria County

PEORIA (25News Now) — Peoria County residents have a new place to drop off their trash at no cost once a week.

On Monday, June 8, the county and trash disposal company, GFL, opened a new waste-disposal transfer site at 4349 W. Southport Rd. in West Peoria. Thanks to the Free Load Program, all county residents can come to the facility and drop off one load of waste per week, free of charge, but certain restrictions apply:

• Residents must provide proof of residence to take advantage of this program. Proof of residence includes a current Illinois Driver’s License, an Illinois Identification card, or a current picture ID listing a Peoria County address.
• Only residential waste from your household is included in this program. Accepted items include couches, sofas, chairs, mattresses and desks.
• Loads exceeding pickup capacity will not be accepted. All loads must be tarped or tied down.
• Eligible loads must weigh less than 580 pounds.

Not everything is eligible for disposal. The following items will not be accepted at the facility:

• Anything used as structural material
• Building materials, including wood, drywall, floor tiles and concrete
• Construction and demolition debris
• Roofing materials
• Siding
• Windows

Illinois’ EPA has also banned the following items in state landfills:

• Appliances/white goods
• Electronics
• Lead-acid batteries
• Mercury-containing products
• Motor oil
• Oil-based paints
• Tires
• Untreated medical waste
• Yard waste
• Lithium ion batteries

Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich said the station will be open for the next 40 years as residents wait for Landfill Three to open. GFL is scheduled to operate Landfill Three and the Indian Creek Landfill. The company will provide transfer station services until the Indian Creek landfill is full and Landfill Three opens.

He said it is part of an agreement between the county, city, and GFL.

“It’s really going to provide that level of security knowing that we have a long-term contract for the disposal of our waste with GFL,” Urich said.

While regular solid waste is accepted, Urich noted that hazardous materials and large electronics are not.

Additionally, the recycling center at the facility is available to all county residents.

The station is open to residents Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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