“The Ecology Action Center is an essential resource for me. Growing up in rural Colorado, I learned at an early age the importance of water conservation. Throughout my 40+ year career in healthcare, I have become increasingly aware of the environmental synergies with human health. As a registered nurse, I have traveled extensively and conducted health-related research worldwide.I have observed the global impacts on human health when the environment is neglected.
I am pleased to know that Bloomington/Normal has the Ecology Action Center as a reliable and vital resource. The Center is a hub for learning about environmental sustainability. Whether it is hazardous waste disposal, effective recycling, home composting, or energy conservation, the knowledgeable staff at the Center are ready to assist. In addition the Center provides volunteer opportunities such as tree planting and protecting the Sugar Creek watershed. I am a volunteer and donor because I believe in the mission of the Ecology Action Center. Establishing an endowment for the Center will help ensure its continued success and growth. I hope you will join me in creating a legacy for the Ecology Action Center."
Thank you so much for lending your expertise and care to the mission Nancy!
Who's ready to learn about air quality AND learn how to test for various pollutants in the air? Join the Bloomington-Normal Community Air Research and Education team at the Ecology Action Center to get hands-on training with our portable air quality monitors and learn more about this community-based project. All ages are welcome.
The EAC is excited to announce this year’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Participation is open to all Illinois residents at no cost. REGISTRATION IS REQUIREDIn order to help regulate traffic and prevent long wait times, so please sign up for the collection event.
Only residentially generate HHW items are accepted. See the full list below.
"Carpooling" of household hazardous waste is encouraged to help reduce the number of cars but increase the number of materials collected. Consider offering to take HHW materials for family members or neighbors to help reduce wait times at the event.
Please register for the event. The registration deadline is September 26, 2025 but it will likely reach max capacity before that date.
Accepted materials include: Oil-based paints, used motor oil, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, old gasoline, pool chemicals, cleaning products, mercury, acids, household batteries, paint thinners, lawn chemicals, solvents, antifreeze, hobby chemicals, aerosol paints and pesticides, fluorescent lamp bulbs, drain cleaners, wetted and double bagged asbestos, vapes, and corrosives.
Unaccepted items include: Latex paint, agricultural wastes, business/commercial sector wastes, explosives, fireworks, controlled substances and unwanted or expired medications, car or truck batteries (lead-acid), propane tanks, smoke detectors, farm machinery oil, fire extinguishers, biohazard waste, institutional or business waste, electronics/e-waste, or appliances.
Volunteers are needed to help with traffic management. Please sign up a shift to help if you are able.
The 2025 HHW collection event is made possible in partnership with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, with support from the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, McLean County, and the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District.
Questions? Give us a call at 309-454-3169
Latex paint disposal
Latex paint is considered non-hazardous and can be disposed of safely and legally at home as long as it’s completely dry. To dry out latex paint, pour it out in thin layers on a disposable material, such as old newspapers or cardboard. Allow each layer to dry completely and repeat the process until you have dried all of your latex paint. Then roll up the newspaper and rubbery paint, and throw it in the trash. Watch this video for more guidance!
Tips for Gardening in a Drought By EAC Intern: Hadley McKenzie
Drought conditions can seem threatening when it comes to maintaining the health of gardens, young trees, or any outside plants. Water is an essential element for thriving plants, and during a drought, water sources are limited. Drought-tolerant plants are beneficial in areas prone to dry conditions, and many plants will have specific conditions that they prefer.1 However, there are still general actions that can be taken to support a majority of plant health during dry times.
Watering
One of the best ways to deal with limited water is to conserve and store excess water throughout the year. Rain barrels are a great way to store and reuse rain water for gardening; rain barrels are kept outside and work by catching rain from downspouts that can then be utilized during periods of drought.2 The EAC has frequent rain barrel-making workshops and has barrels for sale at ecologyactioncenter.org/workshops.
It is also best to slowly and deeply water plants to prevent runoff and pooling.4 When water pools, it may run off to areas that will not be absorbed by plant roots. Similarly, pooling water has a greater chance of evaporation, which will also not be absorbed by soil or roots.3 By watering slowly—through drip systems, irrigation, slow-release bags, and soaker hoses—the soil can absorb all of the water and reach deeper roots.2, 3
Mulching
Placing mulch around plants and trees is an excellent way to keep soil moist and cool in hot, dry weather.2 When mulch is on top of soil, it limits direct sun which reduces evaporation, drying, and increased temperatures.3 When choosing to use mulch, it is best to place it a few inches deep in a donut shape, leaving about 6” between the plant’s trunk and where mulch begins; this gap will allow the trunk to breathe and prevent root rot.4
Weeding
It is natural to have some weeds in a lawn or garden, but removing them can be beneficial in a drought.4 When weeds are present, they take resources (such as water) from nearby plants;3 by removing weeds, it increases the resources and nutrients available to the desired plants. Hand weeding is best, as it reduces risk to humans, animals, and plants compared to using chemicals.2
Avoid chemical pesticides and herbicides
Over time, chemical pesticides and herbicides can accumulate and harm soil and land health, making plants more susceptible to drought conditions. In a drought, it is also harder for plants and weeds to take up these chemicals, so they are less effective in these conditions anyways.
Decrease use of synthetic fertilizers or products that ‘promote growth’
Fertilizers work by increasing the speed that plants grow, showing results quicker than non-fertilized soil. However, plants need extra resources—such as water—if they are to grow at a quicker pace.3 In a drought, water is not always available in abundance, so the plant will not have necessary resources to thrive. Because the fertilizer is stimulating unachievable growth, plants may become stressed. Without fertilizers, plants will still grow and be healthy.
To learn more about gardening in a drought visit YardSmart.org.
You may have heard that there is a new type of recycling being introduced called “chemical recycling”. In short “chemical recycling” involves taking pieces of plastic waste and melting them down so that the chemicals can then be extracted to be re-introduced into the plastic manufacturing process.1 The majority of solid waste experts agree that chemical recycling is NOT recycling but, rather a form of incineration with serious impacts.
“Chemical Recycling” harms the environment more than regular plastic production and doesn’t stop or prevent the creation of more single-use plastics. Compared to traditional recycling (which you can read more about in our February newsletter), it is less efficient, less effective, and more energy intensive2. In 2023, the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab found that when pyrolysis (the most common method of chemical recycling) is used to process plastic waste, only 0.1-6% can actually become new plastic, and the rest end up as hazardous waste or toxic fuel.These researchers found that it would be cheaper and environmentally preferable to make plastic from virgin fossil fuels over pyrolysis. 1,2
When plastics are burned at these facilities, the process can introduce more than 96 different dangerous air pollutants into the atmosphere, some of which are known carcinogens. The fuel used to run chemical recycling plants comes from fossil fuels, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and contribute to global climate change.2 The burning process also results in large amounts of hazardous toxic waste. If all current and proposed facilities (totaling 26 which tend to be sited in low-income communities and/or communities of color) were operational, chemical recycling would create 642,000-10.8 million additional pounds of hazardous waste.1
Ultimately, chemical recycling is NOT recycling and is instead a distraction from solutions that can address waste issues like plastic reduction, reuse, and traditional recycling.
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