Landfills & Dumps in Illinois

Illinois operates one of the nation's most extensive waste management networks, regulated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Bureau of Land. During 2024, 35 permitted landfills received over 46 million cubic yards of solid waste, with combined remaining capacity of approximately 926 million cubic yards providing an estimated 20-year life expectancy at current disposal rates. The Bureau provides direct financial and administrative support for collecting hard-to-manage wastes while promoting diversion toward reuse and recycling.

The Chicago metropolitan area hosts several large regional landfills serving the state's most densely populated region. Commercial disposal rates typically run $40 to $60 per ton, while residential self-haul customers pay $25 to $50 per pickup load depending on the facility. Some facilities impose minimum charges regardless of load size. An interactive map on the IEPA website shows locations of active landfills, those in post-closure care, and facilities that have completed the stabilization process.

Electronics are banned from Illinois landfills statewide under the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act. Televisions, computers, printers, and other covered devices must be recycled through designated collection programs. Many transfer stations maintain e-waste drop-off areas, and retailers selling electronics are required to accept them for recycling. This diverts thousands of tons of electronic waste from landfills annually while recovering valuable materials.

Landscape waste is also prohibited from landfill disposal throughout Illinois. Grass clippings, leaves, brush, and other yard waste must be composted, mulched, or delivered to designated landscape waste facilities. Most communities offer seasonal yard waste collection or permanent drop-off sites. Open burning of landscape waste is prohibited in most areas due to air quality regulations. Composting facilities process this material into beneficial soil amendments.

Construction and demolition debris requires disposal at licensed C&D facilities, though many general landfills accept this material in designated areas. Clean concrete, asphalt, brick, and similar materials can often be recycled at lower cost than landfill disposal, with recyclers crushing and processing them for use as aggregate in new construction. The IEPA solid waste database allows searching for permitted facilities by type and location to find appropriate disposal options.