Republic Services Illiana Waste Transfer Station II

Small, working transfer station in East Chicago where locals and contractors drop off loads to be compacted and trucked out to a landfill. Most users are residents who find it easier than making the longer trip to a regional landfill. Traffic tends to be vehicle-sized trucks, pickups, and trailers rather than walk-up dropoffs.

Drive up to a guarded entrance area with a drive lane and a booth or office set back from the street; there's usually a spot to stop briefly before entering the main yard. Vehicles are directed to a tipping area where dumpsters and large compactors sit; watch for backing trucks and tight turning radiuses. The yard is industrial-concrete aprons, high walls or bays, and piles of compacted material-so stick to marked lanes and follow the signs. Lines form on weekends and during seasonal cleanups, so expect some wait times if arriving then.