Construction Debris: What You Can (and Can't) Take to the Dump
Renovating your home? Drywall, lumber, concrete, and roofing materials have different disposal rules than regular trash. Here's what to know.
Read more →Richland Landfill in Elgin is the county landfill where everyday trash ends up buried. Locals, small haulers, and businesses make runs here when curbside pickup or convenience centers won't take something. It's a working landfill on a fairly large parcel, not a tidy drop-off center.
Drive past a simple entrance booth and then over a scale - tipping fees are charged by weight, so vehicles are weighed in and out. Pull-up areas and working faces are gravelly and dusty; expect dump trucks and compactors moving about. Recycling or drop-off bins, if present, are usually off to one side a little past the main entry. Lines are common on weekends and during seasonal cleanups, and the site looks very much like a typical landfill with berms and compacted layers.
Learn how to properly dispose of common items.

Renovating your home? Drywall, lumber, concrete, and roofing materials have different disposal rules than regular trash. Here's what to know.
Read more →
E-waste rules vary wildly by state. Some ban electronics from landfills entirely. Here's how to recycle old TVs, computers, and phones properly.
Read more →
Most counties run free household hazardous waste collection events. Here's what qualifies, how to find your local event, and how to store stuff safely until then.
Read more →