We’re proud to highlight the work of our Spanish-English bilingual staff. They help ensure language isn’t a barrier for Illinois communities. The Illinois EPA is committed to meaningful access to all programs and services, including for those with Limited English Proficiency.

Could we BE wasting anymore food? Plan ahead and save your Thanksgiving leftovers!

🚗⚡ Thinking about going electric? A reminder that Illinois EPA’s EV Rebate Program has $14 million available for rebates this fiscal year. Learn more and sign up for updates: bit.ly/3NSRUqQ

🌍 Have an environmental concern? Report it quickly through our online complaint form! This ensures a faster response and a quicker start to the investigation process. 📝 Submit your complaint here: bit.ly/3LoA2Ud

❄️ It’s Winter Weather Preparedness Week! Now’s the time to get your rain barrel ready: 1️⃣ Disconnect and clean 2️⃣ Store and protect 3️⃣ Plan for spring Learn more: mwrd.org/RainBarrels #MWRD #CookCounty #Chicago

Stay informed with the latest Illinois EPA program updates through our listservs. Sign up for one or more to get updates on electric vehicles, grants, environmental justice, energy rebates, and more. Find Illinois EPA listserv sign-ups here: epa.illinois.gov/about-us/con...

🌎 Tomorrow is America Recycles Day! ♻️ Do your part by: ✅Reviewing your community’s recycling rules ✅ Choosing reusable items over single-use products ✅ Recycle more, waste less 🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/3MJIY7r

Trees are starting to look bare, and leaves are piling up fast. 🍂 Swipe for tips to manage them this fall! 🌎

♻️ Missed the Fall Household Hazardous Waste Collections? You can still safely dispose of unwanted items at long-term collection sites across Illinois. Find locations and more info here: bit.ly/HHWCollections

$20M Available for Public EV Charging Infrastructure! ⚡ Illinois EPA is announcing a CEJA Electric Vehicle Charging NOFO for new Level 3 and Level 2 EV charging stations at publicly accessible locations across Illinois. 🔗 Learn more: epa.illinois.gov/content/dam/...

The @illinoisdceo.bsky.social is offering grants through the Regional Site Readiness Program. Eligible applicants include local governments, nonprofits, economic development orgs, and private landowners. Projects may include brownfields or abandoned factories. 🔗 bit.ly/43K4i58

💡 Illinois EPA is offering $350K for Energy Efficiency Assessments and $10M for energy-saving upgrades at housing properties serving residents receiving housing assistance. Funding is awarded first-come, first-served until funds are gone. 🔗 bit.ly/43Sh8hQ

❄️ With temps dropping quickly, take some time this November for Winter Preparedness Month to get your home ready for the chilly months ahead and save energy with these simple tips. 🏠⚡

🎃 Help prevent zombie rain barrels this winter! 🧟‍♀️ Winterize barrels before freezing temperatures creep in! Learn how to winterize at MWRD.org/rain-barrels. #HappyHalloween #MWRD

The Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant is making real differences in Illinois communities 💡 #energyawarenessmonth

🛢️ Romeoville area residents! Safely dispose of your HHW next weekend at Joliet Junior College, 8 AM to 3 PM. Collections are open to all Illinois residents. Pre-registration is required. Check accepted items & register here 👉 bit.ly/HHWCollections

🎃 Don’t trash your pumpkins! If you can’t make it to a local Pumpkin Smash, try composting them at home instead. It’s an easy, sustainable way to reduce food waste and return nutrients to the soil. 🌎🌱 Swipe for simple steps to get started.

💊 Missed Drug Take-Back Day? You can still safely dispose of unwanted or expired medications anytime at authorized drop-off sites across Illinois! ♻️ Find one near you 👉 medtakebackillinois.org

If anyone is looking for a last-minute costume idea, Illinois EPA has you covered. 👀

🛢️ Taylorville area residents! Safely dispose of your HHW next weekend at the Christian County Fairgrounds, 8 AM to 3 PM. Collections are open to all Illinois residents. Pre-registration is required. Check accepted items & register here 👉 bit.ly/HHWCollections

15 Illinois grantees have been awarded a total of $2.8M to fund various energy efficiency projects in their communities! Initiatives include tracking energy use, identifying resources, and implementing energy reduction strategies. #EnergyAwarenessMonth 🔗 bit.ly/4hnqTdF

💊 Drug Take Back Day is this weekend! Take a few minutes to clean out your medicine cabinet & safely dispose of old or unwanted prescriptions at a drop-off site near you. This free, nationwide event is hosted by DEA. 🔗 Find a location: bit.ly/3Zx8KD7 #TakeBackDay

🚗⚡ Get ready! Applications and instructions for the Illinois EPA Electric Vehicle Rebate Program are now available online. Applications will not be accepted or reviewed if mailed or postmarked before October 28, 2025. 🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/3NSRUqQ

🛢️ Crestwood area residents! Safely dispose of your HHW next weekend at Ozinga Field Parking Lot, 8 AM to 3 PM. Collections are open to all Illinois residents. Pre-registration is required. Check accepted items & register here 👉 bit.ly/HHWCollections

💡Why have a Mojo Dojo Casa House when you could have Barbie’s Dreamhouse—energy-efficient edition? Coming soon: the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant and Assessment Program for public housing authorities, local govs & non-profits! Stay tuned 🔗 bit.ly/48sYT5X

Our fall career fair tour wraps up this weekend at Northwestern University! 💼 If you’re attending, come say hi and learn about exciting career opportunities with the Illinois EPA. 🌎 Check our Employment page to stay up to date on our newest openings! bit.ly/IEPAEmployment

Join us at the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees 37th Annual Training Conference and Job Fair! 💼 Don’t miss your chance to connect and explore career opportunities with us! 🌎 🔗 Find other events we’ll be at this fall: bit.ly/3AT3bVq

The Illinois EPA is teaming up with #EnergyAwarenessMonth to bring you these reimagined spooky season classics! 👻🎃

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ @deahq.bsky.social National Prescription Take Back Day is October 25. Safely dispose of old or unwanted prescriptions for free at a drop-off location. This nationwide event is open to everyone. 💊#TakeBackDay Find a location: bit.ly/3Zx8KD7

Hey Redbirds! We're heading to Illinois State University tomorrow! 🌎 Stop by the Bone Student Center to chat with us about your future career at Illinois EPA. Don't miss your chance to connect with us! 👉 bit.ly/3AT3bVq

🛢️ East Moline area residents! Safely dispose of your HHW next weekend at Rock Island County Fairgrounds, 8 AM to 3 PM. Collections are open to all Illinois residents. Pre-registration is required. Check accepted items & register here 👉 bit.ly/3PN9xJA

🌎💧 Every Illinois community water system with wells or surface water intakes must create a Source Water Protection Plan reviewed by Illinois EPA. Thank you to all water professionals for taking these steps to protect our water for the long term! #SourceWaterProtectionWeek

🧛‍♂️ Energy vampires alert! Did you know many of your devices still use electricity even when turned off? Unplug, use smart strips, & pick ENERGY STAR® to save money and energy. ⚡💚 Celebrate #EnergyEfficiencyDay and #EnergyAwarenessMonth by cutting the power to energy vampires!

💧 Groundwater & surface water are called “Source Water” before treatment. Protecting these resources is the first step in delivering safe drinking water. Reducing pollution, smart land use, & local actions all help keep water clean. 🌎 🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/3Y4uvco

It’s #SourceWaterProtectionWeek! 💧 Over 12M Illinoisans depend on public water supplies. Illinois EPA works with communities to safeguard these vital sources, and everyone has a role in protecting them. Learn about the Source Water Assessment Program: bit.ly/3Y4uvco

🚗⚡ Illinois EPA’s next EV Rebate Program cycle opens Oct 28, 2025 with $14M available this fiscal year. Applications and instructions will be posted Oct 14, giving Illinois residents time to plan their EV purchases. Learn more and join our listserv: bit.ly/3NSRUqQ

We're heading to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the Engineering Career Fair tomorrow! 🌎 Stop by to chat with us about career opportunities at Illinois EPA. Don't miss your chance to connect with us this fall! ➡️ bit.ly/3AT3bVq

Join us at the Illinois Wesleyan University job and internship fair on Monday! 💼 Don’t miss your chance to connect and explore career opportunities with us! 🌎♻️ Find other events we’ll be at this fall: bit.ly/3AT3bVq

🛢️ Bloomington area residents! Safely dispose of your HHW next weekend at The Interstate Center, 8 AM to 3 PM. Collections are open to all Illinois residents. Pre-registration is required. Check accepted items & register here 👉 bit.ly/3PN9xJA

It's the final days to register for Smoke School! Register by Friday, October 3 to secure your spot. 📅 Classes run October 8-9, with an initial certification lecture on October 7 for newcomers. 🔗http://bit.ly/3QVvHeW

We're heading to Bradley University tomorrow! Stop by and chat with us about career opportunities at Illinois EPA! 🌎 🔗 Explore other events we're attending this fall: bit.ly/3AT3bVq

Illinois EPA’s Office of Emergency Response joined local, state, and federal partners for an exercise at Soldier Field simulating “Chicago’s worst day," an improvised nuclear detonation downtown. Participants navigated the first days of response to a catastrophic event.

Join us at the College of ACES career fair Wednesday! 💼 Don’t miss your chance to connect and explore career opportunities with us! 🌎 Find more events we’ll be at this fall: bit.ly/3AT3bVq

🏊 For the first time in 98 years, swimmers took to the Chicago River. This event highlighted decades of progress in water quality. Thanks to the Clean Water Act, Illinois EPA standards, and major investments by the @mwrdgc.bsky.social, the Chicago River is cleaner than ever!

In 2024, 35 Illinois landfills received 46.7M cubic yards of solid waste. As of January 2025, these landfills have 926M cubic yards of remaining capacity. At this rate, these landfills have ~20 years of space left. 🔗 epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/landfills/landfill-capacity/2024.html

We had an amazing day at this year’s Dive In! Stewardship Day at Atwood Park in Rockford! 🌳💧 This year, 185 fourth & fifth graders explored 10 hands-on stations, learning about water quality, vermicomposting, predator/prey relationships, & more!

🛢️ Springfield area residents! Safely dispose of your HHW next weekend at Chamberlain Park, 8 AM to 3 PM. Collections are open to all Illinois residents. Pre-registration is required. Check accepted items & register here 👉 bit.ly/3PN9xJA

Happy #WorldWaterMonitoringDay! 💧 Illinois is home to over 106,000 miles of streams, three major rivers, and 64 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Illinois EPA biologist monitor and test water year-round to ensure clean, safe water for drinking, recreation, and wildlife. 🌍

September is #NationalPreparednessMonth, but Illinois EPA's Office of Emergency Response is ready year-round. On call 24/7, OER responds to spills and hazardous material releases while protecting public health, water & the environment. 🌎 🔗 For more: epa.illinois.gov/topics/emergency-response.html

We're heading to UIC for the College of Engineering Job and Internship fair tomorrow! Stop by the UIC Forum from noon to 4 pm and chat with us about career opportunities at Illinois EPA! 🌎 🔗 Explore other events we're attending this fall: bit.ly/3AT3bVq