Area residents should take advantage of Saturday’s visit by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The IEPA will trek to DeKalb to collect hazardous household products. It will set up shop at the DeKalb County Highway Department, 2910 Barber Greene Road, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often. A chance to properly dispose of stuff like lawn pesticides, oil-based paint, anti-freeze, furniture polish and batteries without liquid acid.

All of the above can offer headaches. Everyone has at least some of them stashed in a garage or packed away in a little backyard shed or basement.

Tripping over the stuff is one thing. Taking the chance that the containers could leak into the ground is another. Let’s not forget the curiosity of little children either.

So take the stuff to the IEPA and let them get rid of it. It’s free and easy.

And while you’re at it, thank the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and the League of Women’s Voters. These two are cosponsoring the project.

Whether America wants to face it or not, the environment is feeling society’s stress. Each day there are more reports of overflowing landfills, contaminated ground water and related side effects.

Here’s the area’s chance to do its part, for its own sake.