Curbside recycling and yard waste pickup in Downers Grove: (for more information, see http://www.downers.us/res/garbage-and-recycling)


CURBSIDE RECYCLING:

The Village of Downers Grove encourages all residents to reduce their waste by taking advantage of the free recycling program. Residents may purchase 20-gallon recycling bins at Village Hall or from Republic Services.

Recycling containers purchased from retail stores should be clearly marked RECYCLE on the outside and may not exceed 20-gallons in capacity. There is no limit to the number of recycling containers that may be brought to the curb each week for collection.

For Refuse Cart rental customers, ONLY:  Republic Services will issue an optional, wheeled recycling cart to subscribers at no additional charge. (Effective April 1, 2011)

RECYCLING DOES NOT NEED TO BE SEPARATED . All approved recyclables may be mixed together. Please rinse all items, flatten milk jugs and plastic beverage containers, and flatten all boxes.

Accepted Items
  • Newspapers
  • Mixed Paper: advertisements, junk mail, office paper, gift wrap, paper bags, stationery envelopes, shredded paper, paper bags
  • Magazines, catalogs, phone books
  • Paper back books (no hard covers)
  • Chipboard such as gift boxes, tissue boxes, and food boxes
  • Cardboard
  • Glass bottles and jars ( clear, brown, green)
  • Aluminum, tin, or steel cans, including empty aerosol cans and paint cans
  • Plastic containers coded #1 through #7 (except #6)
  • Plastic 6 and 12-pack rings
  • Milk cartons, juice cartons, and juice boxes

Items Not Accepted

  • Polystyrene foam materials (coded #6) such as drinking cups, plates, egg cartons
  • Packing peanuts, foam packing blocks
  • Mirrors, window glass, Pyrex glass or dinnerware
  • Cardboard soiled with grease or other food residue
  • Pots and Pans
  • Gas cans or other items containing hazardous chemicals

YARD WASTE:

Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings, twigs, small branches and other garden refuse. Collection begins April 1st and continues through the second week of December. Yard waste can be put in regular garbage cans (label as yard waste), in paper yard waste bags, or tied up in bundles. A sticker must be put on each container or bundle. For further information, see http://www.downers.us/res/garbage-and-recycling/yard-waste

Tips to Reduce Yard Waste Volume

  • Mow over leaves before bagging them. This reduces the ratio of bags to leaves by seven to one, thereby saving money on sticker costs.

  • Consider composting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic material into a humus-like substance called compost. Leaves and other types of yard waste can be a source of materials used in a compost pile.


Good information sources about composting are the University of Illinois Extension website and the You Tube video How to Make Compost.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE:

The Downers Grove municipal website has information on where/when to recycle household hazardous materials including paint, batteries, electronics, CFL light bulbs, used motor oil, Styrofoam, and excess pharmaceuticals. There are a variety of programs run by DuPage County, Downers Grove Township, the Village of Downers Grove, and local businesses. For further information, see: <>

http://www.downers.us/res/garbage-and-recycling/hazardous-wasteelectronicsmisc-recycling