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Streets & Sanitation

RECYCLING
Think G.R.E.E.N.
(Greater Recycling in Every Evanston Neighborhood)

 

Recycling - It's Easy!

According to the IL EPA, up to 75% of the waste we produce may be recyclable. Consider a typical meal at home - most of the containers that food is packaged in, such as paper-based boxes, glass jars, plastic bottles and milk cartons, can be recycled if clean. Keep a recycling bin or paper bag next to your garbage can to make separating recyclables from your garbage easy and convenient.

 

The following items are collected through Evanston's recycling program:

Cans anCansd Foil:

  • Steel (tin) cans & bi-metal cans
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Aluminum beverage & pet food cans
  • Clean aluminum foil & foil containers
  • Empty, clean paint cans

  • Metal lids and bottle caps

Paper:

  • Newspapers & inserts (remove plastic bags) Cans
  • Junk mail (opened)
  • Office paper (all colors, including envelopes & fax paper)

  • Gift wrap paper & tissue (unlined), kraft paper & greeting cards
  • Magazines, catalogs, phone books & soft cover books
  • Cardboard (flattened)
  • Chipboard including cereal boxes, tissue boxes, paper towel & toilet paper rolls, shoe & food boxes (flattened)
  • Egg cartons
  • Paper bags
  • Shredded paper
  • Juice boxes and milk cartons (clean)

Glass:

  • All colors of glass bottles & jars. You do not need to remove labels. Rinse.

Plastic: Cans

  • Containers, bottles & lids labeled #1, #2, #3, #4 & #5, including liter soda bottles; milk, water & juice containers; food containers; liquid detergent, fabric softener, bleach & shampoo bottles. Rinse. Caps ok.
  • Containers (narrow neck only) labeled #7
  • Six pack & 12 pack rings

 

The following items are NOT recyclable through Evanston's recycling collection program:

Plastic bags or packaging; #6 plastic (polystyrene), foam packaging (styrofoam) or polylactide (PLA) containers (e.g. corn starch or sugar cane based); scrap metal, cookware or utensils; partially filled aerosol or paint cans; foil-lined, wax, plastic or PLA coated paper (includes coffee cups and pet food bags); hard bound books; paper towels or food-contaminated paper (e.g. greasy pizza boxes); film or photos; dishware, ceramics or glassware; window glass or mirrors; light bulbs; toys; or oil, antifreeze, pesticide or herbicide containers.

 

Preparing Materials for Recycling Pick-Up
Precycle - avoid buying products in containers that cannot be recycled.


Rinse all bottles, cans and containers. Flatten cardboard boxes and larger containers. Labels and plastic caps do not need to be removed. Place cans, bottles and paper together in your container.

 

Please don't package materials in plastic bags. Use paper bags instead and take plastic bags to the grocery store for recycling (for drop off locations visit www.earth911.org). Plastic bags are not recycled through the City of Evanston's recycling program.


Set your container out by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Put your address on your container and keep it in a safe place between collection days.

 

Missed Pickups - Evanston recycling bins are emptied by Groot. For missed pick-ups, call Groot at 1-800-35GROOT (1-800-354-7668).

 

Holiday collection - check the holiday collection schedule for important information on garbage and recycling collection on holidays.

 

Report missing bins to Streets and Sanitation using the contact information below.

 

Replacement bins are available for lost and damaged bins at no charge. Contact the Streets and Sanitation Division of the Public Works Department using one of these three ways:

  1. Email a request to publicworks@cityofevanston.org
  2. Mail a request to the Streets and Sanitation Division, 2020 Asbury Ave., Evanston, IL 60201, or
  3. Call the Streets and Sanitation office at 847-866-2940

Please give your name and address and tell us the reason for needing a new bin. If you need another bin because you consistently fill up more than one, there is a $7.00 fee for an additional bin. In this case, you will need to mail a check to the Streets and Sanitation Division before your request can be processed.

 

If your request is received by noon Thursday, your new bin will generally be delivered to your home on Friday of that week. If for some reason it is delayed, your bin will be delivered the following Friday but most will be delivered the same week the request is received.