CHICAGO RECYCLING GUIDE: A-Z What Can and Cannot be Recycling in Chicago's Blue Cart and Drop-off Center

Program
Is Material accepted in Chicago's Blue Cart Alternative Program or at Recycling Outlet Recycling Drop-Off Centers? Yes Yes NA NA

Material

Mail or Drop-Off Program

Address

Phone

Website

Details and/or Restrictions

A Aerosol cans Aluminum NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Must be empty Accepted aluminum includes cans, clean tin foil, pie tins. 1) Working appliances only 2) Call the Recycling Information Center for nearby metal recycling facilities that accept appliances

Appliances (Household) B Baby bottles (plastic or glass)

No

Multiple

Drop Off

1) www.salvationarmy.com 1) Salvation Army 1) NA 2) 2) Recycling Information 2) 1-800-YES- http://www.aham.org/consumer/ht/d/sp/i/4 Center 1-CAN 7286/pid/47286

No

Multiple

Drop Off

Batteries (dry cell)

No

Multiple Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Working Bikes Cooperative NA

Drop Off

1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army 1) Walgreens Photo Counter 2) Chicago Public Library

NA

1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

NA All common dry cell batteries, including alkaline, rechargeable, and other common types can be recycled

NA

1) www.walgreens.com 2) www.chipublib.org

Batteries (lead acid) Bicycles Books (paperback)

No No Yes

Drop Off Drop Off NA

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642 2434 S. Western Ave. Chicago IL 60608 NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army 3) Reading Tree: Books for Charity NA 3335 W. 47th St., Chicago IL 60632

NA

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment

Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm Hours: Mon-Sat noon-5pm NA

773-847-5440 www.workingbikes.org NA www.chicagorecycles.org 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com 3) www.readingtree.org www.chicagorecycles.org

Books (hard cover) Brown Paper Bags Building Materials C Candy wrappers Car batteries Cardboard

No Yes No

Multiple NA The ReBuilding Exchange

Drop Off NA Drop Off

NA NA

NA NA Email info@rebuildingexchange.org to see if they'll accept your materials Must join a "brigage" to get mailing details Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you NA 1) NA 2) Any carpet (500sq yards or more) with EcoWorx backing will be collected, transported and recycled for free, regardless if its being replaced with Shaw Carpet. Shaw Carpet will collect, transport and recycle any type of carpet (7500sq yards or more) if it is being replaced by a Shaw product, for free. NA

773-847-3761 http://www.rebuildingexchange.org/

No No Yes

TerraCycle Multiple NA

Mail Drop Off NA

NA Earth911.com NA

NA NA NA

www.terracycle.com www.earth911.com www.chicagorecycles.org

Carpet (nylon) CDs

No No

Multiple Multiple

Drop Off Drop Off and Mail

1) Carpet Recovery 2) Shaw Carpet Earth911.com 1) Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642) 2) Earth911.com Earth911.com

NA NA

1) www.carpetrecovery.org 2) shawfloors.com/about-shaw/carpetrecycling www.earth911.com

Cell phones Christmas/string lights Cleaning Products (bleach, drain cleaner, and other harsh cleaners)

No No

Multiple Multiple Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility

Drop Off and Mail Drop Off and Mail

NA NA

1) www.cityofchicago.org/Environment 2) www.earth911.com www.earth911.com

1) Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm 2) Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you Search for "string lights"

No

Drop Off

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642

NA

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com 3) http://www.gaiamovement.org/TextPage.asp?TxtID=390&Sub MenuItemID=103&MenuItemID=47 4) http://www.usagain.com/

Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm

Clothing

No

Multiple

Drop Off

Compact Florescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)

No

Multiple Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility

Drop Off

1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army 3) Gaia 4) USAgain 1) Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642) 2) Home Depot 3) Ikea 4) True Value

NA

NA

NA

1) 2) 3) 4)

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment www.homedepot.com www.ikea.com www.truevalue.com

1) Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm 2) NA 3) NA 4) NA

Computer

No

Drop Off

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642 1) Broadway Cellars (5900 N. Broadway) 2) Whole Foods NA 1) Craigslist 2) FreeCycle NA

NA

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment 1) NA 2) www.wholefoods.com www.crazycrayons.com 1) www.chicago.craigslist.org 2) www.freecycle.org NA

Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm 1) NA 2) Visit website to find the nearest location Only accept crayons made in the United States

Corks Crayons (broken) D Diapers (cloth) Diapers (disposable)

No No

Multiple Crazy Crayons

Drop Off Mail

NA NA

No No

Multiple NA

NA NA

NA NA

Consider selling on Craigslist or FreeCycle Disposal diapers should be thrown away

Material

Is Material accepted in Chicago's Blue Cart Alternative Program or at Recycling Outlet Recycling Drop-Off Centers? No No Multiple TerraCycle

Mail or Drop-Off Program

Address

Phone

Website

Details and/or Restrictions

Denim Drink Pouches

Drop Off Mail

1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA

NA NA

1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com www.terracycle.com

NA Must join a "brigage" to get mailing details Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you

DVDs E Envelopes (including plastic windows) Envelopes (Tyvek, FedEx, etc.)

No

Multiple

Mail

Earth911.com

NA

www.earth911.com

Yes No Multiple

NA

NA Drop Off and Mail

NA Earth911.com 1) Earth911.com 2) Lions Club International

NA NA

www.chicagorecycles.org

NA

Eyeglasses F

No

Multiple

Drop Off and Mail

NA

Check Earth911.com for the location www.earth911.com nearest to you 1) www.earth911.com 1) Check Earth911.com for the location 2) http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/ournearest to you work/sight-programs/eyeglass-recycling/how- 2) Check website for the location nearest you-can-help.php you

Feminine Hygiene Products Food containers

No Yes

NA NA

NA NA

NA NA

NA NA

1) www.gladrags.com 2) www.divacup.com www.chicagorecycles.org

Disposable feminine hygiene products should be thrown away. Explore the suggested websites for reusable alternatives.

Freezers Furniture G

No No

ComEd Multiple

NA Drop Off

NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army

Accepted plastics include #1-5, 7 (not #6) ComEd is offering $35 per freezer or https://www.comed.com/sites/homesavings/ refrigerator. Offer only available for working appliances. 1-888-806-227 pages/appliancerecycling.aspx 1) www.goodwill.com NA 2) www.salvationarmy.com NA

Gift cards, hotel keys Glass bottles and jars Glasses (drinkware and dishware) Grass H

No Yes No No

Multiple NA Multiple NA

1) Mail 1) Earthworks 2) Drop Off 2) Best Buy NA Drop Off NA NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA

NA NA NA NA

1) www.earthworkssystem.com 2) www.bestbuy.com/recycling www.chicagorecycles.org 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com NA

1) NA 2) Best Buy has recycling kiosks for gift cards Please remove lids from glass bottles and jars before recycling Broken glasses (drinkware) and dishes should be thrown away Compost yard waste, like grass clippings

Household Appliances

No

Multiple

Drop Off

1) www.salvationarmy.com 1) Salvation Army 1) NA 2) 2) Recycling Information 2) 1-800-YES- http://www.aham.org/consumer/ht/d/sp/i/4 Center 1-CAN 7286/pid/47286

1) Working appliances only 2) Call the Recycling Information Center for nearby metal recycling facilities that accept appliances Many dry cleaners only accept hangers from their store, check before dropping off

Hangers I

No

Multiple

Drop Off

Earth911.com

NA

www.earth911.com

Ink Cartridges

No

Multiple

Drop Off and Mail Drop Off and Mail

Earth911.com

NA

www.earth911.com

Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you

iPods J Junk mail K

No

Multiple

Earth911.com

NA

www.earth911.com

Yes

NA

NA

NA

NA

www.chicagorecycles.org

NA

Keys Kitty litter L

No No

Keys for Kindness NA

Mail NA

PO Box 201, Pearl River NY, 10965 NA

NA NA

www.keysforkindness.com NA

NA Kitty litter should be thrown away

Linens M Magazines & catalogs

No

Multiple

Drop Off

1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army

NA

1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

NA

Yes

NA

NA Drop Off

Make-up containers Mattress and box spring

No No

Origins Multiple Drop Off

NA 1) 111 N. State St, Chicago IL 2) 845 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army

NA 1) 312-7813010 2) 312-3357911 NA

www.chicagorecycles.org

NA

www.origins.com 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

NA NA

Material

Is Material accepted in Chicago's Blue Cart Alternative Program or at Recycling Outlet Recycling Drop-Off Centers?

Mail or Drop-Off Program

Address

Phone

Website

Details and/or Restrictions

Drop Off

Medicine (prescription and over-the-counter)

No

Multiple Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Multiple

1) Chicago Police Area Headquarters: a) 5101 S. Wentworth Ave., Chicago IL 60609 b) 727 E. 111th St., Chicago IL 60628 c) 2452 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago IL 60618 d) 3151 W. Harrison St., Chicago IL 60612 e) 5555 W. Grand Ave., Chicago IL 60639 2) Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642)

NA

1) NA 2) www.cityofchicago.org/Environment

1) Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 2) Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm

Motor oil MP3 players N Newspapers

No No

Drop Off Drop Off and Mail

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642 Earth911.com

NA NA

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment www.earth911.com

Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you

Yes

NA

NA

NA

NA

www.chicagorecycles.org

Newspaper sleeves Notebooks O Office paper P

No Yes

Multiple NA

Drop Off NA

NA NA

NA NA

NA www.chicagorecycles.org

NA Plastic bags, including newspaper sleeves, should be brought to your grocery store or pharmacy for recycling If possible, remove metal spiral binding

Yes

NA

NA

NA

NA

www.chicagorecycles.org

NA

Paint (oil based only) Paint (latex)

No No

Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Earth Paints Collection Systems

Drop Off Drop Off

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642 Multiple

NA NA

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment www.earthpaintscs.com

Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm Check their website for recycling fees Used paper towels should be thrown away. If lightly used, they can be composted. NA Broken or old pens and pencils should be thrown away

Paper towels (used) Paper towel rolls Pens and pencils

No Yes No

NA NA NA Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility NA Multiple NA NA NA

NA NA NA

NA NA NA

NA NA NA

NA www.chicagorecycles.org NA

Pesticides Phone books Phones (including cordless) Photographs Plastics #1-5, 7 Plastic #6 or unnumbered Plastic Bags (for residents)

No Yes No No Yes No

Drop Off NA Drop Off NA NA NA

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642 NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA

www.cityofchicago.org/Environment www.chicagorecycles.org 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com NA www.chicagorecycles.org

Hours: Tu 7-noon; Th 2-7pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am - 3 pm NA Donate only working phones. Broken phones should be thrown away. Unwanted photographs should be thrown away. NA

No

Multiple

Drop Off

PlasticBagRecycling.org 1) PlasticBagRecycling.org 2) Better Containers, 530 Hyde Park, Hillside, IL 60162 3) G2 Revolution, 650 E. Algonquin Road, Suite 401, Schaumburg, IL 60173-3846

NA

#6 plastics and unnumbered plastics NA should be thrown away. Plastic shopping bags can be recycled at grocery stores, pharmacy's and many big p://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/s01.1.pbox retailers

Plastic Bags (for businesses)

No

NA

Drop Off and Mail

1) NA 2) 800-8316049 3) 847.925.980 0

1) http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/s0 1.1.php 2) http://www.bettercontainers.com/ 3) http://www.g2rev.com/ www.chicagorecycles.org (see notes: http://www.aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.tmp l?ngextredir=1) NA 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

NA Bottle caps are only recyclable at some of the city's sorting facilities. To ensure caps are recycled, take them to a nearby Aveda store. Plastic storage bags and wrap should be thrown away after use NA

Plastic Bottle Caps Plastic Storage Bags and Plastic Wrap Pots and pans Q

Yes (see notes) No No Multiple

NA NA

NA NA Drop Off

NA NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army

NA NA NA

Qtips R

No

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

Qtips and other health products should be thrown away after use.

Razors

No

Preserve Products

Mail

NA

NA

www.preserveproducts.com

Purchase Preserve razors and mail back later. The handles are made from recycled #5 plastic and made into new products.

Material

Is Material accepted in Chicago's Blue Cart Alternative Program or at Recycling Outlet Recycling Drop-Off Centers?

Mail or Drop-Off Program

Address

Phone

Website

Details and/or Restrictions

Refrigerators

No

ComEd

NA

NA C/O Zero Waste Program, 349 Huss Drive, Chico, CA 95928 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army

ComEd is offering $35 per freezer or https://www.comed.com/sites/homesavings/ refrigerator. Offer only available for 1-888-806-227 pages/appliancerecycling.aspx working appliances.

Reusable Bags Rugs S

No No

ChicoBag Multiple

Mail Drop Off

NA NA

http://www.chicobag.com/trepurposing_program.aspx 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

For broken or no longer usable reusable bags NA Sanitary products, like wipes, feminine products, diapers and incontinence pads, facial and toilet tissue, should be thrown away after use. NA NA All Chicago grocery stores are required to accept plastic shopping bags for recycling. Bags from other stores are also accepted. NA Plastic silverware can be rinsed and reused, or thrown away after use Plastic snackbag liners should be thrown away NA Consider donating unused spray paint to a school or local art program NA Accept all foam except packing peanuts

Sanitary products Shoes Shopping bags (paper)

No No Yes Multiple

NA

NA Drop Off

NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA

NA NA NA

NA 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com www.chicagorecycles.org

NA

NA

Shopping bags (plastic) Silverware (metal) Silverware (plastic) Snackbag liners Spray paint (empty) Spray paint (not empty) Steel cans Styrofoam (#6 Foam) T Tennis balls Text Books Tires Toilet paper roll

No No No No Yes No Yes No

Multiple Multiple NA NA NA NA NA Dart

Drop Off Drop Off NA NA NA NA NA Drop Off

NA 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA NA NA NA NA 310 Evergreen Drive, North Aurora, IL

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NA 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com NA NA www.chicagorecycles.org NA www.chicagorecycles.org http://www.dartcontainer.com/web/environ.n sf/pages/enrecy.html

No No No Yes

Rebounces Reading Tree: Books for Charity Multiple NA

Mail Drop Off Drop Off NA

NA NA Earth911.com NA

NA NA NA NA

www.rebounces.com http://www.readingtree.org/content.aspx?id=1 www.earth911.com www.chicagorecycles.org

NA NA Some locations may charge per tire -call before making the trip NA Purchase Preserve toothbrushes and mail back later. The handles are made from recycled yogurt containers and made into new products NA

Toothbrush Toys

No No

Preserve Products Multiple Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility

Mail Drop Off 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA

www.preserveproducts.com 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

Televisions U Umbrellas V

No

Drop Off

1150 N. North Branch St., Chicago IL 60642 1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army

NA

NA 1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com

Hours: Tuesday 7am-noon; Thursdays 27pm, 1st Saturday of the month 8am-3pm

No

Multiple

Drop Off

NA

Working umbrellas only

Video tapes Vehicles W Waterbottles (reusable) Wipes and sponges Wrapping paper Z Zippered bags Zippers

No No

Multiple Multiple

Drop Off and Mail Drop off

Earth911.com Earth911.com

NA NA

www.earth911.com www.earth911.com

Check Earth911.com for the location nearest to you Working vehicles can be donated

No No Yes

Multiple NA NA

Drop Off NA NA

1) Goodwill 2) Salvation Army NA NA

NA NA NA

1) www.goodwill.com 2) www.salvationarmy.com NA www.chicagorecycles.org

NA Wipes and sponges should be thrown away after use Be sure to remove bows, tags, and ribbon Zippered bags can be reused and thrown away Zippers should be thrown away

No No

NA NA

NA NA

NA NA

NA NA

NA NA