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Streets & Sanitation

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


Holiday Pickups

Evanston Recycling bins are emptied by Groot Recycling. By privatizing, Evanston has been able to expand the number of materials accepted in our recycling program.

 

The garbage trucks Groot use transport your recyclables to the plant, where they are sorted. Multi-unit buildings may use a different company to haul recyclables. Reference the recycling guidelines that are specific to your building.

 

Acceptable Items

Cans and Foil:
* Steel (tin) cans and bi-metal cans
* Empty aerosol cans
* Aluminum beverage and pet food cans
* Clean aluminum foil and foil pans and containers
* Empty, clean paint cans

* Bottle caps

 

Paper:
* Newspapers and inserts (remove plastic bags)
* Junk mail (opened)
* Office paper (all colors, including envelopes and fax paper)

* Wrapping paper, kraft paper and greeting cards
* Magazines, catalogs and phone books
* Cardboard (flattened -- must fit in recycling container)
* Chipboard (flattened cereal, tissue boxes, paper towels and toilet paper rolls, shoe and food boxes)

* Egg cartons

* Paper bags

* Shredded paper

* Milk cartons and drink boxes

 

Glass:
* All colors of glass bottles and jars. You do not need to remove labels. Rinse.

 

Plastic:
* Containers, bottles and lids labeled #1 - #5 and #7 in a triangle on the bottom, including liter soda bottles; milk, water and juice containers; food containers; and liquid detergent, fabric softener, bleach and shampoo bottles. Rinse.
* Six pack and 12 pack rings

For Curbside Pickup, Remember to…

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

 

Place cans, bottles and paper together in your bin. If your bin is too full, use any open container, including cardboard boxes or paper bags, for the excess materials and set beside your bin. Please don't package materials in plastic bags. Plastic bags are not recycled through the City's curbside pickup program.

 

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.  

 

For missed pick-ups, call Groot at 1-800-35GROOT (1-800-354-7668)

 

Drop-Off Location and Times:

Evanston Recycling Center
2222 Oakton St.
Fridays: noon - 7 pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 8 am - 5 pm

 

Items not accepted for curbside recycling:

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.

 

Recycling Facts:

  1. There are no landfills left in northern Cook County
  2. Our garbage goes to Wisconsin, some of New York's is shipped to southern Illinois
  3. Each ton of paper we recycle gives 17 trees a longer life (trees grown for paper are a crop, like cotton)
  4. In Evanston, we recycle more than 20 tons of paper every day!
  5. A recycled aluminum can takes 95% less energy to make than a new aluminum can
  6. Plastic bottles with #1 and #2 make up about 85% of plastic packaging
  7. We use about as much oil to make plastic as we use to run all of our cars and trucks
  8. Glass, steel, aluminum and plastic are made from non-renewable natural resources
  9. Buying recycled products is essential to the success of recycling, so look for the chasing arrows!
  10. Recycling costs as much as 40% less per ton than garbage disposal