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CURBSIDE COLLECTION of Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste: Potential Service Changes, Guidance and Recommendations Related to COVID-19

For more information on the importance of recycling and doing it right, check out this short video from U.S. EPA

Spring Cleaning Information during COVID

Provides information on locations that may be open for recycling drop off however, you are highly encouraged to hold your spring cleaning items until later

For information on how you can protect your waste hauler, view this SWANA publication Help Protect Waste Recycling Workers Now

Changes in Residential Garbage Collection

CONTAINERS - Garbage should be bagged and placed inside a refuse container. Haulers may not be picking up items left outside of containers due to exposure risks.
BULK ITEM PICKUPS - Bulk pickup services have been suspended in some areas. Check with your hauler before putting an item at the curb.
SPECIALTY ITEM PICKUPS - Some waste haulers have temporarily suspended pickups of specialty items such as electronics and appliances.
RECYCLING - Continue placing your recycling in your recycling cart as usual. Recycling is still being picked up and recycled.
If service is temporarily suspended, recyclables can be stored at home. They should be empty, rinsed and dried. Save plastic bags for reuse or store drop off. Flatten boxes to save space. Materials should be stored in a dry area.
DOCUMENT SHREDDING - When possible recycle non-sensitive information in curbside recycling. A list of additional private shredding opportunities is provided here. Check dupageco.org/recyclingevents/ page for future events.
LANDSCAPE WASTE - Landscape waste service in many communities has been postponed. The information below can help you continue to manage it.
Do not burn your landscape waste or any other waste, despite any advice to do so. See the EPA information on the hazards of burning waste. Do not fill the air with smoke at a time when people are struggling with respiratory-related illnesses, and do not take the risk of stressing already-overtaxed first responders.
For large quantities of landscape waste that can't be managed in-place, there are several landscape waste transfer stations in DuPage that will be or are currently open and accepting landscape waste. Each one will have its own procedures to accepting from residents or 3^rd parties so residents will want to call for details.

      AK Mulch & Firewood
      (630) 530-6900
      631 E Wildwood Ave
Villa Park, Illinois 60181

      Anderson Landscape Supply
      (630) 833-1251
      787 S. Route 83
Elmhurst, IL 60126

     DuPage Yard Waste/Midwest Compost
     1195 W. Washington St.
    West Chicago, IL 60185
    (630) 876-8900

For smaller quantities, residents can manage their landscape waste with green lawn care practices or composting. Below are some tips on green lawn care or you can visit University of IL Extension's resources on maintaining a natural lawn.

Recycling grass clippings back to the lawn

Clippings are a valuable source of nutrients and you can use less nitrogen fertilizer if you recycle clippings to the lawn.
Adding organic matter from clippings may help improve your soil if it is sandy, heavy clay or low in organic matter.
Regular mowing will greatly reduce the need to collect clippings. Avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the grass height at a time.

Composting at home is another way to avoid the need for yard waste pickup. However, improper and incomplete composting can lead to odor complaints if residents are not managing the compost pile correctly. Below are some additional sites that have composting lawn care info. The Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC) has a great handout for starting composting at home. Here are some additional resources that help homeowners learn how to cut their grass to and help with setting up at-home composting.