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 for $20 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