Hazardous Waste/Electronics/Misc. Recycling

Household Hazardous Waste

Residents of Downers Grove and DuPage County may dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (except latex paint) at the DuPage County Household Hazardous Waste collection site in Naperville at Fire Station 4. The hours are Saturdays and Sundays (except holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For information about the site and accepted items, visit the City of Naperville HHW Collection Site webpage or contact Naperville’s Department of Public Works.

The DuPage County Recycling Guide answers questions regarding household hazardous waste, how to safely dispose of these products, and how to recycle many other household items.

For more information about hazardous waste disposal, please contact the DuPage County Hazardous Waste hotline. 

 Special Events/Electronics Recycling

• Visit the DuPage County Waste, Recycling and Energy Services webpage for information about special one-day collections of recycled materials, electronics or household hazardous waste at sites throughout the County.

• The Village of Downers Grove and Creative Recycling offer electronics recycling on the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The drop-off location is at Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave., in the employee parking lot at the rear of the building, off Curtiss St. MAP.
  
  Because the site is staffed by community volunteers, gates will be opened at 9:00 a.m. and closed promptly at noon. List of accepted items. There are several types of electronics that cannot be accepted, including smoke detectors, dehumidifiers, fluorescent and CFL lightbulbs, and household (alkaline) batteries.

• WESTMONT SPECIAL ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PROGRAM
  
  The 2014 Westmont Electronics Recycling Program, in partnership with DuPage County and Creative Recycling, Inc., will host their monthly collections in the downtown area directly across from the Village Hall at 31 W. Quincy Street, which is the public parking area on the north side of West Quincy between Lincoln and Grant Street. Following are the dates for the 2014 Electronics Recycling Program:
  
  Friday, May 9, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, June 13, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, July 11, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, August 8, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, Sept. 12, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, Oct. 10, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, Nov.14, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Friday, Dec. 12, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  
  For more information regarding this electronics recycling program, contact the Village of Westmont at (630) 981-6200. 

• The Downers Grove Township Highway Department accepts electronics from 8:00 a.m. to Noon on the third Saturday of the month (except holiday weekends) at 318 E. Quincy, Westmont. Call (630)-719-6620 for more information. 
• City of Naperville accepts electronics on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. MORE INFO..

Latex Paint

Latex paint can be dried with cat litter, oil absorbent, sawdust or another absorbent material. Once the paint is dried, it can be scooped out and disposed of with regular garbage. The can may be rinsed out and put with curbside recycling.

• SCARCE video: What to do with latex paint

2014 Latex Paint Recycling Program: June 9- July 3

DuPage County offers this summer program. In addition to the disposal of latex paint, the program also offers FREE mixed paint to customers.  For dates, times and locations, click HERE.  

Kin-ko Ace Hardware, 6216 Main St, Downers Grove, (630) 968-4355, will accept latex paint for recycling. A small fee will be charged for the service; $1.50 per quart, $2.50 per gallon, $8.00 per 5 gallon bucket. The service is provided by Earth Paints Collection Systems.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL’s)

The following retailers accept CFL bulbs for recycling: (There is no fee for this service, however, broken bulbs cannot be accepted.)

• Kin-ko Ace Hardware, 6216 Main St, Downers Grove, (630) 968-4355
• Home Depot, 2000 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove, (630) 792-9600
• Home Depot,  2101 W. 75th St., Darien, (630) 271-9600
• Home Depot, 7200 Woodward Ave., Woodridge (630) 795-1950
• IKEA, 750 Boughton Rd., Bolingbrook, (630) 972-7900 

Smoke Detectors

Many recycling facilities and special events do not accept smoke detectors. Smoke detectors may be returned to the manufacturer:

• Where to return smoke detectors

Used Motor Oil

The Village will accept used motor oil and transmission fluid which will be used to heat the fleet services garage during the winter months.  This program is not for use by commercial entities.

Items may be brought to the Fleet Services garage, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The garage is located within the fenced employee parking lot off Curtiss St., on the east end of the Village Hall complex. 

Please see any employee to drop off your liquids.  There is no curbside collection and items are not permitted to be left unattended outside the building.  

Pharmaceuticals

Unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs are accepted at the DuPage County Houshold Hazardous Waste collection site in Naperville at Fire Station 4.

The Village of Downers Grove will dispose of unused medications, by appointment. 

Also visit the following websites for more information.

• DuPage County Green Initiatives for a list of drop-off locations
• Dispose My Meds
• U.S. Dept. of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration Drug disposal info and initiatives

Rechargable Batteries

The Downers Grove Park District accepts rechargable batteries , only, at the Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Rd.

Polystyrene Foam

 Dart Corporation  in North Aurora accepts polystyrene products for recycling.

Related Links

• Earth 911
• Where to recycle #5's and Brita Filters
• Freecycle
• Donate furniture and building supplies to Habitat for Humanity