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 Regional Household Hazardous Waste collection site in Naperville at 156 Fort Hill Drive. 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.

• City of Naperville accepts electronics on Wednesdays 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. Another method is to leave the lid off the can and allow the paint to dry out. The can and contents may be placed in your regular garbage. 

• SCARCE video: What to do with latex paint

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
• Kin-ko Ace Hardware, 8625 Woodward Ave., Woodridge, (630) 985-0023
• 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 accepts 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 parking lot off Curtiss Street, on the east end of the Village Hall complex. Used motor oil must be poured into the large receptacle located on the south side of the garage, labeled USED MOTOR OIL. Please take empty containers with you to reuse as these are not recyclable.

Used Cooking Oil

 For locations that accept used cooking oil, visit SCARCE. 

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