Keep Evanston Beautiful: Membership to Evanston nonprofit dedicated to environmental education, recycling, litter abatement, conservation and community collaboration.

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Recycling

To see the Climate Action Plan Reuse/Recycling List, or Where to Give Your Household Items New Life, please click here.

Recycling Drop Off Center

Evanston provides a drop-off for recyclables at the site of the former recycling center, 2222 Oakton St. Hours of operation are:

Friday - 12 Noon to 7 PM
Saturday - 8 AM to 5 PM
Sunday - 8 AM to 5 PM

All materials accepted in the curbside recycling program are accepted at the drop-off. Anyone may use this facility including residents of communities other than Evanston. See list below.

Other Options

Three other centers accept old cell phones, cordless phones, digital cameras, video recorders, and laptop computers:

The City of Evanston Health Department - 847-866-2949

The Evanston Ecology Center - 847-448-8256

The Levy Center - 847-448-8250

"Ricky Recycle" at Whole Foods

What is Recyclable?

Here is a list of what you may put in your recycling bin, or bring to the drop-off center. This information is provided by the people at Groot Recycling and Waste Services, who collect the contents each week.

A reminder to all residents and condo owners in Evanston who still sort their recycling: it's acceptable to co-mingle your recyclable materials. Evanston community members can save time by placing all materials in one container. Groot Recycling and Waste Services sorts all recyclables at its plant. Groot will collect the following materials:

Paper

Paper, bundled in paper bags, including:

Newspapers and all inserts
Direct mail advertising (aka junk mail)
Office paper (including non-windowed envelopes and fax paper)
Magazines, catalogs and phone books
Corrugated cardboard (must fit in recycling container) - break down to 2' x 2' square
Kraft paper bags
Chipboard (flattened cereal boxes, pasteboard juice boxes, tissue boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, shoe and food boxes)

Paper not accepted:

Tyvek envelopes
Silicon coated paper
Photographs
Wax paper
Tissue paper - kleenex, napkins, paper towels, gift wrap
Foil-lined paper, brightly colored gift wrap

Put all containers below loose in your bin:

Metal

Cans and foil:

Steel (tin) cans and bi-metal cans, rinsed
EMPTY aerosol cans
Aluminum beverage and pet food cans
Clean aluminum foil pans and containers
Empty, dry paint cans

Metal not accepted:

Scrap metal
Cookware
Unemptied aerosols or paint cans

Glass

All colors of glass bottles and jars. You do not need to remove labels. Please rinse and throw away lids.

Glass not accepted:

Pottery/ceramics(plates, mugs, etc.)
Window glass
Mirrors
Drinking glasses
Crystal, light bulbs, Pyrex

Plastic

Containers with a #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #7 in a triangle on the bottom, including liter pop bottles; milk, water and juice bottles; liquid detergent, fabric softener, bleach, shampoo and vitamin and supplement bottles. Rinse, discard lids.

Also acceptable:

Six pack and 12 pack rings

Plastic not accepted:

Any other plastic than the type #'s listed above
No petroleum products of any kind
No anti-freeze containers
No oil containers of any kind.

New Battery Recycling Information

While household batteries don't pose the hazardous waste problems they used to, some require special disposal treatment.

Household batteries:

A, C & D cell batteries can be placed in the garbage.

For Rechargeable batteries:

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
Small Sealed Lead Acid (Pb) batteries weighing up to 2 pounds

Check www.rbrc.org or call 800-8 Battery for the location nearest you. Most Radio Shack, Target and Best Buy retail outlets will recycle rechargeable batteries.

Most Sears Automotive, Target, Sam's Club and Walmart stores will accept car, motorcycle, boat, sump pump and tractor lead acid batteries.

For other type of batteries, check the Illinois EPA website for its household hazardous waste collection schedule.

Manufacturers have eliminated many of the toxic chemicals formerly used in common batteries, making it safe to toss those exhausted AAs and flashlight batteries into the trash. Better yet - use rechargeable batteries, which can be used over and over again.

Battery recycling has been available at Evanston fire stations and the Ecology Center. Keep Evanston Beautiful has paid for the cost of the recycling effort. Yet 80% of the batteries dropped off no longer need to be recycled. The cost of recycling is significant to KEB, and with the increase of other viable options, is no longer needed. As a result, batteries are not collected at the fire stations and Ecology Center drop-off points.

CFL Bulbs

CFL bulbs are recyclable at:

Civic Center
Evanston Ecology Center
Lemoi Hardware

Climate Action Plan Reuse/Recycling List,
or Where to Give Your Household Items New Life*

This list supplements the regular Evanston recycling program, which can be viewed online at www.cityofevanston.org/departments/publicworks/streets/recycling.

Unless otherwise listed, all addresses are in Evanston. It is recommended that you phone first.

Additional information about recycling and disposal is available at www.swancc.org/index.html.

APPLIANCES (Small)

Change Way, 5250 N. Broadway, Chicago, accepts all types of small household appliances, audio equipment, and electronics, working or not, for refurbishing and donation, mostly to families and organizations in Ghana. Call first for drop off at 2117 W. Irving Park, Chicago, or for free pick-up.

Connections for the Homeless, 2010 Dewey Ave., accepts household appliances in good repair. Call for drop–off appointment. 847-424-0945.

Electronics Recycled, 213 W. 16th St., Chicago Heights, offers free pick-up for any amount of computer peripherals, MP3 players, digital cameras, and DVD players, phones and communications equipment for reuse or recycling. 866-674-4731.

Family Focus/Our Place, 2010 Dewey Ave., accepts household appliances in good condition. Call first. 847-475-7570.

Also see Resale and Consignment Shops.

APPLIANCES (Large)

Change Way, 5250 N. Broadway, Chicago, accepts free of charge all types of large household appliances, including TVs, washers, refrigerators, microwaves mostly to families and schools in Ghana. Call first for drop off at 2117 W. Irving Park, Chicago, or call for free pick- up. 773-271-7665.

City of Evanston accepts many types of large appliances free of charge in special Tuesday collections. Call the Department of Streets and Sanitation on Monday before the desired Tuesday pick-up. 847- 866-2940.

ARTS AND CRAFTS SUPPLIES

Family Focus/Our Place, 2010 Dewey Ave. Call first. 847-475-7570.

Kindercare, 2014 Dempster St., accepts arts supplies including scratch paper. Call first. 847-869-3456.

Rice Child & Family Center of Children's Home & Aid, 1101 Washington St. Call first. 847-866-3800.

BATTERIES

Office Depot recycles rechargeable batteries free of charge.

US Cellular, 1737 Sherman Ave., accepts NiCd, NiMH, Li-ion and certain others. 847-328-6199.

BOOKS

Child Care Center of 840 Asbury Ave., accepts preschool-children's books. Call first. 847-869-2680.

Evanston Public Library, Main Branch, 1703 Orrington Ave. Books can be dropped off at the back door of the building or at the circulation desk. Tax receipts provided. Also accepted: Tapes, CDs, old maps, postcards, magazines such as art, antiques, cooking, home decoration, children's and general interest. 847-866-0300.

Tools for Schools, a book/school supplies rescue program by School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education (SCARCE), Glen Ellyn, www.bookrescue.org, accepts PreK - 12th-grade texts (10 years old or newer); PreK-12th-grade library books; unused workbooks; reference books (dictionaries—any language, thesauruses and encyclopedias and atlases less than 10 years old); parenting books; story books (any age up through high school), along with all types of supplies for teachers, staff or students. To donate, send an email to bookrescue@yahoogroups.com in the following format:

Subject: OFFER: then age group, subject, and city (e.g. HS Chemistry Books in Glen Ellyn)
Body of Message: Details about the books, including title, publisher, number of copies, and ideally ISBN number. For information, call 630- 545-9710.

Also see Resale and Consignment Shops.

CANES, WALKERS, WHEELCHAIRS

Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services, 840 Dodge Ave., accepts and lends. 847-864-3721.

CAR BATTERIES

Duxler Car Care Center, 2620 Green Bay Rd. 847-869-3200.

Warren's Shell Service, 1201 Chicago Ave. Drop off only during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 847-475-7797.

CELL PHONES

Can be recycled free at most office supply, electronics and cellular service-provider stores; at the Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., and through the U.S. Postal Service recycling program (envelopes available at all post offices.)

CLOTHING

Change Way, 5250 N. Broadway, Chicago, accepts adults' and children's clothing and shoes in good condition for donation mostly to families and schools in Ghana. Call first for drop off at 2117 W. Irving Park, Chicago, or call for free pick-up. 773-271-7665.

Connections for the Homeless, 2010 Dewey Ave., accepts men's and women's clothing. Call for drop–off appointment. 847-424-0945.

Evanston School Children's Clothing Assn. (ESCCA), Drop Box on the west side of District 65's Joseph E. Hill Education Center, 1500 McDaniel Ave., accepts clean, gently used children's clothing only, no shoes or boots. 847-859-8018.

Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd. is a drop off location for used tennis and running shoes.

Family Focus/Our Place, 2010 Dewey Ave., accepts infant, children's and adult clothing in good condition. Call first. 847-475-7570.

Glass Slipper Project, c/o Central Blacktop Co., 6160 S. East Ave., P.O. Box 2080, Hodgkins, IL, 60525, accepts new and almost new formal dresses less than five years old and accessories (shoes, jewelry, unopened makeup) for Chicago teens to wear to proms. Many north suburban dry cleaners serve as collection points during the spring. For information, call 312-409-4139.

Also see Resale and Consignment Shops.

ELECTRONICS (SMALL)

Office Depot recycles cell phones and PDAs free of charge.

Staples recycles cell phones, PDAs, pagers, digital cameras and chargers free of charge.

The U.S. Postal Service provides free, postage-paid envelopes to recycle used small electronics, including cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, and PDAs.

Also see Resale and Consignment Shops.

EYEGLASSES

Evanston Lions Club, c/o Evanston Funeral & Cremation, 1726 Central St., takes eyeglasses, sunglasses, lenses, frames, cases, as well as miscellaneous medical devices. Call Roland F. Weis for information. 847-866-8843.

Coventry Eye Care, 2000 Central St., accepts in-tact prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. 847-864-0300.

Lenscrafters, Old Orchard, Skokie, accepts all eyewear in any condition. 847-679-3880.

Lenscrafters, 9450 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, accepts intact prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and cases. 847-677-5322.

FABRIC, FABRIC SCRAPS, SEWING NOTIONS

Evanston Art Center, 2603 Sheridan Rd., accepts buttons, ribbon, other materials for arts and crafts. Call first. 847-475-5300.

Family Focus/Our Place, 2010 Dewey Ave. Call first. 847-475-7570.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Contact manufacturer to see if there is a recycling program in effect.

FLUORESCENT AND COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS

Evanston Department of Health and Human Services, 2100 Ridge Ave., accepts compact fluorescent bulbs in zipper-lock baggies and fluorescent tube lights for recycling. 847-866-2969.

Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., accepts only compact fluorescent bulbs in zipper-lock baggies for recycling. 847-448-8256.

Lemoi Hardware, 1008 Davis St., accepts compact fluorescent bulbs. 847-328-4900.

FOOD

Beth Emet Soup Kitchen, 1224 Dempster St., accepts some items for its Wednesday soup kitchen. Call for information. 847-869-4230 x333.

Connections for the Homeless, 2010 Dewey Ave., accepts high-protein, non-perishable foods. Call for drop–off appointment. 847-424-0945.

Hemenway United Methodist Church, 933 Chicago Ave., accepts dry goods and non-perishables as well as frozen foods for Tuesday soup kitchen and bi-monthly Food Pantry (2nd and 4th Friday of the month). Food drop-off is at the back of the church. Call for details. 847-328-2600.

Interfaith Action of Evanston, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1509 Ridge Ave., accepts fresh foods for its weekday morning Hospitality Center. Call first. 847-869-0370.

FURNITURE

Child Care Center of Evanston, 1840 Asbury Ave., accepts cribs, high chairs, infant strollers. Call first. 847-869-2680.

Family Focus/Our Place, 2010 Dewey Ave., accepts baby furniture. Call first. 847-475-7570.

Also see Resale and Consignment Shops.

GARDENING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., accepts clay pots, garden tools, seeds, nature-related items and nature magazines. Must phone first. 847-448-8256.

HEARING AIDS

Evanston Lions Club, C/O Evanston Funeral & Cremation, 1726 Central St., accepts hearing aids as well as miscellaneous medical devices. Call Roland F. Weis for information. 847-866-8843.

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

Chicago Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, 1150 N. Branch St., Goose Island, Chicago, accepts lawn chemicals, antifreeze, mercury, cleaning products, old gasoline, drain cleaners, herbicides, pesticides, hobby chemicals, pool chemicals, solvents, insecticides, used motor fuel. Call for information. 312-744-7606.

Duxler Car Care Center, 2620 Green Bay Rd., accepts motor oil, transmission fluid and anti-freeze for recycling. 847-869-3200.

Jiffy Lube, 1941 Dempster St., accepts motor oil, transmission fluid and anti-freeze for recycling. 847-328-5222.

Warren's Shell Service, 1201 Chicago Ave., accepts motor oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze and up to one gallon of gasoline for recycling. Drop off only during business hours, 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday. 847-475-7797.

LICENSE PLATES

All Illinois Secretary of State facilities accept old license plates for recycling.

MEDICATIONS and NEEDLES

City of Evanston Department of Health and Human Services, 2100 Ridge Ave., collects unused or expired prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs, as well as needles known as "sharps."
For detailed information on how to prepare your medicines and needles for recycling, see city website: www.cityofevanston.org/departments/publicworks/streets/medmercury.shtml.

PACKING MATERIALS

Most mailing and packaging service stores accept Styrofoam or biodegradable packing peanuts in a plastic, twist-tie bag; some also accept cardboard boxes.

Also see Freecycle.

PAINT

Chicago Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, 1150 N. Branch St., Goose Island, Chicago, accepts aerosol paints, oil paints and paint thinners, and hosts a free latex paint swap. Call for information. 312-744-7606.

City of Evanston will collect latex paint for recycling at the Recycling Center on Oakton beginning in Fall, 2008. Until the program is up and running, contact sustainability@cityofevanston.org with questions.

Also for latex paint disposal, see www.swancc.org/hcw/latexpaint.html.

PLASTIC BAGS

Most grocery and drug stores provide bins to recycle clean plastic bags. Plastic dry cleaning bags can also be recycled at many dry cleaners.

SCRAP METALS, including keys, cans and other household metals

Bucktown Recycling, 4519 W. Patterson, Chicago (one block north of Addison and Kilbourn). Pays cash. 773-205-0770

Maine Scrap Metal, 1274 Rand Rd., Des Plaines. Pays cash. 847-824-3175.

Serlin Iron & Metal, 1810 N. Kilbourn, Chicago (east of Cicero, two blocks south of Armitage). Pays cash. 773-252-1075

Warren's Shell Service, 1201 Chicago Ave., accepts scrap metal under 1 cubic square foot. Drop off only during business hours, 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday. 847-475-7797.

Wright Recycling, 1155 W. Oakton St., Des Plaines, buys recyclable aluminum, brass and copper. 800-732-2218.

SMOKE DETECTORS

Under federal law, all smoke detectors have a mail-back address to send used units with radioactive chips. Call the company for fees, mailing instructions and brands accepted. Mark all packages "For disposal only."

TECHNOLOGY

Change Way, 5250 N. Broadway, Chicago, is an authorized Microsoft refurbisher, accepting at no charge all types of computers and peripherals for scrubbing, refurbishing and donation mostly to schools and families in Ghana. Drop off at 2117 W. Irving Park, Chicago, or call for free pick-up. 773-271-7665.

Chicago Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, 1150 N. Branch St., Goose Island, Chicago, accepts computer materials for recycling. Call for information. 312-744-7606.

Computers for Schools-Chicago, 3350 N. Kedzie, Dock 2, Chicago, accepts at no charge donations of any working or non-working computers or computer peripherals for use by local schools and nonprofits. (Hard drives are erased to NIS standards. A completion report is available for $10.) Drop off between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or call for information. 800-939-6000.

Electronics Recycled, 213 W. 16th St., Chicago Heights, offers free pick-up for any amount of computers, monitors, peripherals, TVs, phones and communications equipment, MP3 players, digital cameras, and DVD players for reuse or recycling. 866-674-4731.

HomeTech Computer Solutions, 1100 W. Pratt Blvd., Suite 3S, Chicago, is an authorized Microsoft refurbisher, accepting used PCs for refurbishing and donation to schools and charities for a $100 fee that guarantees all data will be erased and destroyed before the computer is donated. Call first. 773-761-1500 or 847-251-8000.

Maine Scrap Metal, 1274 Rand Rd., Des Plaines, accepts computers, electronics, A/V other than TVs. 847-824-3175.

Midwest Computer Recycling Inc., 101 W. Skokie Blvd., Lake Bluff, accepts computers and electronic scrap and can erase information and provide documentation of destruction. Profit from resold parts is shared with original owners. For information, call 847-582-1730.

Office Depot offers a fee-based ($5-$15) tech recycling service for monitors, fax machines, PCs, laptops, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, drives, telephones, VCRs, DVDs, cords and cables.

Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County offers home pickup for $25 for many types of electronics and electrics, including computers and peripherals, stereo equipment and microwaves. Call 847-724-9205 ext. 9 to arrange a pick-up.

THERMOMETERS, THERMOSTATS, WALL SWITCHES

City of Evanston Department of Health and Human Services, 2100 Ridge Ave., collects mercury-filled items. 847-866-2948.

TIRES

City of Evanston Department of Streets and Sanitation provides free special pick-up of tires arranged by phone. Call 847-866-2940.

Duxler Car Care Center, 2620 Green Bay Rd., accepts tires with a $2 service fee per tire. 847-869-3200.

Warren's Shell Service, 1201 Chicago Ave., accepts tires with a $6 service fee per tire. Drop off only during business hours, 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday. 847-475-7797.

TOILETRIES

Interfaith Action of Evanston, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1509 Ridge Ave. Call first. 847-869-0370.

TOYS AND GAMES

Child Care Center of Evanston, 1840 Asbury Ave., accepts toys and games for preschoolers. Call first. 847-869-2680.

Ridgeville Park District, 908 Seward St., accepts ride-on toys in good condition. Call first. 847-869-5640.

Also see Resale and Consignment Shops.

TREES

Horigan Urban Forest Products, Skokie, provides kiln drying and custom milling for trees removed by your contractor, and works with artists, carpenters and builders who can create custom mantles, paneling, flooring, doors, furniture and more. 847-568-1340.

VIDEOS

Rice Child & Family Center of Children's Home & Aid, 1101 Washington St., accepts children's videos and video equipment. Call first. 847-866-3800.

FREECYCLE and ReUseIt

FREECYCLE and ReUseIt are online exchanges allowing consumers to give or take goods free of charge.

EVANSTON FREECYCLE: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleEvanston/

SKOKIE REUSEIT NETWORK: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkokieILreuseit-network

RESALE AND CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

Classy Closet, 701 Washington St., accepts contemporary and vintage women's and men's clothing, accessories, jewelry, decorative items and collectibles on consignment. Call for appointment. 847-475-0355.

Crossroads Trading Co., 1730 Sherman Ave., buys and trades current, fashionable and in-season clothing in good condition. 847-492-9400.

Crowded Closet, 824 Dempster St., accepts ladies' designer clothing and accessories on consignment. Call first. 847-475-1135.

Hand Me Downs, 614 Dempster St., accepts children's clothing (up to size 14-16,) toys, books, bikes, car seats, strollers, furniture, and miscellaneous equipment for sale or consignment. Call for appointment. 847-475-0803.

Junior League of Evanston-North Shore Thrift House, 920 Chicago Ave., accepts donations of clean, saleable clothing and household items except computers, bikes, car seats and handicapped equipment. Call first for specifics. 847-328-5778.

ORT Resale Shop, 915 Chicago Ave., accepts donations of clothing and household goods. Pick-ups for large pieces of furniture. 847-864-6099.

Salvation Army, 528 Kedzie Ave., accepts donations of clothing, furniture, toys, appliances, electronics, household items and garden equipment. Goods must be in clean, useable condition and must be in bags or boxes. Drop off at store or call 773-477-1300 for pickup. 847-869-3033.

NO MOWER POLLUTION

Now through Labor Day, gas-powered lawn mowers can be emptied of gas and oil free of charge at Ace Lemoi Hardware, 1008 Davis St., and disposed of at North Shore Towing, 2527 Oakton St. Discounts on environmentally friendly mowers and lawn care services are available with proof of disposal of gas-powered mower. See www.cityofevanston.org/nomowerpollution or call 847-866-2947.