The following items are accepted at the Recycling Drop-off Centers:

• Glass jars and bottles
• Aluminum cans, foil and pie tins
• Tin or Steel cans
• Cereal boxes, paper towel rolls
• Cardboard (flatten all boxes)
• Plastic bottles and containers (# 1-5, 7 accepted)
• Junk mail, magazines and catalogs
• Telephone books
• Paper bags
• Office paper and file folders
• Newspaper and inserts
• Beverage cartons (milk, juice, soy cartons)
• Beverage carrier stock: plastic rings and cardboard carrying cases
• Wrapping paper (no bows or ribbons, please)
• Paper greeting cards

These items cannot be accepted, and should be donated, if reusable:

• Clothes and linens
• Plastic or metal hangers
• #6 Plastics (polystyrene or Styrofoam)
• Diapers or feminine products
• Construction debris (bricks, wood, cement, etc.)
• Paint or spray paint
• Unnumbered plastics (toothbrushes, toys, hoses, cereal box liners, etc.)
• Loose plastic shopping bags (bring those back to retailers for recycling)
• Hard, reusable plastic bottles (like Nalgene or baby bottles)

What about batteries?

Household (dry cell) batteries can be dropped off at your nearest Chicago Public Library branch or Chicago Walgreens location during their hours of operation. Examples of these batteries include:

• Alkaline Batteries (e.g. Duracell, Energizer, Ever Ready)
• Lithium Batteries (typically found in cameras)
• All Button Type Batteries (found in watches and smaller electronic devices)
• Rechargeable tool batteries

Do not drop off car batteries at either locations.

What about chemicals or electronics?

Hazardous household materials and home electronics can be disposed of at the Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch Street. Check out the complete list of accepted and non-accepted items before you visit.

Donating items

Here are some resources for donating gently-used items:

• Glasses (Pearle Vision Center, LensCrafters, Salvation Army)
• Computers
• Clothing, Linens and Furniture (Salvation Army, Brown Elephant)
• Bicycles (Working Bikes Cooperative)

Itemized lists taken from City of Chicago’s website.

For more information on recycling and donation centers, visit www.earth911.com.