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Official website for the City of Aurora, Illinois. Mayor Tom Weisner

Recycling

Recycling violation

Although participation in Aurora’s curb side recycling program is not mandatory, the waste program is designed to encourage residents to recycle because doing so will reduce the volume of your trash and lower your disposal costs.

The City of Aurora is not responsible for lost or destroyed recycling bins. Replacement or additional bins are available for purchase at Property Standards, 1 S. Broadway or from the Customer Service Center at 3770 McCoy Drive. You may also purchase any type of 18 gallon recycling bin from various department stores or hardware stores.

Preparation of material

Recyclable materials may be placed in an 18 gallon recycling bin or paper grocery bag, not plastic grocery bags. Materials should be rinsed free of food and caps and lids removed. Flatten All corrugated cardboard boxes, paperboard, wet strength carrier stock and remove any non paper packing material.

Recyclable Paper Items

  • Newspaper and all newspaper inserts
  • Glossy and non-glossy magazines
  • Catalogs
  • Telephone directories
  • Brown Kraft paper bags
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Paperboard (chipboard)
  • Cereal boxes
  • Wet strength carrier stock such as beer and soda boxes
  • Frozen food boxes
  • Junk mail
  • Mixed paper

Non-Paper Items

  • Plastic bottles and containers numbered #1 - #7
  • Aluminum/bi-metal cans
  • Aluminum foil
  • Steel or tin cans
  • Aerosol cans
  • Aluminum baking trays/pie plates
  • Brown, green, and clear glass bottles and jars
  • Gable top milk cartons
  • Juice cartons and boxes
  • Household batteries placed in a clear sandwich bag and placed beside the recycling bin.

Unacceptable Items

No mirrors, window glass or #6 Polystyrene blocks or packing peanuts will be accepted.

Electronics Recycling

With the state banning computers, monitors, printers, televisions and other electronics from landfills starting in 2012 year, Aurora is offering several free options to safely recycle these items.

The program has been expanded year-round with twice-monthly collection events from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City’s Customer Service Center, 3770 McCoy Drive, and Central Garage facility, 720 N. Broadway Ave. For a list of dates, visit the City’s website homepage or call the Customer Service Center at 630-256-INFO.

Eligible electronics that will be collected include monitors, computers (both PCs and Macs), laptops, televisions, printers, fax machines, scanners, computer accessories (mouses, keyboards and modems), video game consoles, telephones, answering machines, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, cameras, camcorders, servers and networking equipment, DVD players, stereos, and VCRs. Microwaves are the only kitchen appliance that can be recycled.

Large appliances such as air conditioners, stoves, refrigerators, freezers; smaller appliances including toasters and coffee makers; and household hazardous waste materials will not be accepted.

Vintage Tech Recyclers, the City’s vendor, continues to offer front-door collection service to Aurora residents by appointment only. The list of eligible electronics remains the same, but a maximum of 10 items will be accepted per pickup. One of the items must be a television, computer or printer.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling 630-305-0922 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents will need to provide their names, addresses and phone numbers along with item count for collection. All electronics should be placed at the front door before 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.

The home electronics recycling collection is available for those who have front doors at ground level. The service is not available to second floor or higher units. For more information, visit www.vintagetechrecyclers.com.

Medications

Medications can be dropped off on a regular basis at:
Fox Metro Water Reclamation District
682 Route 31
Oswego, IL 60543
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday-Friday

However, at this location no controlled substances are allowed.

Hazardous Materials

There is a hazardous material drop-off at the Brookdale and Route 59, Naperville Fire Station #4, (630) 420-4190, on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Closed on Holidays. There is no cost for drop-off. Items included are listed below.

Automotive

In general, any fluids, fuel, cleaner additive or maintenance product used with motor vehicles with the exception of lead-acid “Automotive” batteries are accepted. This includes but may not be limited to: Antifreeze, Battery Acid, Car Wax, Auto Body Filler/Paints, Engine Degreaser, Gasoline, Cleaner, Carburetor, Motor/Transmission Oil, Power Steering, Lubricating Oil, Fluid/Solvents - Any Aerosol Products used in or on motor vehicles.

Home Repair/Building/Woodworking/Hobby Supplies

In general any household wastes associated with home repair projects are accepted. This includes but may not be limited to: Asphalt Roofing Tar, Chemistry Sets, Concrete Cleaner, Chalk Powder, Carpenters Glue, Asbestos (wetted and sealed in a plastic bag), Driveway Sealer, Drywall Compound, Fluorescent Bulbs/ Ballast’s Grout, Lead Paint Chips, Driveway Crack Filler, Glue and Cements, Mercury Switches, Solutions, Thermostats, Paint Stripper (Methylene/Chloride), Lime, Wood Preservatives.

Painting and Decorating Supplies

In general, any material or waste associated with painting for decorating the household including, buy may not be limited to: Acetone, All Oil Based/Stains, All Spray Paints, Brush Cleaners, Mineral Spirits/Turpentine, Creosote, Paint Thinner, Wallpaper Paste/Size Liquid, Drywall Sealer.

Kitchen, Laundry, Household Cleaning

Any product used in the home to clean, cook, remove, unclog, disinfect or freshen the household. These items include but are not limited to: Aluminum Cleaner, Bleach, Brasso, Cesspool Cleaner, Pine Oil, Mothballs, Lye, Lime Away, Furniture Polish, Dry Cleaning Solvents, Oven Cleaners, Rug Cleaners, Rust Remover, Septic Tank Degreasers, Spot Removers/Fabric Softener.

Medicines and Cosmetics

Items used in make-up or health care. These include but are not limited to: Cuticle Remover, Hair Perm Solutions, Medications, Perfume, Cologne and After Shave, Rubbing Alcohol, Nail Polish and Remover, Shampoo for Lice, Shoe Dye, Thermometer and Thermostats w/Mercury, Any Polishes.

Pesticides and Herbicides

Any pesticide, insecticide, herbicide, fertilizers or product used to control insects, weeds or other unwanted pests. There are hundreds of product names for these materials and we accept them all. These items include, but are not limited to: Pentachorophynol, Diazanon, Fertilizers/Pesticides, Flee Powder, Insect Sprays, Rat Poison, Lindain, Malathion/Poisons, Silvex; 2,4,D; 45,T, Vegetation Killer, Weed Killer, Soil Fumigants.

Pool Chemicals, Whirlpool Chemicals/Cleaners, Water Treatment Products

Materials used to chlorinate water in pools water systems or pH control products are accepted. These items include but are not limited to: Ammonium Hydroxide, Bromine Pool Acid, Calcium Hypochlorite, HTH, Muriatric Acid, Pool Chlorine, Potassium Permanganate, Sodium Hypochlorite.

Batteries

We can accept all household batteries with the exception of motor vehicle batteries. These include: Alkaline, Button Batteries, Hearing Aid Batteries, Lantern Batteries, Lithium Batteries, NI Cads, Watch Batteries, Wet Cell.

Totally Unacceptable Items

  • Latex Paint
  • Ammunition and all explosives/fireworks - check with your local police department.
  • Car Batteries
  • Commercial/Industrial/Institutional waste
  • Garbage - Non-household hazardous waste
  • Radioactive materials
  • Propane Tank Cylinders - use up or take to local propane gas dealer/company.