Recycling
Western Springs Recycling Collection Guidelines
Please read and become familiar with the acceptable and unacceptable items for single stream recycling collection in Western Springs. Learn more in this flyer on Single Stream Recycling.
Styrofoam Recycling
The Village of Western Springs and the Green Team of The First Congregational Church of Western Springs offer a Styrofoam recycling program throughout the year.
Members of the community may drop off Styrofoam packing materials and clean Styrofoam food containers on the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. The recycling site is in the parking lot adjacent to the Recreation Center, 1500 Walker Street (northwest corner of the parking area).
Packing peanuts cannot be accepted - they may be taken to your local packing and shipping store. For more information view the Styrofoam Recycling Program. Residents can also take Styrofoam to Dart Container Corp in Chicago or North Aurora.
Battery Recycling
The IEPA recommends disposing of alkaline batteries with regular household trash. Alkaline batteries contain no hazardous waste and little recyclable material.
Alkaline batteries used to be considered hazardous due to their mercury content, but today few, if any alkaline batteries contain mercury. Residents who would still like to recycle batteries of many kinds should contact a Battery Plus retailer.
Latex Paint
Empty/dried-out latex paint cans can be put to the curb for regular collection. Village True Value Hardware in Western Springs also accepts latex paint cans; however, there is a service charge. For more information, contact Village True Value Hardware at 708-246-0892.
Prescription Drugs
The Village of La Grange Police Department has a secure box for the disposal of prescription drugs in their lobby, at 304 W Burlington Avenue, La Grange.
The Village of Westchester also has a 24/7, environmentally safe disposal program for prescription drugs located in the main lobby of the Village Hall. For further details on this program, please call 708-345-0020.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are small fluorescent bulbs that use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of at a special collection site. Search for CFL collection sites at Earth911; however, please call the site to verify that it is collecting CFLs.
Electronic Waste
LRS will collect electronic waste curbside, with required stickers: 1 sticker per small item, 10 stickers per television or monitor, 5 stickers per bundle within a brown paper bag. Learn more about electronic waste requirements here.
Village of Burr Ridge Collection Site—all residents within the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency Region are able to drop off electronics at the Village of Burr Ridge Public Works Department located at 451 Commerce Street. This collection site is in operation Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Please view the information flyer for complete details including a list of items that will be accepted at the site. Call to confirm hours.
For more information regarding the disposal of electronic waste (e-waste), including facilities and businesses that offer electronics recycling services, please visit the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's website at http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/electronic-waste-recycling/index.html.
Holiday Lights
Holiday light collection takes place November - January at various locations throughout the Village, including Village Hall, Thomas Ford Library, and Village True Value Hardware. Holiday lights can also be recycled throughout the year.
Household Hazardous Waste
Materials such as oil–based paint, pesticides, poison, cleaning solvents, gasoline, used oil, and other automotive fluids are considered to be household hazardous waste. Centers accepting hazardous waste are:
City of Chicago Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Site
1155 N Branch St
Chicago, IL 60622
312-744-2060
Materials accepted: Lacquer, Oil-Based Paint, Paint Strippers, Paint Thinners, Stains, Varnish, Paint as well as other items
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
156 Fort Hill Drive
Naperville, IL 60563
http://www.naperville.il.us/hhw.aspx
630-420-6095
Materials accepted: Lacquer, Oil-Based Paint, Paint Strippers, Paint Thinners, Stains, Varnish, as well as other items
Textile Recycling:
Learn more about textile recycling at:https://chicagotextilerecycling.com/.
Recycling Events
Community recycling events are held throughout the year in various locations throughout Cook and DuPage County. When the Village of Western Springs receives notice for such an event, the event is posted to the web site's community events calendar. To receive notification for community events from the Village, please sign up with Notify Me.
Items that can be reused by educators and non-profit organizations are collected by SCARCE in Glen Ellyn. They also recycle various other items. Learn more at: https://wsprings.com/DocumentCenter/View/6694/Ongoing-Reuse-SCARCE