Recycling

All households with Village refuse collection service are eligible to participate in the curbside recycling program at no charge. Each household received a 65 gallon recycling cart in August 2014, which remains the property of the Village. Additional or replacement bins may be ordered through Groot at 800-244-1977. Residents are advised to imprint their address on the bin with a permanent marker. Please call the Village at 847-588-7900 to request more information.

The recycling cart should be placed out by the regular garbage on the normal garbage collection day no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before pick-up. The emptied cart should be removed from the curbside by the evening of the collection day.

Accepted Items

The following materials can be placed in the recycling bin:
  • Aluminum
  • Milk, juice, broth and beverage cartons (no straws). Please put plastic cap back on when possible.
  • Catalogs
  • Cereal boxes (chipboard)
  • Clear, green, and brown glass
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Magazines
  • Mixed papers (Junk mail, white and colored paper, etc.)
  • Newspapers
  • Phone books
  • Tin, steel, and bimetal cans
  • Plastics (Bottles, jugs, jars and tubs) - Please put caps back on bottles and jugs.

Preparing Materials

Materials for collection in the recycling bin should be prepared as follows:
  • Glass bottles / jars - Rinse and remove label, cap, and plastic ring
  • Metal cans - Rinse and remove label
  • Newspaper - Place on bottom or place on top, tied with string or in a brown paper bag next to the recycling bin
  • Mixed papers - Place on bottom of bin or in a separate paper bag than newspapers
  • Plastic containers - Rinse and place caps back on bottles and jugs
More information can be found in this document or by viewing these videos:

Video 1: Why You're Recycling Wrong
Video 2: Recycling Plastic Bags

Electronics Recycling and Document Destruction

Groot is sponsors an annual E-Recycling event each Spring at Public Works on Touhy Avenue. This event is for Niles residents only, and does not include document destruction/shredding.  For the specific date, please contact Niles Public Works at 847-588-7900.

Once a year during the summer, the Village of Niles holds a combined electronics recycling and document destruction event. This event is for residents of all SWANCC communities. For the yearly date, please contact Niles Public Works at 847-588-7900.

For year-round information on drop-off locations for electronic recycling and document destruction, please visit SWANCC's website.

Hazardous Waste

Household chemical waste is not permitted in regular curb-side pickup. Examples of materials not allowed in the regular curb waste stream include latex paint, pool chemicals, lawn chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, propane tanks, smoke detectors, medical waste, drain cleaners, and gasoline. For a complete list or if you are unsure, please contact Groot at 800-244-1977. For information on recycling events for hazardous materials or drop-off locations, please visit the SWANCC website.

Prescription drugs can be dropped off at the Niles Police Department Prescription Drug Drop Box at 7000 W Touhy Avenue.

Holiday Light Recycling


Every year, residents find themselves purchasing new strands of holiday lights. Through this free recycling program, old holiday lights are reclaimed, reprocessed, made into new products and kept out of the landfills, making the season much brighter. Elgin Recycling, Inc. will gather the collected material, which will then be processed at their Palatine facility. The strands are chopped, separated, baled and sold as a commodity to foundries and mills in the United States.

This recycling program is sponsored by the Village of Niles, the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), and Elgin Recycling, Inc. This program runs November through February each year. Drop off locations are the Niles Fitness Center and Public Services building.

Medication and Sharp Object Collection

Please note: Sharps collection is only available at scheduled collection events.
In conjunction with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) the Village operates a Medication Take Back Program for residents. Residents can anonymously and free of charge, dispose of medications at a drop box located at the Senior Center, located at 999 Civic Center Dr. Niles, IL. 60714. This program helps reduce disposal of medications in the sewer system by collecting the following items: 

• Unused/Expired prescription medications
• Expired over-the-counter medications

The Niles Senior Center periodically hosts "sharps" (needles, etc.) collections. Sharps will only be accepted at scheduled collection events — This is not a routine/daily service. You can contact the Senior Center for more information about future sharps collections.

Latex Paint Recycling

In cooperation with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), the Village of Niles had collected latex paint for recycling. Unfortunately, this program will no longer be funded by SWANCC; therefore it has been discontinued. During the program trial we were able to recycle almost 1,400 gallons of paint through this program.

While the recycling program will no longer be offered, residents wishing to recycle latex paint may still do so at some area hardware stores. A complete listing of participating stores can be found online. Additionally, many local theatre groups, churches, and housing authorities also accept leftover paint and put it to good use. Should you have a significant amount of paint that is usable, you may wish to contact Habitat for Humanity at 847-742-9905 to make a donation.

If recycling is not an option or you do not have enough to donate, the easiest way to dispose of paint would be to use it up completely by applying another coat of paint to your project. However, should you need to dispose of latex paint, let the can dry out completely and place it in your regular garbage container. Shredded newspapers, kitty litter or Waste Paint Hardener (available at most hardware stores) can be added to the paint to quicken the hardening process.

Remember to let the paint dry out completely in a well ventilated area away from children and pets. After the paint has completely dried you may place the container in your garbage for collection. Residents that have additional questions may contact the Niles Public Services Department at 847-588-7900.
 

Current Recycling Locations

While the recycling program will no longer be offered, residents wishing to recycle latex paint may still do so at some area hardware stores. A complete listing of participating stores can be found online. Additionally, many local theatre groups, churches, and housing authorities also accept leftover paint and put it to good use. Should you have a significant amount of paint that is usable, you may wish to contact Habitat for Humanity at 847-742-9905 to make a donation.

Disposing of Paint

If recycling is not an option or you do not have enough to donate, the easiest way to dispose of paint would be to use it up completely by applying another coat of paint to your project. However, should you need to dispose of latex paint, let the can dry out completely and place it in your regular garbage container. Shredded newspapers, kitty litter or Waste Paint Hardener (available at most hardware stores) can be added to the paint to quicken the hardening process.

Remember to let the paint dry out completely in a well ventilated area away from children and pets. After the paint has completely dried you may place the container in your garbage for collection. Residents that have additional questions may contact the Niles Public Works Department at 847-588-7900.

Used Cooking Oil and Grease
Keeping grease and cooking oil out of sewer systems benefits both residents and municipalities by reducing the costs associated with oil and grease build-up in the systems. Cooking oil sticks to sewer pipes, causing clogs and breaks that are costly for homeowners and municipalities to fix. Oils and grease also interfere with processes at wastewater treatment facilities.  You can find a list of businesses that offer grease trap and fryer oil collection services here: Earth911 - Cooking Oil Recycling Search.

​Battery Recycling
In order to prevent battery-related fires in garbage trucks, transport trailers, recycling processing facilitates and transfer stations, new Federal regulations were established for transporting single-use Lithium and rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries by the Department of Transportation. Residents should familiarize themselves with regulations on battery disposal and recycling.

Single Use Batteries

According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, single-use Alkaline batteries AAA, AA, C, D 6v & 9v are classified as "non-hazardous" and may be safely disposed with household trash. When possible, recycle Alkaline batteries to recover metals including zinc, manganese, brass and steel.

Residents may also put single-use Lithium batteries in the garbage, but it is prudent to recycle them when possible.

Because single-use Alkaline and Lithium batteries look amazingly similar, the best way to know is to read the label.

Always place individual Lithium batteries in a plastic zip baggie, wrap it in plastic film or tape the terminal end with duct or electrical tape before recycling or disposing in the garbage to eliminate the risk of sparking a fire.

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh), and Lithium-Ion batteries contain mercury and other heavy metals and according to the IEPA, should be recycled. These batteries are found in cordless electronics like power tools, laptop and tablet computers, cell and cordless phones, as well as some toys, power banks, home security alarms, cordless vacuums, toothbrushes, and other devices that are plugged in an outlet to recharge the battery.

Usually, these batteries are embedded in a product and residents should never try to remove them. Take product with battery intact to a recycler when possible – Abt Electronics, Goodwill, Best Buy, etc.  Beware of Lithium and Lithium Ion batteries that show signs of swelling, smoking, leaking or overheating. Immediately put them in an absorbent, non-flammable material, such as sand or cat litter, in a cool, dry area. Take to a Household Hazardous Waste facility. NEVER put a damaged Lithium battery in the garbage or a recycling cart!

Resources

EPA’s Universal Waste Rule: https://www.epa.gov/hw/universal-waste
Call2Recycle: www.call2recycle.org