All curbside collection programs for waste and recycling remain operational at this time. Please continue to separate and recycle as usual. You do not need to change how you are doing anything.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE AT HOME
Maintain your green standards: If services are eventually reduced and/or if you would like to make extra efforts to maintain your green-standards, consider the following measures:
Yard waste and food scraps: The following suggestions are general best practices, regardless of whether curbside service is running as normal or experiencing disruptions due to the virus.
Backyard composting: Now is the time to start composting your yard waste and food scraps in a corner of the backyard if you have the space. There are many great guides available online about how to get started. Check out the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC) resources on backyard composting.
Green-scaping & lawn mulching – mulch leaves into the garden beds and leave grass clippings on the lawn. Google either of these terms to find a wealth of guidance online.
Drop-off options: Check with your county recycling program manager to find an IEPA permitted drop-off location that can take your organics (food scraps/landscape waste) for composting. See the IFSC map of compost facilities. Call ahead to confirm that they are open to the public for landscape waste drop-off.
Do not burn your landscape waste or any other waste please, despite any ill-informed advice to do so. See the EPA information on the hazards of burning waste. We do not want to fill the air with smoke at a time when people are struggling with respiratory-related illnesses. Instead, please mulch these organic materials properly, so that they will break down through a natural emission-free process.
Recycling: If there are extreme disruptions to recycling service, you can stockpile your clean recyclables in a corner of the garage or basement until this is over. If you chose to do this, keep in mind that you will need to feed the volume in over time when service returns, so as not to overwhelm the system.
Waste reduction and rethinking: Return to the thrifty measures taken by our elders in times of national or global emergencies and rethink your consumer habits. Up your game with innovative ways to minimize your discards. Reuse everything you can. Reduce your consumption by considering your purchases, including the packaging they come in. Shop for food-items that are less perishable and invest in appliances that are durable and repairable. Do your part in helping maintain the viability of our resource recovery system.
