Recycling Cart Tagging Pilot Program

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The Village, in collaboration with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), conducted a recycling cart tagging and education pilot program in select neighborhoods throughout the month of June.

This program is part of the Village’s Sustainability Action Plan and is supported by SWANCC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chicago Metro Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program.

A brief summary of the program's findings was included in the September 2026 Villager newsletter.

You can also read the full data report and its findings by clicking here.

Below is all the information that was communicated to the community prior to the program start:

How will the program work?

A team of Village staff will walk along the street on garbage collection day each week during the month of June to check recycling carts for contamination (items not accepted through curbside recycling). Staff will be easily identifiable with high-visibility vests that say, “Elk Grove Village Public Works”.

Staff will open recycling carts and look inside but will not touch the contents. A paper tag will be attached to each cart and staff will mark “Thank You!” when all visible materials are good recyclables or “Oops!” to identify items that don’t belong in the recycling cart.

What is the purpose of this program?

The goals of the program are to inform residents, encourage proper recycling, and reduce recycling contamination.

Incorrectly recycled items can ruin batches of otherwise recyclable material, which results in the material going to the landfill. The tags will provide immediate feedback about the items in recycling carts. Staff will keep track of trends in recycling practices observed and use this data to create relevant educational materials for the community.

Will this affect garbage and recycling collection service?

No, garbage and recycling will be collected as normal. Groot drivers will pick up recycling in the afternoon at these locations to allow time for the tagging to be completed. Tags are solely educational and will not impact collection.

Can I opt out?

Residents in the selected area can opt out of the program at any time. If you would like to opt out, please contact Senior Management Analyst Paola Garcia at 847-357-4012 and provide your address, or fill out the online form at the bottom of the page.