ESTABLISHING GARBAGE SERVICE

If you are new to the Village, you can establish your garbage service by calling Groot at (847) 734-6400. Groot bills residents directly and sends out refuse and recycling bills on a quarterly basis. 

GARBAGE & RECYCLING COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Click here to view a map of garbage and recycling collection days. Refused and recycling are collected once per week.

Groot observes the following annual holidays: 

New Years Day
Memorial Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas

If these holidays fall on a weekday on or before your scheduled collection, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the holiday week. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on Monday.

WASTE AND RECYCLING CONTAINERS

Groot Carts: Groot provides all single-family homes and townhomes with both a waste cart and recycling cart at no additional cost. Residents can rent additional refuse and recycling carts from Groot for a monthly fee. To set up additional cart rental, please call Groot at 847-734-6400.

Report Cart Damage: If your cart is damaged, please report the issue to Groot at 847-734-6400.

Unlimited Refuse Pickup: Refuse that does not fit into Groot carts will be collected as long as it is properly prepared.  Refuse must be in plastic bags or cans (with handles) less than 33 gallons in size and weighing less than 50 lb. 

Unlimited Recycling Pickup: Materials that exceed cart capacity may be placed in paper bags beside the recycling cart.

Container Storage: Except on collection days, all refuse and recycling containers must be kept in the garage or in a reasonable location within the side or rear yard of any property. Containers may not be stored in the front yard.

CURBSIDE PICK-UP

Place all Refuse and recycling containers and yard waste out for pick up by 7:00 a.m. on the day of pick up. Do not rely on the time your area is normally serviced.  Please keep in mind that road construction, equipment availability or other factors may require service times to vary without notice, so it is important to place containers out on time, rather than relying on normal service routines.

Containers may not be placed out for pick up until 6:00 pm on the day prior to pick up, and must be removed by 7:00 pm on the scheduled day of pick up.

Carts must be placed 4 feet from trees, mail boxes and other carts to allow clearance for collection equipment.

CAN I DISPOSE OF MY GARBAGE MYSELF? 

No. All persons owning or occupying real estate within the residential areas of the Village are required to dispose of garbage and refuse through the municipal waste system. The franchised waste hauler collects all system waste. The Village establishes all charges and rates for solid waste disposal and recycling. Residents may not dispose of their garbage and refuse on their own.

To ask questions or report problems with curbside waste and recycling service, including missed pickups, please call Groot:

Groot Customer Service
847-734-6400
Mon - Fri: 7am - 5pm
Sat: 8am - 12pm

Groot also offers online services, including a virtual assistant to schedule special pickup services, report service issues, and more. Visit groot.com to utilize Groot online services. Groot also offers a free mobile app which can be used to pay your bill, receive pickup reminders, report service issues, and more! Search "Groot" in the Apple or Google Play Store to download. 

What to Recycle

Please place only approved recycling items in your recycling cart. Groot staff is trained to check the contents of the cart, and if there are unaccepted materials present, the cart will be left with a violation notice.

Plastic Items: Plastic bottles and containers with numbers 1 through 5 & 7 may be recycled.  Do not place any plastic bags (i.e. grocery, kitchen) in the recycling cart.  Return plastic bags to your grocery store.

Metal Items: Aluminum cans, aluminum foil, aluminum baking trays, steel or tin cans, empty aerosol cans

Glass Items: Bottles and jars with brown, green and clear glass. No mirrors, window glass or porcelain accepted.

Paper Items:

• Office Paper (printer paper, school papers)
• Newspaper (all newspaper inserts acceptable)
• Magazines, Catalogs (glossy and non-glossy)
• Corrugated Cardboard - Flattened
• Paperboard/Chipboard (cereal, pasta, soda or clothing boxes) Telephone directories, brown paper (grocery) bags.  NO PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS
• Aseptic Containers - Juice & Milk Cartons

The Department of Community Development also has free RECYCLING MAGNETS to help you know what to recycle. Pick one up next time you are at Village Hall!

How to Recycle

• Place all recyclable materials may be commingled (mixed together) in the recycling cart. 
• Flatten all corrugated cardboard boxes and paperboard/chipboard in 2'x2' sections, and remove any non-paper packing material.
• Materials that exceed cart capacity may be placed in paper bags beside the recycling cart.
• Do not place recyclable materials in plastic bags nor use plastic or silver duct tape.

Why Recycle?

Recycling saves you money! Recycling reduces waste costs by removing items from the waste stream. Refuse collected in the Village is sent to a landfill at a cost of approximately $50 per ton to the Village, which is paid for by residents. Tossing recyclables into the trash costs the Village, and you, in disposal costs. 

Additionally, by recycling you can help:

• Improve the environment
• Preserve natural resources
• Conserve landfill space
• Avoid costly landfill disposal costs
• Reduce global warming

Recycling In Elk Grove Village

Since 1988, Elk Grove Village has provided recycling service to the community. Elk Grove Village was one of the first communities in the state of Illinois to offer a curbside recycling program to its residents.

 Elk Grove Village provides all residents with the opportunity to recycle including:

• Single-family homes
• Townhomes
• Condominiums
• Apartment complexes

For single-family and townhome residences, recycling is collected on the same day as your garbage pickup. Residents of condominiums and apartment complexes must follow the rules established by the owner, complex association, or management company. 

Yard waste is picked up each year from April 1 to December 15.  Yard waste collection takes place the same day as garbage/recycling collection.

Yard waste includes leaves, brush, grass clippings, garden waste, and tree and brush trimmings.

Yard Waste Sticker Program: $3 per sticker

An unlimited amount of yard waste bags or 33-gallon rigid containers (not exceeding 50 pounds in weight) will be collected curbside each week as long as a prepaid yard waste sticker is affixed to each container. Please face the sticker on the street side of the container for proper pick up.

Stickers are currently available for purchase at the following locations:

• Village Municipal Complex (901 Wellington Ave)
• Jewel-Osco Grocery Store (20 W. Biesterfield Rd and 1151 Roselle Rd)
• Miller Industrial Hardware Store (621 E. Devon Ave)
• Ace Hardware (821 Nerge Rd)

Plastic bags may not be used for any yard waste, and will not be picked up by Groot.

Yard Waste/Food Scrap Subscription: $175/year

If you have any brush or tree trimmings, cut them up and bind them into bundles of no more than four (4) feet in length, two (2) feet in diameter and weighing no more than fifty (50) pounds per bundle. Tree trimmings and branches cannot be wider than three and a half (3.5) inches in diameter. Please do not bind the bundle with wire or nylon cord.

No sticker is required for brush or tree trimmings as long as they are prepared properly.

Fall/Spring Large Branch Collection

The Department of Public Works picks up non-evergreen branches 3.5" to 8" in diameter in late September and April during specified weeks. Please call the Department of Public Works for more information at 847-734-8800 or visit elkgrove.org/branchcollection.

Groot, the Village's residential refuse collector, provides a bulk item collection service for materials which are too large to be handled by their regular refuse collection equipment.

There is no cost to the resident for this service, within the limits below.

To Request Bulk Item Pickup:

1. Call Groot at (847) 734-6400 to schedule a bulk item pick-up.
2. Place bulk item(s) at the curbside on the regular refuse collection day. 

Bulk Item Limits:

• Items must weight 50 pounds or less.
• Items can be lifted by one driver without assistance
• Collection is limited to one (1) bulk item per week.

Groot may refuse to collect and/or charge residents for any bulk items that exceed these limits.

Bulk items include, but are not limited to:

Carpeting (10 rolls, rolls not to exceed 4 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter)
Small appliances
Large toys
Bedding (mattresses, box springs, frames)
Vacuum cleaners
Bicycles
Furniture (sofas, loveseats, chairs, bookcases, shelving units, desks, lawn chairs)
Toilets (separate tank from seat)sinks
Vanities 
Old garbage cans
Barbecue grills 

Excluded Items:

• Electronic items are not included as bulk items--please scroll down to the section on Curbside E-Waste Collection for information on this program.

• White goods (large appliances) are not included as bulk items--please view the Appliance Pickup section below for more information.

• Construction materials: please contact Groot at 847-734-6400 to arrange a special pickup which will require an additional fee.

Oversized/overweight items are any large or extra heavy items (exceeding 50 lb) that require a special pick-up, because they require two or more people to lift. Examples include a piano or hot tub. 

A per item fee will apply for each oversized item. Call Groot at 847-734-6400 to schedule an Oversized/Overweight Item pick-up in advance.

 

Groot will collect up to two electronic waste items weighing less than 50 pounds per home each week at no additional cost.

Residents must call Groot at 847-734-6400 to schedule a collection. Items that exceed 50 pounds will require an additional fee.

Residents can also access a free electronics drop-off program through SWANCC--please scroll down to the Special Materials section below of this page for more information. 

 

Large Appliance (White Goods) Pick-Up

Christmas trees will be collected at no additional cost during the first two weeks of January each year.

A 10% senior discount is available for single-family and townhome residences with a head of household age 65 or older. The head of household must verify their age with Groot to receive the discount. To verify your age, please:

· Email a copy of their identification to elkgrove@groot.com; OR

· Bring your identification to Elk Grove Village Hall (901 Wellington Ave) to the Community Development Counter (Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.). 

Only households that pay Groot directly for service (not through an association) are eligible for the discount. The senior discount will begin appearing on your bill for the first billing period following verification.

 

Residents are discouraged from disposing plastic bags with regular refuse because they can clog sorting machinery or blow away before reaching the waste facility. Instead, plastic bags can be dropped off for recycling at many major grocery and some retail stores for recycling.  Stores that collect plastic bags for recycling in Elk Grove include:

Jewel-Osco
20 Biesterfield Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Walmart
801 S Meacham Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

The recycling bins are normally located near the front entrance of the store.

WHERE CAN I RECYCLE CFLs?

To assist you in that effort the Village is providing a CFL recycling program to provide an environmentally safe way to dispose of your CFls. Just bring your spent CFL(s) to the Community Development Department, located in Village Hall during normal business hours. CFLs must be placed in a sealed plastic bag before dropping them off for recycling. Residents are limited to dropping off a total of 12 CFLs per visit.

Village Hall, 901 Wellington Ave
Community Development Counter
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

CFLs FROM COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. 

WHAT ABOUT TWO (2) FOOT OR FOUR (4) FOOT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS? 

The Village only accepts compact fluorescent bulbs. Please do not bring two or four foot fluorescent lights to the Village for recycling. As a member of SWANCC, Village residents can bring these lights to any SWANCC member community that accepts these bulbs. Visit www.swancc.org for disposal locations in the area.

WHAT ARE COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS (CFLs)? 

A CFL is an energy saving, long life fluorescent bulb that fits into a standard light bulb socket. CFLs produce about the same amount of light as a standard (incandescent) light bulb, but use 2/3 less energy and last 10 times longer. Each CFL can save at least $25.00 in energy costs over the use of a standard bulb. CFLs produce 70% less heat than a standard bulb and are cool to the touch. 

WHY IS RECYCLING CFLs IMPORTANT? 

Each CFL contains a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. A CFL contains an average of five (5) milligrams mercury, roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball point pen (a mercury thermometer contains 100 x that amount). Mercury poses a potential health risk, and therefore should be recycled.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A CFL BREAKS? 

Because there is such a small amount of mercury in a CFL, there is no immediate health risk if a bulb breaks and it is cleaned up properly. If a CFL should break simply wet a paper towel, wipe up the breakage, put the contents in a sealed bag and throw away in the garbage. Do not vacuum up broken pieces, and open windows to ventilate if possible.

Be careful when removing the CFL from its packaging, or when installing/replacing one. Always screw or unscrew the bulb by its base and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket by its tubes. 

NEVER dispose of loose batteries - of any type - in curbside recycling or trash! Illinois law requires battery manufacturers to fund battery collection, with no additional cost to the consumer starting January 1, 2026. 

Today, alkaline batteries are considered benign and of little risk to people or the environment. However, for most other battery chemistries, the greatest concerns are fire hazards or combustion and toxic material contaminating landfills or the recycling stream. 

All household batteries (including alkaline) can now be collected for free at the Village Hall Community Development front counter for recycling during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Before bringing rechargeable or “button” batteries into the Village for recycling, residents must cover the contact points of each battery with masking tape, or place each rechargeable/”button” battery in an individual self-locking plastic bag. "Button Batteries" are small; flat, round, metal batteries found in watches, hearing aids, toys, and cameras, which may contain mercuric oxide, silver oxide or lithium.

Taping the ends of batteries is important because when battery chemistries are mixed together, sparks can result in causing a fire. Taping the terminals or ends of Lithium, NiMh, and NiCad batteries reduces the chance of creating a fire hazard.

The Village will not accept any lead acid (car/marine) batteries for recycling. Call your local automobile parts or retailer to see if they accept those batteries for recycling. 

Other drop-off locations can be viewed at batterynetwork.org/locator.

To learn more about battery chemistry, dangers, and management please visit illinoispsc.org.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics an estimated 16.6 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2012. The Federal Trade Commission recommends that all personal documents be shredded before throwing them in the trash.

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) provides seasonal Document Destruction Events from May through October, hosted by member communities. These events are free and limited to Village residents and residents of other SWANCC communities. A complete schedule of document destruction events can be found on the SWANCC website. 

Elk Grove Village hosts one Document Destruction and Electronics Recycling event annually in June, and the details on this event can be found on the Village website calendar.

Holiday Light Recycling

Household hazardous waste (HHW) items are materials purchased for cleaning or maintaining a home, such as aerosol cans, household cleaners and pesticides.

There are only a few disposal sites for HHW in the State of Illinois.  The closest location for Elk Grove Village Residents is in the City of Naperville, which is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, excluding holidays. No material may be dropped off at any other time. 

Naperville HHW Collection
156 Fort HIll Drive, next to the Public Works Service Center
Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., excluding holidays 

For a complete list of accepted items at this disposal site, please click here to visit the City of Naperville website.

For a list of other HHW disposal sites, please click here to visit the Illinois EPA website.

HOW CAN I DISPOSE OF PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS AND SHARPS?

Elk Grove Village residents are able to drop-off expired and unwanted medications (pill form only) and needles (sharps) for disposal in an environmentally safe and secure manner. 

Medication Disposal
Prescription medications and over the counter medications (pill form) can be brought to the Police Department Lobby. No creams or liquids are accepted. The medication drop box is available 24 hours per day.

Questions regarding the Medication Disposal Program can be addressed to the Police Information Desk at (847)357-4100.

Sharps Disposal
Used sharps are accepted at the Fire Administration Office in the lower level of the municipal complex Monday-Friday from 8:30-5:00. Items must be in an approved container and must be accepted by a staff member. Items deemed unsafe will be refused. Replacement containers are available at no cost.

Questions regarding the Sharps Disposal Program can be addressed to the Fire Administration Office at (847)734-8000. 

WHAT ARE PHARMACEUTICAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES? 

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies certain pharmaceuticals as controlled substances. Such drugs generally include narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and cannabis. 

HOW SHOULD THE MATERIALS BE HANDLED? 

All materials dropped off must be labeled to identify contents. Do not remove labels from containers. Names and addresses can be crossed out with an indelible marker to protect privacy, but the contents must be identified. If a container is not labeled, please identify the contents on the container.

WHY CAN’T I JUST FLUSH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DOWN THE TOILET OR SINK? 

Flushed medications can get into our lakes, rivers, and streams. Research has found substantial quantities of antibiotics, and steroidal hormones in the nation’s rivers, lakes and wells. These drugs can affect fish and other wildlife living in these water bodies.

Antibiotics and pharmaceuticals have also been found in public water supplies. Waste water treatment plants and water filtration plants are not able to remove these chemicals and they can wind up in public drinking water supplies. 

WHY CAN’T I JUST THROW NEEDLES IN THE TRASH? 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, each year, 8 million people use more than 3 billion needles, syringes, and lancets (sharps) for home health care. Some sharp users throw their used sharps in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Loose used sharps mixed in with other trash can injure sanitation workers during garbage pickup, or workers at sorting, recycling or landfill facilities. Sharps also get lodged in equipment requiring removal by hand increasing the risk of being stuck. Children, adults and pets are at risk from sharps that are disposed of in public or private settings.

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR RESIDENT-GENERATED WASTE ONLY. MEDICATIONS OR PHARMACEUTICALS GENERATED FROM PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, OR OTHER BUSINESSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

WHY IS MERCURY A HEALTH RISK? 
Human exposure to mercury can result in adverse health effects. Mercury exposure has been linked to nervous system, kidney and liver damage. It can impair childhood development in young children. Pets and animals can also be affected by mercury exposure. 

WHY ARE MERCURY THERMOMETERS A PROBLEM? 
Mercury thermometers are easily broken, creating a possible risk of exposure to mercury vapors in your home. Throwing them into the garbage can cause contamination of the environment. 

HOW MUCH MERCURY IS IN A MERCURY THERMOMETER? 
A mercury thermometer contains about one (1) gram of mercury. It might not appear like a lot, but it is enough to contaminate all the fish in a lake with a surface area of twenty (20) acres. 

CAN MERCURY THERMOMETERS STILL BE PURCHASED? 
The sale, distribution, or manufacture of mercury thermometers has been prohibited in the State of Illinois since July 1, 2004. 

ARE THERE SAFER ALTERNATIVES? 
There are a number of accurate and safe alternatives to mercury thermometers out on the market today.  

WHERE DO I BRING MY MERCURY THERMOMETERS? 
Bring your thermometers, thermostats, and wall switches to the Naperville Household Hazardous Waste facility. 

WHAT DO I DO IF I BREAK A MERCURY THERMOMETER IN MY HOME? 
Go to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.state.il.us or to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov. for information on how to handle a mercury spill in your home. 

The State of Illinois passed the Illinois Paint Stewardship Act to start a statewide program that will make it easy and convenient for residents and businesses to recycle their leftover paint at designated drop-off locations. The Illinois paint stewardship program will be managed by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization, and went into effect on Monday, December 1, 2025.

Households and businesses can now recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish with participating local paint and hardware stores at their convenience.

Participating drop-off locations in or near Elk Grove Village:

Sherwin-Williams (697 Meacham Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007)

Ace Hardware (821 E Nerge Road, Roselle, IL 60172)

PPG Paint Store (1345 Landmeier Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007)

Miller Industrial (621 E Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007)

Home Depot and Walmart are NOT participating PaintCare drop-off locations at this time.

These sites accept latex and oil-based house paint, stains, and varnish, up to 5 gallons per visit.

These sites do not accept aerosols (spray paint or other spray products), containers without original labels, or containers that are leaking or empty.

There is no additional charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site.

The PaintCare program is funded by a fee which is applied to the purchase price of each container of new paint sold in Illinois and is based on container size. The PaintCare fee is not a tax or a deposit. The fee funds all aspects of the program.

Less than a half pint	$0.00
More than a half pint, less than one gallon	$0.45
One to two gallons	$0.95
More than two gallons	$1.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residents can still bring oil-based paint (NO LATEX PAINT) to the Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility for disposal:

156 Fort Hill Drive
Naperville, IL 60540
Hours of operation: Saturdays and Sundays,
9 a.m. - 2 p.m., excluding holidays.

In light of the upcoming implementation of the PaintCare paint recycling program, the Village has discontinued the annual one-day Paint and Motor Oil Collection event for the foreseeable future.

Here are some additional tips and suggestions on how you can dispose of old paint:

Paint stays in good condition for a long time. Latex paint will last for up to 10 years. As a general rule, paint that mixes smoothly when stirred can still be used. If latex paint has been frozen, brush it on a newspaper. If there are no lumps, it hasn’t been damaged and can be used. If you do save your paint for later, follow some easy tips to make paint last longer. Just cover the opening with plastic wrap, and make sure the lid fits securely so the paint doesn’t leak. Turn the paint can upside down to create a tight seal, and store in a cool dry location. Do not allow the paint to freeze. 

Purchase only the paint that you need. Reducing the amount of paint you buy can significantly reduce the amount of waste paint generated. Always try to accurately calculate the amount of paint required before making a trip to the store. Most paint retailers are willing to help calculate the proper amount of paint needed for a particular project. 

Use up excess paint. Consider applying additional coats of paint to existing projects until all remaining paint is used up. Small quantities of excessive paint can be saved and used for touch-up purposes or on other small projects. 

Paint something else. It doesn’t have to need the paint. Brush paint on an old piece of cardboard, newspaper or some scrap lumber, than toss it in the trash. You can paint the inside of your garage or basement walls. Just about anywhere would probably work to use up that last bit of paint. 

Donate excess paint to those who need it. Giving a friend or neighbor any leftover paint is a great way to reduce the amount of waste paint generated. Schools, community organizations, theatre groups, churches and other non-profit agencies may also be interested in using any excess paint. 

Discard dried paint with the regular trash. While recycling or reuse is the preferred disposal method for waste latex paint there is another option. Latex paint (not oil–based) can be dried out and disposed of with your regular trash pick up. Place open cans containing small amounts of latex paint in a well ventilated secure area away from children and pets. Allow paint to dry thoroughly. For larger amounts of paint add equal amounts of kitty litter, sawdust, shredded paper, oil dry, or sand to absorb moisture and speed up the drying process. Place solidified paints (with the lids off) in your trash container. If possible empty the can, dry it out, and recycle it. 

If you are planning to move. Find a friend who can use up your leftover paint or have that neighbor dry out your latex paint for you. Bring the latex paint to your new home and dry it out there. Ask a friend or neighbor to bring it to a recycling location for you. 

The Village of Mount Prospect Public Works Facility is now accepting Styrofoam materials for recycling. 

Drop-off is available at 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Foam must be clean (no food particles attached), dry, and free of tape and labels. 

This Styrofoam recycling program is free of charge and is available to all Illinois residents. 

For more information, please visit the Village of Mount Prospect website.

Disposing cooking oil and grease down the drain can stick to sewer piping and cause build-ups or even clogs.  This practice can result in a costly fix for homeowners or the Village. Oils and grease also interfere with processes at wastewater treatment facilities.

Residents are encouraged to dispose their used cooking oil and grease at the following businesses. Please call for further details concerning time of operation and permissible materials.

A & J Sewer
1055 Courtesy Ln. 
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 537-9090
ajsewer.net

Grease trap services. Also accepts residential 
cooking oil when dropped off at address above.

 

Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
156 Fort Hill Drive
Naperville, IL 60540
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday
(630) 420-4190
naperville.il.us

Accepts peanut oil. This facility accepts many 
additional items for recycling. See site for details.

Used Motor Oil 

What is Compost?

Composting is a natural process of recycling organic material such as leaves and vegetable scraps into a rich soil conditioner that can be used in gardens, landscaping, urban agriculture and organic farming.

Compostable material such as grass, trimmings, wood waste, leaves, weeds, fruits, vegetables, breads, grains, coffee grounds, egg shells, and other garden refuse may be placed in a compost pile.

---

The Composting Process

The process of composting involves four main ingredients: organic matter, moisture, oxygen, and bacteria.

Organic items used for the process of composting should include a combination of brown organic material, such as dead leaves, twigs, branches and green organic material, such as lawn clippings, fruits and vegetables. Brown materials supply carbon, while green materials supply nitrogen, the perfect complements for the process to work effectively.

Oxygen is another key component needed to support the breakdown of material by bacteria. To add oxygen the compost pile must be turned--this is a crucial process for an efficient and odorless compost pile.

The compost pile should be turned every 2 weeks in order for the materials to "heat up" and decompose. Once the pile has cooled in the center, decomposition of the materials has taken place. Frequent turning helps accelerate the composting process.

---

Compost Regulations to Keep Your Compost Pile Healthy and Odor-Free.

• The depositing of garbage, food waste, pet waste, meat scraps, fat or grease or materials that may attract animals or pests to a compost pile or which may produce obnoxious odors is strictly prohibited.
• A compost pile must be contained in some type of enclosure. Simple compost containers can be constructed of galvanized wire fencing or snow fence, boards, bricks, or cement blocks. It is critical that compost structures have adequate openings to allow sufficient air flow.
• A compost pile should be at least three (3) to five (5) feet high. You may also purchase a commercially constructed container. Compost piles shall not be more than five (5) feet in height, and not have a maximum ground or base area of more than one hundred (100) square feet.
• Compostable material must be placed in such a way that the material will not become windblown.
• Compost piles shall only be permitted in rear yards, except that portion of the rear yard wherein a drainage easement exists, and in no case shall a compost pile be located in any front or side yard. 

---

ANYONE CAN COMPOST IF YOU FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURES. REMEMBER, A HEALTHY COMPOST PILE IS PEST AND ODOR FREE.

When deciding on where your rain barrel should be located please note that Village Ordinance does not allow rain barrels to be located in the front yard of any property. Rain barrels may only be located in the side or rear yards of residential properties.

The Village further requires that you maintain your rain barrel properly to prevent mosquito breeding. Your rain barrels must be equipped with a mosquito proof screen on the lid and inside the overflow hole to keep mosquitoes and other insects out. Keep your rain barrel lid sealed and keep rain barrels free of organic matter. If you suspect mosquitoes are inside your rain barrel, empty your barrels completely. By the next rain it will be filled again.

In the fall you will have to winterize your rain barrel. Ensure that your rain barrel is empty of any water. Keep your spigot open so water will not accumulate and freeze. Don’t forget to disconnect your diverter downspout and reconnect your original downspout. You can also turn your rain barrel upside down or bring it inside (your best option to prolong its life).

Remember to keep children away from rain barrels. Keep lids secure so children or pets cannot fall into the barrel. Locate the rain barrel on a stable surface. A full rain barrel may weigh 400-500 lbs. Make sure the rain barrel is not a tipping hazard for yourself or small children. Do not try to move a rain barrel when it is full. Water collected in rain barrels should not be used for drinking or cooking purposes.

The Village no longer subsidizes the cost of rain barrels. Rain barrels are available through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) rain barrel program. To order a rain barrel please visit mwrd.org/rain-barrels or by calling the MWRD Office of Public Affairs at (312) 751-6633.