Recycling Centers in Illinois: 186 Locations

Recycling in Illinois

Illinois is home to 186 recycling centers across 89 cities, ranging from auto salvage yards and scrap processors to municipal drop-off sites and electronics recyclers. The state does not have a bottle-deposit law, but it does enforce two significant landfill bans: landscape waste (grass, leaves, and brush) has been banned from landfills since July 1, 1990 under Public Act 85-1430, and covered electronic devices have been banned since January 1, 2012 under the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) administers these programs statewide.

Recycling centers cluster around the state's larger cities and county seats. Springfield and Bloomington each list 14 centers, Peoria has 13, and Chicago lists 12. Decatur follows with 7 centers.

Because Illinois has no deposit system, residents recycle through curbside pickup, municipal drop-off programs, and private facilities. Electronics must be kept out of the trash and taken to designated collectors, while scrap metal and end-of-life vehicles go to salvage operations such as 3 Sons Auto Salvage in Peru. Chicago's Department of Streets & Sanitation runs the city's Blue Cart and drop-off recycling. The Illinois EPA maintains electronics-collection site lists and oversees the manufacturer recycling targets.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Bloomington 14 Springfield 14 Peoria 13 Chicago 12 Decatur 7 Ottawa 6 Urbana 6 Champaign 5

All Cities in Illinois

Addison 1 center Alsip 2 centers Atkinson 1 center Aurora 2 centers Batavia 2 centers Beardstown 1 center Belleville 2 centers Bloomington 14 centers Bourbonnais 3 centers Bradley 1 center Bridgeview 1 center Canton 1 center Carbondale 1 center Carlock 1 center Centralia 1 center Champaign 5 centers Chatsworth 1 center Chicago 12 centers Chicago Heights 1 center Chillicothe 1 center Cicero 1 center Colchester 1 center Crystal Lake 1 center Danville 1 center Decatur 7 centers Dekalb 1 center Earlville 1 center East Peoria 4 centers East St Louis 1 center Edwardsville 1 center Elgin 3 centers Eureka 1 center Fairbury 1 center Forest View 1 center Galesburg 1 center Galva 1 center Gardner 1 center Granite City 1 center Grayslake 2 centers Hamilton 1 center Highland Park 1 center Hoopeston 1 center Jacksonville 2 centers Joliet 3 centers Kankakee 1 center Kewanee 1 center La Salle 2 centers Lincoln 1 center Machesney Park 1 center Macomb 2 centers Mahomet 1 center Mattoon 1 center Melrose Park 1 center Mendota 1 center Milan 1 center Moline 2 centers Monmouth 1 center Morris 4 centers Morton 1 center Morton Grove 1 center Naperville 1 center Normal 1 center Northbrook 1 center Northlake 1 center Oglesby 1 center Ottawa 6 centers Pekin 1 center Peoria 13 centers Peru 2 centers Plainfield 1 center Pontiac 3 centers Red Bud 1 center Richton Park 1 center Riverton 1 center Rock Falls 1 center Rock Island 1 center Sandwich 1 center Spring Grove 1 center Springfield 14 centers Sterling 1 center Streator 5 centers Tallula 1 center Urbana 6 centers Viola 1 center Virden 1 center Wauconda 1 center Westchester 1 center Wheaton 1 center Willowbrook 1 center

Recycling in Illinois — FAQ

Does Illinois have a bottle deposit?

No. Illinois does not have a bottle bill or container-deposit law, so there is no refund for returning cans and bottles. Beverage containers are instead recycled through curbside and municipal drop-off programs across the state's 186 listed centers.

How do I recycle in Illinois?

Use curbside recycling or municipal drop-off sites for paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, and metal cans, and take banned items like electronics and landscape waste to designated collectors. The directory lists 186 centers in 89 cities; accepted materials and hours vary by city, so confirm with the specific center first.

Does Illinois ban anything from landfills?

Yes. Illinois bans landscape waste (grass, leaves, and brush) from landfills under a law effective July 1, 1990, and bans covered electronic devices from landfills effective January 1, 2012 under the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act. Take these materials to a composting site or electronics collector instead.

Where are the biggest recycling hubs in Illinois?

Springfield and Bloomington lead with 14 centers each, followed by Peoria with 13 and Chicago with 12. Decatur lists 7. These cities offer the widest range of drop-off sites, electronics recyclers, and scrap facilities in the state.