Recycling Centers in Elgin, IL
Find drop-off recycling locations in Elgin, Illinois. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
Elgin has 3 recycling centers listed in this directory. Each listing includes the address, phone number, and opening hours where available. Call ahead to confirm accepted materials before making the trip.
Recycling in Elgin: A Local Guide
Elgin, Illinois has three distinct recycling operations, each serving a different need — and knowing which one fits your material saves a wasted trip. For the broadest range of materials, the Elgin Recycling Center at 660 Schiller St is the anchor facility. R2-certified for responsible electronics processing, it accepts computers, monitors, TVs (fees apply for TVs), batteries, scrap metals in all forms, paper, cardboard, and specialty plastics like bubble wrap and industrial polyethylene. Hours run Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM and Saturday 8 AM–1 PM, with Saturday occasionally redirected to their Gilberts location — call (847) 741-4100 before a weekend visit.
For scrap metal sellers looking to get paid, Bluff City Metal Recycling at 980 Bluff City Blvd stands out for its seven-day-a-week access, including Sundays 8 AM–12 PM. This family-owned yard buys aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and ferrous scrap at competitive prices and also accepts electronics and metal-bearing appliances. Text (224) 468-9895 for an instant quote on a larger load before you haul it over.
Businesses and manufacturers dealing in wood pallets have a dedicated resource in Illinois Pallet Recycling Inc. at 1438 Davis Rd. They buy used, broken, and excess pallets, run a cardboard recycling program for commercial accounts, and offer scheduled store pick-up service. This is a commercial operation — it is not a drop-off for household recyclables. Hours are roughly Monday–Friday 7 AM–3:30 PM.
For household recyclables not handled by any of these three centers — glass, food-grade plastics, yard waste — Elgin residents should check the City of Elgin's official drop-off locations page and Kane County Recycles resources. The Illinois recycling hub links to other centers across the state. Nearby communities with additional options include Aurora and Schaumburg.
All Recycling Centers in Elgin
Recycling Centers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in Elgin
Where can I get free electronics recycling in Elgin, Illinois?
The Elgin Recycling Center at 660 Schiller St is R2-certified and accepts computers, laptops, cell phones, batteries, hard drives, and most other electronics free of charge. Televisions and monitors carry a separate disposal fee (CRT TVs: $25–$35; LCD monitors: $15). Open Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM, Saturday 8 AM–1 PM. Call (847) 741-4100 to confirm Saturday availability before making the trip.
Can you get money for recycling in Elgin or Illinois?
Yes — for scrap metal. Both Bluff City Metal Recycling (980 Bluff City Blvd, open 7 days) and Elgin Recycling Center (660 Schiller St) buy ferrous and non-ferrous metals — aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and more — at current market rates. Illinois does not currently have a bottle deposit law, so you cannot redeem cans or bottles for cash the way Massachusetts residents can.
What items cannot be recycled at Elgin's drop-off centers?
None of the three Elgin recycling locations accept glass bottles, food-grade plastics (#1–#2 consumer bottles), or yard waste in a standard household recycling sense. Plastic bags and styrofoam are not accepted anywhere in the cluster. For those materials, check the City of Elgin's official drop-off guide or Kane County Recycles for seasonal and special drop-off events.
How do I dispose of a mattress in Elgin, Illinois?
None of the three Elgin recycling centers listed here accept mattresses. The City of Elgin arranges bulk item pick-up through your residential waste hauler — contact the City at (847) 931-6001 or visit elginil.gov/household-waste for current options and scheduling. Some private mattress recyclers in the Chicago metro area also offer drop-off or pick-up for a fee.