Bulk Item Collection / Construction Debris Collection

Effective April 1, 1999, the Village of Gurnee began offering residents an alternate way of disposing bulk items. Residents who participate in the curbside garbage and recycling program are now allowed to place one bulk item at the curb with their garbage every week. Residents no longer have to store bulk items throughout the year in anticipation of the Village's fall and spring cleanup days. With the new services, residents will be allowed to place one bulk item at their curb on their regular garbage collection day. A bulk item is considered a piece of furniture, mattress, (1) 4 ft. by 2 ft. roll of carpeting. In general, any non-attached item (such as an item you would take if you moved) can be picked up in bulk collection. For example, a water heater or cabinets are not bulk items because they are attached items. If you are unsure about an item, please call Waste Management 24 hours prior to your pick up.

Construction debris from remodeling projects such as paneling, drywall, toilets, sinks, counter tops, etc. will not be picked up as household trash. A special pick-up needs to be arranged 24 hours prior to your regular service day. A fee of $17.37 per cubic yard will be assessed. (Fees may vary if materials are heavy.)

Waste Management does not collect "white goods" (stoves, washing machines, refrigrators, etc.). Waste Management will refer residents to the third-party contractor to collect applicances and other items affected by the legislation regarding white goods.

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Landscape Waste Collection Services

Regular Landscape Waste Collection Ends Saturday, November 28, 2009.

The Village contracts Waste Management to collect and dispose of these materials. The Village requests residents to please have the landscape waste at the curb for collection on the same day as your regularly scheduled garbage pick up. All landscape waste must be placed in biodegradable Kraft paper bags/cans (maximum 32 gallons and 45 pounds). If you have any questions regarding landscape waste collection, please do not hesitate to contact Waste Management at (847) 395-2020.

Residents may select one of two options:

Yard Waste Subscription Service
Under the Subscription Service, residents can place up to six bags of yard waste at the curb for collection every week. There is an additional charge of $75.00/season for this service, which will be added to your regular garbage bill. The season runs from mid-April through November 30th.

Yard Waste Sticker Program
Under the sticker program, residents purchase yard waste stickers from local businesses and attach them to each bag or container of yard waste they wish to dispose of that week. This service allows residents to be charged for yard waste collection on a per parcel basis instead of a flat subscription fee. Yard waste stickers are available at Ace Hardware (4806 W. Grand Avenue) and the Jewel located on Hunt Club Road (6509 Grand Avenue) and cost $1.80 each. Stickers may also be purchased through the mail by sending a check and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Waste Management - North, P.O. Box 349, Antioch, IL 60002. Waste Management accepts Visa, Mastercard, or American Express over the phone. A $1.00 handling fee and a charge for postage will be added for all phone orders.

Under this program, residents are instructed by Waste Management to place yard waste materials in bags or containers not exceeding 32 gallons and to have the container clearly marked "yard waste." For more information on yard waste collection or branch/brush collection, please contact Waste Management at (847) 395-2020.

Brush/Branch Collection Ends Saturday, November 28, 2009.

The Village of Gurnee contracts Waste Management to collect and dispose of all brush and branch materials. Brush and branch collection services take place on the same day as your regular garbage pickup. Under the Brush and Branch Collection Program, Gurnee residents are asked to place brush and branch material at the curb for collection every week. Waste Management collects brush and branches weekly from mid-April to the end of November each year. The service is provided at no additional cost to the resident.

Residents are required, by Waste Management, to place all brush and branch material at the curb in bundles not exceeding two (2) feet in diameter and four (4) feet in length and to be tied with string or twine. Waste Management will not collect brush and branches that are not bundled. Branches should also not exceed 3" in diameter. If you have any questions regarding branch/brush collection, please do not hesitate to contact Waste Management at (847) 395-2020. 

Burning Leaves is Prohibited

The Village of Gurnee prohibits burning landscape waste. This ban includes a prohibition against leaf burning, the burning of brush or other landscape materials, construction materials, and bonfires. The Village does allow residents to create small outdoor wood burning fires. The ordinance permits residents to use portable outdoor fire pits and build small wood burning campfires. Residents who have historically disposed of autumn leaves by burning are requested to participate in the curbside leaf vacuuming service or the Village of Gurnee Enhanced Leaf Collection Program. If you have any questions regarding the Village's burning restrictions, please contact the Village Hall at (847) 599-7500.

Wood chips are a by-product of many Public Works programs. Residents can pick up these chips free of charge at the Public Works site located at 1151 Kilbourne Road. Please call Public Works at (847) 599-6800 before you come to ensure chips are available.

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Village Recycling Program

Waste Management has provided every single-family home in the Village with a 64-gallon wheeled recycling cart and now offers residents the option of upgrading to a 96-gallon cart at no extra charge! The carts allow residents to place more recycling at the curb for collection. Due to space limitations, those residents living in townhouses will use an 18-gallon yellow recycling bin.

The 64- and 96-gallon carts take up about the same floor space as the yellow bin but hold much more material due to their height. In addition, all recyclable materials can be placed in the container without the hassle of sorting or separating. Waste Management will sort the material at a processing facility after collection. The carts do not have to be put out for collection every week. Only place the cart at the curb when it is full. Placing the container out only when full will help to improve the efficiency of Waste Management's collection services.

General Directions: Place the recycling cart at the curb, with the handles facing the house. Keep the cart approximately three (3) feet away from the garbage cart to allow easy access by the refuse drivers.

The Village is excited to be at the forefront of recycling and hopes that all residents will be willing to participate in this community-wide program.

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Participating in the Village's Recycling Program

The Village's recycling program accepts paper, cardboard, glass, cans, and plastics. Please clean all containers before placing them at the curb, as contaminated materials cannot be recycled.

Participants are provided with a recycling bin or cart by Waste Management. On your regular garbage pick up day, place the bin or cart on the curb or shoulder. Your recyclables are picked up by a separate truck. Please pack items in your recycling bin so they do not blow away in the wind. Place heavier items on top of newspapers and light plastics.

Participation in curbside recycling has been excellent. The recycling program has reduced landfill waste by nearly one-quarter, taking in more than 3,500 tons of materials over the first three years. Approximately 80% of Village residents actively recycle on a regular basis. The average household diverts 63 pounds of recyclable materials from landfills monthly. According to the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, the Village's participation rate is one of the highest in the area.

Paper
In addition to newspaper; magazines, phone books, and junk mail are now accepted for recycling. Paper can be placed loose in the bin or bundled. Magazines, phone books, and junk mail must be bundled or brown bagged. Please do not place junk mail loose in the bin.

Cardboard
Cardboard and chipboard comes many forms: cereal, cookie, and cracker boxes; paper tubes, paper towel and tissue rolls; soda and beer cartons; and frozen food paper packaging. Most boxes are either cardboard or chipboard, both of which are included in the recycling program. Corrugated cardboard, heavy brown paper type comprised of three layers, may be loose or bundled. Cardboard should be broken down into pieces not larger than 2 feet on a side.

Paperboard
Cereal boxes, paper tubes, soda and beer cartons and frozen food packaging. Paperboard containers my be loose or bundled.

Glass
Glass bottles and jars are recyclable; window glass, light bulbs, and ceramics are not. Only glass bottles or jars used for food or beverages are acceptable. Rinse with water and remove lids or caps. No window glass, light bulbs, plates or ceramics are accepted.

Cans
Tin, steel, and aluminum cans used for food beverages. Rinse clean of all food residues. Labels may be left on tin, steel, and aluminum cans. No scrap aluminum or steel is accepted.

Plastics
Part of the Village's recycling program is the curbside pickup of plastics. The program accepts PETE (Type 1) through PP (Type 5) plastics (see below). Symbols identifying plastic types are now found on most containers. Type 1 through 5 plastics include most soft drink bottles; milk containers; laundry detergent containers; cooking oil bottles; grocery, bread, and dry cleaner bags; and yogurt cups.

Plastics make up almost one tenth of garbage weight and nearly one fifth of volume.

Plastic bottles and containers marked (1) PETE through (5) PP can be recycled. Additionally, Styrofoam plastics such as egg cartons and platters can be accepted provided they are completely free of any food materials.

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SWALCO Household Chemical Waste Collections

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL (SWALCO) Household Chemical Waste (HCW) collection program was created to help residents dispose of their chemical wastes safely and conveniently.

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL (SWALCO) offers two ways for residents to dispose of their household chemical waste safely and conveniently:

1. Year-round collection events at SWALCO's permanent facility in Gurnee (1311 N. Estes). Appointments are required and may be made online. Click here to visit SWALCO's site for more information.
2. Mobile collections held at various locations throughout Lake County from April through November. Collections generally take place from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. 2009 collection dates will be posted to the site when made available by SWALCO.

Please visit SWALCO's site at http://www.swalco.org if you require additional information, or call SWALCO at 847-336-9340.

A variety of common but problematic household materials can be brought to a HCW collection day, including old prescription medications, as well as unused over-the-counter medications. Scientists have recently discovered everything from pain killers to anti-depressants to antibiotics in our water supply. These drugs can harm the wildlife that rely on our rivers and lakes, as well as kill the beneficial bacteria in our septic systems. Therefore, please do NOT flush away old and unused medications in your sink or toilet.

Other common household materials that can be brought to a HCW collection include:

• Old paint Weed killer Old gasoline Aerosol products Solvents Lithium batteries		Paint remover Used motor oil Fluorescent bulbs Hobby chemicals Metal polishes		Insecticide Antifreeze Furniture stripper Household cleaners Pool chemicals

Latex paint is no longer accepted at HCW collections.  Business and commercial wastes, explosives such as fireworks an ammunition, propane tanks, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, agricultural chemicals and medical wastes will NOT be accepted at any of the Agency's HCW events. Lead acid batteries (auto and boat batteries) are also not accepted at these collections. These batteries can be recycled at any retail outlet selling new lead-acid batteries.

Since fall of 1998, SWALCO has offered Lake County residents 26 one-day collections in an effort to decrease the amounts of potentially harmful products not in use. Many of the materials collected at these events and others like it are used as a fuel additive in industrial boilers or recycled into a manufacturing feedstock.

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Residential Household Electronics Collection Events

Residential Household Electronics Collections are scheduled at various locations around Lake County and are for Lake County residents ONLY. All of these events, the locations, and hours of operation are set by our members. Questions regarding their procedures should be made to them. Household chemical wastes will not be accepted during these events. No commercial, institutional, or governmental materials will be accepted. All items must be free of any packaging material and operating manuals. A list of accepted/not accepted items is available on SWALCO's site.

The collections are a great opportunity to dispose of unwanted appliances, televisions, computers, and more. Mobile collection dates for 2010 will be posted as they are made available, or you can visit SWALCO's site for more information. Additionally, a variety of year-round drop-off programs are also available. Check SWALCO's site for additional information.

Electronics Event Scheduled for March 18, 2010

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL (SWALCO) along with the Village of Gurnee is sponsoring a one-day event when outdated, broken, or unwanted household electronics will be collected.

This event will be held at the Public Works building (1151 Kilbourne Road) from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 18, 2010.

The following items will be accepted at this event:

• Computer Equipment:  personal computers (CPUs), monitors, keyboards, any type of mouse, cords/cables, modems, laptops, main frames, printers, hard drives, other disk drives, PDA organizers, hand-held computer games, video games, joy sticks.
• Home Electronics & Appliances:  televisions, VCRs, laser disc players, cameras, camcorders, radios, speakers, portable CD players, blenders, mixing machines, waffle irons, coffee makers, toasters, fans, vacuums, hair dryers, sewing machines, microwave ovens, power tools.
• Home Office Equipment:  typewriters, word processors, copy machines, fax machines, adding machines, postage machines, scanners, calculators, paper shredders, telephones, answering machines, cellular phones, pagers, two-way radios.

Items that will NOT be accepted include fluorescent lamps, electric fixtures, software disks, audio or video tapes, compact disks, humidifiers/dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and large appliances (stoves, refrigerators, freezers).

This event is for residents only – no commercial, governmental, or institutional materials will be accepted.  Residents can call Public Works at (847) 599-6800 for further information about the event.

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The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County Offers Tips on Recycling and Refuse Preparations

Every so often the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County likes to remind residents of proper recyclable preparation. There is always confusion on preparation guidelines and the system continually changes. Please read the following:

• Recycling bins should be placed at the end of the driveway opposite your refuse container. This is because the swing arm that picks up the garbage container will sometimes dump the recycling container when picking up or setting down the garbage cart. Waste Management asks that recycling bins be at least 3 feet from the refuse container.
  
• Paper products should be placed in a PAPER bag and then placed into the bin. PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT COLLECTED FOR RECYCLING. This allows the driver to grab the bag and place it in the proper receptacle in the truck. All paper products are commingled (mixed) together. Any paper product that has not contacted food, beverage or bodily functions is acceptable. If the weather is bad (rain or rain impending) hold your paper products till next time. Wet paper is sometimes unmarketable.
  
• Cardboard must be cut down to 2 foot by 2 foot sections and should be bundled with string (if you have a quantity). This is because of space constraints on the collection vehicle (related to the dump hopper space).
  
• Containers should be rinsed and placed loose in the bin. Containers are collected in a commingled fashion (mixed). Rigid Containers accepted include glass bottles and jars, cans, and plastics numbered 1(PETE), 2(HDPE), 3(PVC), 4(LDPE), and 5(PP). Codes are generally found on the bottom of the container. PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT RECYCLABLE.
  
• Generally, any container that is rigid, and contained a consumer product, is recyclable. Exceptions are: Polystyrene products (Styrofoam packaging, meat trays, cups); plastic bags; containers that held automotive fluids such as motor oil; pesticide/poison or containers containing chemical products such as drain cleaner. These items are not recyclable. Bags will either be number 2(HDPE) or number 4(LDPE), and containers holding poisons or household chemicals may be made of metal, glass or any type of plastic. Please throw these away.
  
• Place Address on your bin. It is a good idea to write your address on your bin. This will improve the odds that your bin will be returned after it blows away on one of our windy days.
  
• Extra bins: There is nothing special about a recycling bin. Any container can be used as long as it is identifiable as a container holding recyclables. Many people will purchase similar containers at Walmart and write the word RECYCLING on the side with indelible marker. Extra bins can also be obtained from Waste Management at 395-2020. There is a charge for additional bins.

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New SWALCO Programs

Composting

Over 14,000 Lake County residents know that "compost happens," and now it's even easier to try composting at home thanks to the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County's (SWALCO) compost bin sales program. Residents can choose from two different compost bins at locations and dates all across Lake County.

Both models accept food scraps, grass clippings, leaves and other organic wastes. The "Earth Machine" rests in a typical backyard while waiting to be manually stirred by its owner. It holds approximately 1 cubic yard of material and sells for $20.

The "Tumbler" is a barrel-shaped container that rotates around a metal stand when gently pushed. It holds just over 7 cubic feet of material and sells for $70. Both models are easy to operate, adequately sized to accommodate a typical families' organic food waste, and come with a 10-year warranty. The main difference lies in the amount of time it takes to generate usable compost * 3 weeks for the Tumbler versus 6-8 weeks for the Earth Machine.

For more information, a PDF with more details is available for download (1 page, 31KB), check out the SWALCO website (www.swalco.org), or contact the SWALCO office at (847) 336-9340.

Document Destruction

A Mundelein-based paper shredding program will help people protect themselves from identity theft and safeguard businesses from corporate espionage. Records Management, Inc. will accept a variety of papers on the first Saturday of every month from 8:00 AM to Noon. The facility is located at 101 E. Maple Avenue in Mundelein (near the intersection of Route 176 and Highway 45).

This is a free service for businesses and residents. Accepted materials include: office paper, files, computer printouts, mail, and pre-shredded paper. No binders, metals or video media will be accepted. Certificates of destruction will be provided to all participants upon request. In the event that the first Saturday of the month occurs on or near a national holiday, the recycling will be moved to the second Saturday of that month.

For more information, or to ensure of service availability, please contact Records Management, Inc. at (847) 949-8500.

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ComEd Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling

Want to get rid of an old fridge or freezer?
If you’ve got an older, working second refrigerator or freezer keeping your soft drinks or ice cream cold – it’s probably costing you more money than you think.  ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use at least 20 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. So that old fridge could be costing you more than a $150 per year!

With ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Home Program you can get a $25 cash incentive to turn in your working second refrigerator of freezer.  ComEd is working with JACO Environmental, to pick up your refrigerator or freezer for free and recycle it in an environmentally responsible way.

You can learn more about turning in your working second refrigerator or freezer by visiting www.comed.com or calling (888) 806-2273. Click here to download the program flyer.

 

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Common Questions and Answers

When do I put out my recycling bin? It is suggested that you place recyclables out by 6:00 a.m. on your pickup day. Since soe bins are open, leaving them out for long periods of time may allow materials to be picked up by the wind. Also, by Village Ordinance, it is illegal for scavengers to remove any of the recyclables from bins placed out for pickup.

Will a 96 gallon container be sufficient? Experience has shown that the large brown 96 gallon containers are sufficient for most homes. Separating your recyclables also helps reduce the volume of garbage. Additional containers are available at an extra cost. Contact Waste Management for details.

The monthly refuse collection rates entitle residents to one 96 or 64 gallon cart of refuse per week. As cart service is provide by an automated collection vehicle, all refuse should be contained in the cart. Please contact Waste Management's office 24 hours prior to your pickup to arrange for a special pickup for any refuse in excess of the 96 gallons per week. There is an extra charge for this service. If you require an estimate, service will be provided within one week after cost is given.

What if my containers are stolen or damaged? Each household has received one set of containers from Waste Management. Upon verification by the police department, stolen containers will be replaced, at no charge. Waste Management will also replace damaged containers, except damage due to willful negligence or abuse.

How do I dispose of White Goods? Due to EPA regulations, applicances cannot be disposed of in Illinois Landfills. Please contact Environmental Specialists at (800) 480-4337 or Barb Salvage at (847) 973-0105 to arrange for a pickup. White goods include such appliances as clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, stoves, refrigerators, air-conditioners, freezers, water softeners, hot water heaters, humidifiers, and furnaces.

What if I have more garbage than will fit in the container? With the automated system now in place, materials placed outside the large brown container are difficult to collect. Contact Waste Management for large one time pickups.

Where can I call for information? Call Waste Management at 395-2020.

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Related Sites

• Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO)
• Solid Waste Association of North America
• American Plastics Council
• Recycler's World
• The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide
• The Compost Resource Page
• Composting Information Site
• Yahoo: Environment and Nature: Recycling

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