The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) has begun a new county-wide campaign to increase recycling levels. The campaign is called "Recycle First. Trash Last." According to the campaign's overview, "There's an interesting opportunity in recycling's life cycle to begin to transition the mindset from one of pulling recyclables out of the trash, to, ideally, pulling the trash out of recycling. This campaign puts the priority on recycling first...and defining what's left...as trash...and visualizing 'trash' as nearly (ideally) non-existing. More than just something not to send to the landfill, recycling becomes a valuable resource. Recycling first and trashing last makes the act of reclaiming these resources a proactive part of people's everyday habits.

• Click here to view SWALCO's media event on the launch of "Recycling First. Trash Last."
• Click here to view an interview with the Lake County Board Chairman, David Stolman, on SWALCO and the campaign.

For more information on the recycling campaign and items that can be recycled, visit RecyclingFirstTrashLast.org.

• Recycling Guidelines (Spanish)
• Recycling Guidelines (English)

Curbside Recycling

The Village's current residential waste hauler provides a green recycling container for curbside recycling. The Village added an option for residents to upgrade from a 65-gallon can to a 96-gallong can at no cost. Residents wishing to take part in the program can register with the Request for Service System between January 1 and February 15. Visit the Recycling Can Exchange Program for more details.

Recycling Center

The Village is currently operating the Recycling Center, located the Grayslake Public Works Facility (at the end of Berry Avenue, east of Route 83). The Center is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and accepts newspapers, aluminum cans, cardboard, washed glass, and plastic.

Electronics Recycling

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County provides an electronics collection bin at the Grayslake Public Works facility. Open hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Accepted Items Include:

Televisions, Monitors, Printers, Computers (including tablet computers), Electronic Keyboards, Facsimile Machines, Videocassette Recorders, Portable Digital Music Players, Digital Video Disc Players, Video Game Consoles, Small Scale Servers, Scanners, Electronic Mice, Digital Converter Boxes, Cable Receivers, Satellite Receivers, Digital Video Disc Recorders, Compact Disks, Software Disks, and Compact and VHS tapes, Computer Drives, Modems, Mainframes, PDA Organizers, Telephones, Stereos, CD Players, Cameras, Shredders, Small Household Appliances, Holiday Lights, Microwave Ovens, Alkaline Batteries, Non Rechargeable and Rechargeable Batteries

If you questions regarding the Village's recycling programs, please contact the Request for Service System at (847) 223-8515.