Curbside recycling is available at no additional cost for city residents living in single family homes of 3 units or less that pay for garbage can pickup. City residents who live in multi-unit buildings may also take advantage of their waste haulers recycle drop off location or with the property owner’s agreement of obtaining on site recycling service from their waste hauler at the monthly rate of $3 per unit.

Preparation Guidelines: Items that contained food should be rinsed out but thorough cleaning is unnecessary. All lids should be kept on containers; labels may remain. Some haulers will take mixed materials with no sorting needed - others require some sorting and separation of materials. Call your waste hauler for details on their requirements.

Pickup Location: all garbage and recycling is picked up curbside unless owner’s property has alley access. In the case of alley access, garbage and recycling receptacles should be placed and picked up in the alley.

Items Accepted:

• Paper - newspapers, junk mail, magazines, and chip board (single-ply cardboard used for cereal, tissue, magazines, and soda boxes).
• Plastic - all plastic containers labeled #1-7, except #6.
• Metal - food cans & aluminum beverage cans
• Glass - all colors of glass are recyclable. Only bottles and jars that food or drink came in are acceptable. No glass window panes, dishware, or ceramics.
• Cardboard - some haulers only accept limited amounts of cardboard for curbside or alley pickup. For large quantities, check with your hauler or take to waste haulers drop off recycling facility.

Any questions please contact the Office of Public Works 217.789.2255

Springfield residents may drop off recycling items at their waste haulers designated location with proof of identification.Drop off locations are for customers of the waste haulers operating each facility, and residents are encouraged to contact their waste haulers directly should they have any questions regarding this service

Residents who live in multi-unit buildings may now take advantage of their waste haulers drop off location, or with the property owner’s agreement, and obtain recycling service on site from their waste hauler at the monthly rate of $3 per unit.

Following is the listing of the area waste haulers drop off recycling facilities.

Lake Area Disposal Service
2742 S. 6th Street
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 217.522.9271
Email: comments@lakeareadisposal.com

Republic Services
Sangamon Valley Landfill
2565 Sandhill Road
Monday through Friday
7:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 217.528.9256
Email: lpainter@republicservices.com

Waste Management
3000 E. Ash Street
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. – 12-noon
Phone: 800.796.9696
Customers should check in at weigh station upon entering facility.

• Batteries: Can be taken to several electric retailers and/or recyclers, including Rexx Battery at 2945 E. Clear Lake Ave. 217.789.6049  (accepts most batteries except alkalines), BLH Computers, Inc. at 1832 Stevenson Dr. 217.585.7580 (accepts most batteries except alkalines), Springfield Battery Co. at 2645 E. Cook St. 217.523.7031 (accepts large batteries such as car, truck, marine vehicle and lead batteries). Alkaline batteries are no longer banned from Illinois landfills and can be disposed in regular trash. Call local business for details.
• Carpet and Padding: Can be taken to Staff Carpet at 304 W. Browning Rd. 217.528.4879. If you have not purchased new carpet from Staff, the cost is $50.00. If you have purchased new carpet from Staff, recycling is free. Call for details.
• Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL): Can be taken to Springfield Electric at 700 N. 9th St. 217.788.2100, US Electric at 301 North 1st St. 217.522.3347, as well as Lowe's and Menards Locations. Call local business for details.
• Dehumidifier: Can be taken to Habitat for Humanity at 2744 S. 6th St. 217.523.2710 & Springfield Iron & Metal at 930 N. Wolfe St. 217.544.7131. Call local business for details.
• Fire Extinguisher: Release pressure in fire extinguisher and let sit for a few days prior to throwing away in regular trash. If unsure on chemical makeup of fire extinguisher, take to AEC Fire Safety & Security at 3003 Stanton St. 217.529.3003- they will look over and access.
• Gasoline: Safely store old gasoline until next City Household Hazardous Waste collection event or call Office of Public Works 217.789.2255.
• Holiday Lights: Can be taken to BLH Computers, Inc. at 1832 Stevenson Dr. 217.585.7580 all year round. Call for details.
• Humidifier: Can be taken to BLH Computers, Inc. at 1832 Stevenson Dr. 217.585.7580 or Habitat for Humanity at 2744 S. 6th St. 217.523.2710. Call local business for details.
• Latex Paint: Residents can legally and safely put latex paint in the trash once it has been completely dried out. It is important to solidify latex paint to avoid environmental or water contamination problems. Most effective means of drying latex paint is to pour it out in thin layers on a disposable material, such as old newspapers or cardboard. Allow each layer to dry then dispose of in regular trash.
• Medication: Can be taken to the pharmacy at Walgreens at 2020 S. MacArthur Blvd. 217.744.1880 (accepts all prescription and non-prescription drugs) as well as County Market pharmacy located at 1903 W. Monroe St. 217.546.8671 or 3001 S. Veterans Pkwy. 217.793.3773. Call local business for details.
• Microwaves: Can be taken to Ley Metals Recycling, Inc. at 3000 N. Peoria Rd. 217.523.7676 or F&W Resources at 3327 Terminal Ave. 217.525.1206. Call local business for details.
• Propane Tanks & Bottles: All bottles or tanks must be emptied prior to disposal. Small green 16-20 oz. camping bottles can be thrown away in regular trash. Another option is to remove the top valve and take to Mervis Recycling located at 1100 S. 9th St. 217.753.1492. If bottle or tank is larger than 20 oz., contact the Illinois Propane Gas Association for drop off referrals 217.525.8000
• Tires: Can be taken to various service stations, including Johnson & Johnson Auto Service Center at 1325 Stevenson Dr. 217.529.9200 and Midtown Tire and Auto Service at 2110 Clear Lake Ave. 217.525.1395. Each store charges between $2 and $5 to get rid of one standard-sized tire. Call local business for details.
• Smoke Detector: Smoke detectors older than 1990 have small traces of radiation and other harmful chemicals. To dispose, contact the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) at 2200 S. Dirksen Pkwy. 800.782.7860. For smoke detectors after 1990, dispose in regular waste stream.
• Used Motor Oil: Can be taken to various service stations, including all Auto Zone locations in Springfield as well as Johnson & Johnson Auto Service Center at 1325 Adlai Stevenson Dr. 217.529.9200. Each location has limits and charges. Call local business for details.

Room-to-Room Guide

Springfield’s “Room-to-Room Guide to Household Reuse and Recycling” provides guidance on how to get rid of unwanted household items. This handy booklet lists more than 150 different items/materials and where to donate them in the Springfield area so they will be reused or recycled and not landfilled. From eye glasses to wire hangers, office machines to tools, you will be amazed at the number and type of items organizations and businesses in and around the City of Springfield will gladly accept. To receive a paper copy of the “Room-to-Room Guide”, call the Office of Public Works: Waste & Recycling at 217.789.2255.

Click here to download the Guide.

Freecycle

Is a free service matching up people who need to get rid of an item/s with those who are in need of an item/s. Anyone with access to a computer can visit the Freecycle website at https://www.freecycle.org/ and search Springfield, IL to find items listed near you. Every item listed must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.