Waste and Recycling
Learn about curbside waste and recycling services and other options to reduce, reuse and recycle in and around Naperville.
Waste
The City of Naperville contracts with Groot Industries for residential garbage collection. View details on our Residential Garbage Collection page and learn more about garbage-related services below:
Recycling
The City of Naperville contracts with Groot Industries for residential recycling collection. View details on our Curbside Recycling Program page and learn more about recycling-related services below:
- Recycling Carts
- Recycling Drop-Off Center
- Electronics Recycling
- Holiday Lights Recycling
- SCARCE Recycling and Donation Collection
- Dart Container Polystyrene Foam (AKA Styrofoam) Recycling Drop Off
- Recycling Instructional Stickers: To take the guesswork out of proper recycling, the City worked with Groot to create these recycling instructional stickers to be placed on your recycling cart. Any resident who would like a sticker can pick one up from the Community Services Department, located on the first floor of the Municipal Center at 400 S. Eagle St.
Styrofoam Recycling
Expanded Polystyrene Foam, often referred to as Styrofoam, is a common curbside recycling contaminant and environmental pollutant due to its composition and challenging disposal processes. Because Styrofoam is not accepted in most recycling streams, it is often sent to landfills, polluting ecosystems with microplastics on its way.
As the City does not currently have year-round Styrofoam recycling services, residents are encouraged to drop off their Styrofoam at a nearby partner facility, Dart Container, for recycling. Keep an eye on City communications channels for 2026 collection events within Naperville. Be sure to carefully review accepted materials and procedures on the Dart webpage.
Dart Container directs material to their headquarters in Michigan for processing. Once processed, the material then goes to a manufacturer that will use the material to make premium picture frames, crown molding, and many other useful products.
Yard and Food Waste
Did you know that according to a 2023 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report, food scraps account for more than 20% of landfill waste, where they decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas? Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills, thus decreasing the volume of waste in landfills and reducing emissions while naturally enriching soil. For more information, visit the Food Scrap Compost Program page.
Residents with yard waste carts rented with the City can compost their food scraps with their yard waste (NOT in paper yard waste bags). Alternatively, residents can invest in a backyard composter to divert their food scraps from landfills and enrich their own gardens. Composters are available to purchase as part of the Arbor Day Tree Sale.
- Yard Waste and Organics Carts
- Arbor Day Tree Sale
- Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition Resources
Reduce and Reuse
Reducing the consumption of waste and unrecyclable materials is the best method of cleaning up our landfills, along with identifying opportunities for reuse or repurposing. Here are some tips for reducing and reusing:
- Invest in reusable versions of traditionally single-use products. Think of water bottles, shopping bags, produce bags, paper towels, coffee cups, straws, cutlery, etc.
- Grocery shop mindfully, considering the amount of food your household can realistically consume before its expiration. Compost food scraps that cannot be consumed or expire.
- Get creative with reusing products you might usually throw away or recycle. For example, use plastic grocery bags as liners for small trash cans or as pet waste bags; use empty glass jars for leftover food storage; research crafts and DIY ideas that use common waste.