Arlington Heights, IL Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Required materials
- 6 types, no substitutions (§19-121e)
- Studio/1BR capacity
- 7 gallons per unit weekly
- 2BR capacity
- 8 gallons per unit weekly
- 3BR+ capacity
- 9 gallons per unit weekly
- Plan resubmission window
- 15 days if rejected
- Annual hauler report due
- January 30
- Penalty
- $50-$750 per offense (§19-126)
Summary
Owners of multi-family buildings in Arlington Heights, Illinois (Cook County) must offer recycling service to every resident and collect at least six specific materials, from newspaper to PET and HDPE plastics, with no substitutions, under Section 19-121 of the Village code. Section 19-119 makes the service mandatory for owners even though individual tenant participation stays voluntary.
a.Recycling collection areas shall be adequate in number and shall be conveniently located and maintained within common areas in or near the buildings.b.The area shall consist of separate containers of sufficient number and size for the purposes of temporary storage of recyclables. Containers shall be of durable material capable of withstanding heavy wear and tear.e.The owner shall offer collection of a minimum of these six materials (no substitutions permitted):1.Newspaper;2.Glass (clear, green and brown);3.Steel cans (also known as bi-metal or tin cans);4.Aluminum cans;5.PET (Type 1) plastic containers; and6.HDPE (Type 2) plastic containers.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
" Owners must submit a recycling plan to the Village under Section 19-120, covering collection-area siting, container types, an educational campaign, and, if a subcontractor is used, that contractor's identity; an unacceptable plan must be revised and resubmitted within 15 days, and approved service must begin within 60 days of approval. Section 19-121 spells out the operating specifics: collection areas must be "adequate in number and shall be conveniently located and maintained within common areas," containers must be "durable material capable of withstanding heavy wear and tear," and owners "shall offer collection of a minimum of these six materials (no substitutions permitted)": newspaper, glass, steel cans, aluminum cans, PET (Type 1) plastic containers, and HDPE (Type 2) plastic containers.
The same section sets a weekly capacity formula of seven gallons per studio or one-bedroom unit, eight gallons per two-bedroom unit, and nine gallons per three-bedroom-or-larger unit. Owners must post signage and provide written notice to residents under Section 19-122, and the licensed scavenger must file an annual report on refuse and recyclables volumes with the Village by January 30 under Section 19-123. The recycling requirement survives any change of ownership or hauler under Section 19-124.
Violations & Fines
Because Sections 19-119 through 19-125 sit inside Chapter 19's Solid Waste article, a multi-family owner who fails to establish, maintain, or properly report on a recycling program is subject to the Article I penalty in Section 19-126: a fine of $50.00 to $750.00 per offense. The Village can also reject or require revision of a noncompliant recycling plan under Section 19-120 before service can proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do apartment residents have to recycle in Arlington Heights?
What materials must a multi-family building's recycling program accept?
How much recycling capacity does an apartment building need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington Heights
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Recycling Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle recycling requirements.