Lake County IL municipalities mandate single-stream curbside recycling of paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum/steel cans and plastics #1-#5 through SWALCO-coordinated programs. Contaminated bins may be rejected at the curb. Commercial and multi-family recycling required under Lake County Solid Waste Plan. Plastic bags, food waste and styrofoam are not accepted curbside.
Lake County recycling operates under the Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act (415 ILCS 15), the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act (415 ILCS 150), and the Lake County Solid Waste Management Plan administered by SWALCO. All major municipalities (Waukegan, Zion, Libertyville, Gurnee, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Vernon Hills, Mundelein) provide single-stream curbside recycling for paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum and steel cans, and plastics marked #1 PET, #2 HDPE, and typically #3-#5. Plastics #6 (polystyrene) and #7 are generally not accepted. Plastic film and bags must be returned to grocery stores (banned from curbside to prevent MRF equipment jams). Food waste, yard waste, diapers and styrofoam are contaminants. Contaminated bins may be tagged and skipped by haulers. Multi-family buildings over a threshold unit count (varies by city, often 5+ units) must provide recycling service under the county plan. Commercial recycling is required for offices over certain square footage. Ravinia and Six Flags operate venue-specific recycling programs. Yard waste collection requires separate paper bags or stickered bins April-November; grass clippings, leaves and brush are banned from landfill under 415 ILCS 15.
Contaminated bins tagged and skipped; repeat contamination $25 to $150 fine. Landfilling banned yard waste: $100 to $500. Multi-family noncompliance: property owner $250 to $1,000 plus cure order.
Lake County, IL
Barking dogs in unincorporated Lake County are addressed as nuisance complaints through the Public Nuisance Ordinance. Lake County Animal Care and Control in...
Lake County, IL
Lake County Public Nuisance Ordinance prohibits sound from amplification equipment audible at 100 feet or more from the source, or exceeding 70 dB(A) at the ...
Lake County, IL
Chapter 94 of the Lake County Code regulates construction hours and noise in unincorporated areas. Standard construction hours apply with enforcement through...
Lake County, IL
Lake County IL regulates amplified music through the UDO noise performance standards and municipal ordinances. Outdoor amplified events require special event...
Lake County, IL
Maximum fence height in unincorporated Lake County is 6 feet. Fences exceeding 6 feet in nonresource zones require a building permit. Sight-obscuring fences ...
Lake County, IL
Illinois Fence Act (765 ILCS 130) governs agricultural boundary fences. In residential unincorporated Lake County, fences must be entirely on private propert...
See how Lake County's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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