Skokie, IL Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Skokie residents receive curbside single-stream recycling collection from the contracted waste hauler. All accepted materials go in one recycling cart, which is collected weekly. Accepted materials typically include mixed paper (including junk mail, newspapers, magazines, office paper), flattened corrugated cardboard, paperboard (cereal boxes), glass bottles and jars (any color), metal cans (aluminum and steel), and rigid plastic containers labeled #1 PET (water bottles), #2 HDPE (milk jugs), and #5 polypropylene (yogurt containers). Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7 are generally not accepted curbside. Not accepted: plastic bags (recycle at grocery store drop-offs instead), Styrofoam, food waste, yard waste, hoses, cords, wire (tanglers that jam sorting equipment), scrap metal, and electronics. Containers should be empty and reasonably clean; materials with heavy food residue may contaminate loads. Placing non-recyclable items in the recycling cart contributes to contamination that can cause entire loads to be rejected and sent to landfill, defeating the purpose of recycling. Illinois landfill bans also apply to landscape waste, electronics, and certain hazardous items. Skokie partners with SWANCC for broader recycling and hazardous waste coordination.