The City of Evanston will host its annual “Evanston Recycles” event on Saturday, July 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave.
Each year, this free “drive up, drop off” event provides residents an opportunity to recycle and donate a variety of items and securely shred documents. This year, the city will be collecting electronic waste, documents for shredding, and residentially generated, unused prescription medication and expired over-the-counter drugs. No other items will be accepted.
Community members participating in the event should enter the drop-off line on Church Street west of Dodge Avenue (view map below). Participants are asked to follow the signs to the drop-off area and remain in their cars. Participants are asked to not line up before 8 a.m.
To ensure the health and safety of participants and staff, all participants must unlock/open their trunk from inside their vehicle to allow city staff to unload the items. All materials for recycling should be placed in the back seat or trunk of participants’ vehicles. Masks are encouraged but not required. Community members should stay home if they are sick.
Electronics recycling and document destruction are open to residents of all Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) communities.
Electronics Recycling
The following electronic materials will be accepted:
- Cell phones
- Computers (PCs and laptops)
- Computer monitors
- DVR/Cable boxes
- DVD and VHS players
- Fax machines
- Mice and keyboards
- MP3 players and PDAs
- Printers and scanners
- TVs
- Video game consoles
Document Shredding and Recycling
Residents can bring up to five banker’s boxes of paper documents to be shredded on site. Documents should be placed in a box or brown paper bag and large metal clips and binders should be removed ahead of time. Staples and paper clips are acceptable. Document shredding is not available for businesses.
Medications Disposal
Residentially generated, unused prescription medication and expired over-the-counter drugs will be accepted for disposal. Medications considered to be a controlled substance will also be accepted.
Medications to recycle:
- Unused/expired prescriptions in original bottles
- Over the counter medication
- Multiple medication bottles in clear bag
Please do not bring:
- No needles or syringes (used or new)
- No inhalers
- No loose pills
Evanston Recycles is supported by the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC).
For more information, please call or text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents in Evanston may simply dial 3-1-1.
Submitted by city of Evanston
With this City’s CARP Program, and its concern for the climate & environment, this year’s “recycling event” is so contrary to the above pursuit. Indicated on the map, but not shown in the overhead, is the double row of cars from Church St. creeping down Dodge & then up Lake to enter the ETHS lot. In 2021, this took me at least 45 minutes, AND I’ll never do it again! The damage to the atmosphere belched by these vehicles on a hot July day is worse than 10 years of all gas-powered garden equipment used. This also involves scads of city & police personnel, the placement of barriers, equipment AND the inconvenience to those abutting the school on the south. The Sustainability & Resiliency Person, and other staff, must 1st cancel & rethink this. I suggest that the old Oakton Recycling Center be reopened to serve the south side. The City’s Equipment Complex south of the Civic Center, can serve the north end. They should be made available to the public, say 9am to 6pm. Labeled dumpsters can be provided with 1 or 2 people to assist with drop-offs. This could continue thru July & August, with dumpster replacement and disposal as needed. Our earth will appreciate this!