Lake Forest - Neighborhood Programs

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City of Lake Forest - is this your City? If so, let's explore the local waste & recycling programs in your neighborhood. If not, click here to return to the Neighborhood Programs main menu.
  1. History

The City of Lake Forest has been on the Board of Directors of our Agency since 1991. The City and its Staff has been an integral part of propelling our programs into households across Lake County and we thank them for their continuing efforts.

  1. Your Waste Hauler Is...
Special Note: If a holiday falls on OR before your regularly scheduled pick up day, services will be delayed one day for the remainder of the holiday week unless otherwise notified directly by your waste hauler.

This is the current holiday schedule:

  • New Year's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Don't forget to check your Dialogue newsletter for special events and information!

  1. Local Recycling Guidelines
Recycling Icon 11.2019 Recycle

SWALCO hosts a variety of programs in your community


  1. Clothing & Textile Collection Program
Lake Forest Compost & Recycling Center
1381 W. Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL. 60045
Summer Hours (Mar. 15 to Nov. 30):
Saturday 8 am to 5 pm
Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
Winter Hours (Dec. 1 to Mar. 14)
Saturday 8 am to 3 pm
Closed on Holidays.
For Lake Forest Residents Only.

Dickinson Hall: Senior Center
100 E. Old Mill Road
Lake Forest, IL. 60045

*During regular business/operational hours.

Click here for more information about this program.
  1. Shoe Reuse Program (Reuse-A-Shoe)
Lake Forest Compost & Recycling Center
1381 W. Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL. 60045
Summer Hours (Mar. 15 to Nov. 30):
Saturday 8 am to 5 pm
Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
Winter Hours (Dec. 1 to Mar. 14)
Saturday 8 am to 3 pm

Closed on Holidays.

For Lake Forest Residents Only.

Click here for more information about this program.
  1. Residential Electronics Recycling
Municipal Drop Off at the City of Lake Forest Compost &
Recycling Center
1381 W. Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL. 60045
Summer Hours (Mar. 15 - Nov. 30)
Saturday 8 am to 5 pm
Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
Winter Hours (Dec. 1 - Mar. 14)
Saturday 8 am to 3 pm
Closed on Holidays
For Lake Forest Residents Only

SWALCO also hosts (4) FREE Residential Electronics Collection Drop Off locations in Lake County.

Click here for more information about this program and the locations.

Other programs in or around your community


  1. Pharmaceutical Collection Site
Lake Forest: Police Department (lobby)
255 W. Deerpath
Lake Forest, IL. 60045

*During regular business/operational hours

Click here for more information about this program.
  1. Food Scrap Drop Off Collection Site
Nearest Drop-Off Locations are:

Grayslake Recycling Center
585 Berry Avenue
Grayslake, IL.
M-F 7 am to 3:30 pm
Saturday 8 am - 12 pm
Closed on Holidays.

Prairieland Disposal & Recycling Center
21988 N. Pepper Road
Lake Barrington, IL.
M-F 8 am to 3 pm
Saturday 8 am to 12 pm
Closed on Holidays

Click here for more information about this program.
  1. Municipal Recycling Center
Lake Forest Compost & Recycling Center
1381 W. Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL. 60045
Summer Hours (Mar. 15 to Nov. 30):
Saturday 8 am to 5 pm
Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
Winter Hours (Dec. 1 to Mar. 14)
Saturday 8 am to 3 pm

Closed on Holidays.

For Lake Forest Residents Only.

Click here for more information about the center.
  1. Household Chemical Waste Disposal Options

Option 1: Year-Round Public Drop Off (Appointments are Required - CLICK HERE TO MAKE ONE)
This year-round program offers collections twice (often 3x) a month (except December). These events are held at SWALCO's Gurnee facility, located at 1311 North Estes Street. Please use Route 41 to Delany Road (North) to Grove (East) to Estes.

Option 2: Mobile Collection Events (First Come, First Served)

MOBILE EVENTS ARE POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE (2021)

Mobile collection events take place April - November at various locations throughout Lake County. Please check our website frequently for event updates. You can also Like Us on Facebook, check us out on Twitter, Linkedin and Tumblr. Plus you can sign up for the occasional newsletter. 

Option 3: Other Illinois Permanent HCW Facilities

Click here for more information about this program.

  1. Appliances/Scrap Yard
Your municipality provides pick up services for a nominal fee - Please call (847) 615-4264 to arrange a pick up.
(Items containing refrigerant are excluded from this service).

Please visit our "Where do I Recycle this?" directory, select your category from the drop-down menu and click "search".
This will bring up a list of vendors who can assist with recycling your item(s).
  1. Something More Specific?
Please visit our "ODDS & ENDS" page for information about Paints, Needle/Sharps Disposal, Plastic Bags, Batteries, Light Bulbs, Dehumidifiers, and several other popular items.
  1. Frequently Asked Questions
  1. How do I properly dispose of sharps/needles?
  2. Can I get my gasoline container back?
  3. How do I establish service, add or replace a collection container or inquire about billing matters?
  4. What do I do with latex paint?
  1. Where do I dispose of alkaline batteries?
  2. How do I properly dispose of pharmaceuticals, prescriptions, medications, and supplements?
  3. How can I find out about future recycling events?
  1. Why can't I drop off my HCW at any time?
  2. Who is my garbage collection vendor?
  3. What goes in my curbside bin?
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