Trash & Recycling Collection

Make Recycling Your New Year’s Resolution!

Did you know?

About 18% of items in residential recycling bins don’t belong there. This contamination reduces the effectiveness of recycling, but small changes can make a big impact.

Make it your resolution to Recycle Right! Check out Recycle Right® for simple tips to keep your recycling clean and effective.

Together, we can make 2025 a year of better recycling in the Village of Roscoe.

WM Operates North America's Largest Alternative Fuel Fleet of Trucks in the Industry

Did you know?

For every diesel truck we replace with natural gas, we reduce our use of diesel fuel by an average of 8,000 gallons per year along with a reduction of 14 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year—the equivalent of a 15 percent emissions reduction per truck.

Our Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles emit nearly zero particulate emissions, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent, and are quieter than diesel trucks.

Small Actions Lead to Big Environmental Impact

Did you know?

Even without curbside recycling, small choices in daily life can significantly reduce waste and contribute to a healthier environment.

• Choose reusable options instead of single-use plastics.
• Dispose of household hazardous waste properly to keep communities safe.
• Support circular economy initiatives by purchasing products made from recycled or sustainable materials.

WM continues to innovate in sustainability, from alternative fuel trucks to new waste reduction solutions. Every effort helps build a cleaner future!

How Your Community Can Help Close the Recycling Loop

 Did you know?

 ♻️ An aluminum can that gets recycled today could be back on store shelves in less than 60 days.

 ♻️ Once received by recycling end markets, these cans are shredded, melted into 40,000-pound ingots, and pressed into thin sheets – then can be sold to companies such as soda brands to make new cans.

 ♻️ Aluminum is virtually indefinitely recyclable, and an average beverage can contain 73% recycled material – but only approximately 50% of all aluminum cans produced in the U.S. are recycled.

 ♻️ Recycling aluminum uses only about 5% of the energy required to make new aluminum from raw materials, avoiding nearly nine tons of CO₂ emissions per ton recycled compared to producing new aluminum.

By recycling right at home, your community can help reduce waste, conserve resources, and contribute to a more circular economy. Let's work together to boost recycling rates!

From Yard to Garden: Composting the Smart Way!

Did you know?

Yard trimmings such as weeds and leaves make excellent compost, transforming into nutrient-rich soil amendment for your garden!

If you're utilizing WM's convenient yard waste program, please remember to keep it free of contaminants. Following guidelines from the U.S. Composting Council, we kindly ask that you do not place any plastic items like flowerpots or water bottles in your yard waste bags.

These non-compostable materials can compromise the composting process and the quality of the final product. Your proper sorting helps create valuable compost and contributes to a healthier environment!

Summer Safety: Protecting Our Communities Together!

Did you know?

As we enjoy the summer months, remembering a few key disposal tips can help keep our communities and WM teams safe! Improperly discarded items like still-hot coals or fireworks can pose significant hazards.

To ensure a safe season for everyone, always remember to cool coals and ashes completely and dispose of them in a metal container, never plastic or paper. Similarly, fully douse used fireworks in a metal container filled with water before putting them in the trash.

Your diligence in following these simple guidelines helps protect our drivers, operations, and the communities we serve. Let's work together for a safe summer!

August Safety Spotlight: Help Prevent Curbside Hazards

Did you know?

Late summer often means more yardwork, DIY projects, and outdoor cleanup—but some common household items can pose serious risks when placed in curbside carts.

Items like batteries, propane tanks, pool chemicals, and leftover paint should never be disposed of in your trash or recycling. These materials are considered hazardous and can cause fires, harm collection crews, or damage equipment.

To protect your neighborhood and WM teams, be sure to set these items aside and check with your city or HOA for proper disposal options. In some areas, WM offers special services such as At Your Door Special Collection® to safely handle household hazardous waste.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our communities safe and sustainable!

Back to School: A Guide to Recycling Right

Did you know?

As students head back to school, it’s a great time for you to refresh recycling knowledge. WM is proud to support proper recycling efforts.

Here are three simple tips to get it right:

• Recycle clean bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.
• Keep food and liquid out of your recycling.
• No loose plastic bags and no bagged recyclables.

For more resources, visit https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our communities safe and sustainable!

November Spotlight: Celebrate America Recycles Day! ♻️

Did you know?

America Recycles Day (November 15) is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling. To honor this day, we're asking residents to commit to Recycling Right, ensuring materials can be Repurposed.

The Core Problem: Tanglers and Contamination

WM is investing over $1.4 billion in building new and upgrading existing recycling facilities, leveraging advanced technology and AI to capture more material and increase efficiency. However, contamination still threatens this progress.

One of the single biggest issues at our recycling facilities is “tanglers”—items that wrap around equipment and cause shutdowns.

This America Recycles Day, please commit to these two core rules:

• No Loose Plastic Bags: Plastic shopping bags, plastic film, and flexible packaging tangle in sorting equipment, creating safety risks and facility shutdowns.
• No Bagged Recyclables: Recyclables placed inside a plastic bag often cannot be sorted and are sent straight to the landfill.

The Core Goal

Your community’s efforts to Recycle Right directly support our shared goal to enable more materials to be Repurposed. For more resources on contamination and the core rules, visit https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our communities thriving!

January Spotlight: Keep Batteries Out of the Bin

The Issue: Lithium-ion batteries found in phones, laptops, and power tools are “hidden” fire hazards. If crushed in a garbage truck or recycling center, they can ignite, causing dangerous fires.

The Rule: No Batteries in Curbside Carts. Batteries should never be placed in your curbside trash or recycling carts.

Safe Disposal Steps:

• Tape the Ends: Use clear or electrical tape to cover battery terminals (ends) to prevent short-circuiting.
• Find a Drop-Off: Take batteries to a dedicated household hazardous waste facility or a participating retail drop-off location.
• Locator Tool: Visit [Call2Recycle.org]Call2Recycle.org to find the nearest free battery recycling point.

The Core Goal

Proper battery management directly supports our goal to enable more Material to be Repurposed by allowing critical minerals to be safely recovered.

For more resources on core rules, visit https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe and thriving!

February Spotlight: Hearts, Flowers, and Proper Recycling

Sustainability Tip: One of the best ways to reduce waste is to rethink the gift itself! Instead of buying fresh-cut flowers that come in plastic film, consider buying potted flowers. These can be enjoyed indoors now and planted in your garden this spring to bloom again next year.

The Issue: For other gifts, items like candy wrappers, plastic flower sleeves, and glitter-covered cards are frequent “wish-cycling” culprits. Because these items are made of mixed materials, they cannot be processed at our sorting facilities.

What to Keep Out of the Curbside Bin:

• Candy Packaging: Most chocolate wrappers and the plastic inserts inside candy boxes belong in the trash.
• Decorated Cards & Gift Bags: If a card has glitter, foil, or a “soft-touch” lamination, it is not recyclable. Only plain paper and cardstock should go in the bin.
• Ribbons & Plastic Film: These are “tanglers” that jam sorting equipment. Please reuse ribbons or place them in the trash along with plastic floral wrap.

What to Put in the Bin:

• Flattened Cardboard: Shipping boxes and plain paperboard candy boxes (remove the plastic tray first!).
• Clean Paper: Plain paper cards and envelopes.

The Core Goal

By being selective about what goes into your bin, you prevent contamination and ensure that high-quality materials are successfully Repurposed into new products. 

For more resources on core rules, visit https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right.

Thank you for helping us keep our community’s recycling stream clean and efficient!

March Spotlight: The Garage Cleanout — Keep it Clean, Keep it Safe

The Challenge: Spring cleaning usually starts under the sink or in the garage — where “The Big Three” live: Corrosives (drain cleaners), Flammables (gasoline/oil-based paint), and Toxics (pesticides). When these leak in a recycling truck, they don’t just create a safety risk — they contaminate clean paper and cardboard, making them impossible to recycle.

 The Rule: Keep the “Hidden Hazards” Out.

• Identify: Check labels for Caution, Warning, or Danger. These items belong at a designated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility. [PSS: Insert local HHW site/event info here].
• Clean & Dry: Only place items in your recycling bin that are empty, clean, and dry.
• The Second Life Rule: Before tossing old garden tools, pots, or patio furniture, consider donating them. True repurposing starts with keeping usable items out of the bin entirely!

The Core Goal

By keeping chemicals out of your bin, you ensure that the rest of your community's recyclables can be successfully processed and repurposed into new products.

For more resources on core rules, visit https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right. Thank you for helping us keep our community’s recycling stream clean and efficient!

Introducing More Ways to Pay

Waste Management is excited to announce the launch of an all-new digital bill payment system powered by Paymentus, a best-in-class electronic payment solution. This upgrade will provide a more flexible and comprehensive online bill-management experience. You will notice these changes starting in August.

What's Changing

WM is introducing new payment methods for invoices. In addition to electronic debit from a bank account, like the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network in the U.S. or Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) in Canada, and credit or debit card, soon you'll be able to pay with services like Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

How It Could Affect Your Payments

Paymentus will charge a $1.99 convenience fee per transaction for residential service and a $9.99 convenience fee for non-residential service, as applicable, for payments made online or by phone using credit card, debit card and digital wallet methods. You'll get an alert for the fee when you pay online or by phone.

How to Avoid Paymentus Fees

One-time or automatic payments made by direct debit from a bank account will not incur a convenience fee. If you currently pay by credit or debit card and want to avoid the Paymentus convenience fee, log in to My WM to update your payment method to direct debit from a bank account.

Additional 95 Gallon Garbage Totes or 35 Gallon Recycling Totes are available at request for a fee of $56 per year. Contact Waste Management at 815-874-8431.

If you have a bulk item (e.g., couch, loveseat, table, chair, etc.), which is defined as an item that is too large to fit within a normal garbage container, residents may dispose of these items. Items purchased as a set represent multiple bulk items (e.g., a dining room table set that includes a table and four chairs would represent 5 bulk items). However, hazardous materials (e.g., paints, herbicides, insecticides, motor oil, gasoline, pool chemicals, etc…), white goods (e.g., washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters, etc…), and construction debris cannot be disposed of through this program. Please contact Waste Management (815-874-8431) prior to placing any item at the curb to determine if it meets the bulk item requirements.

How to Prepare Recyclables:

Sorting recyclable materials is no longer required. Waste Management uses a single-stream collection system to pick up our recyclable materials. To save room in your recycling bin, paper products, such as newspapers, can be placed in a paper bag next to the recycling bin. Recycle Right® - Recycling Guide | WM

Plastics:

Recyclable plastic products are identifiable by the three arrow triangle surrounding a number and the plastic type abbreviation. The three-arrow triangle is usually found on the bottom of the item. #1 PETE, #2 HDPE, #3 PVC or Vinyl, #4 LDPE, #5 PP. Note: #6 PS is no longer collected for recycling. Please place #6 PS (polystyrene) into the regular trash. Items that can be recycled, but are not limited to, peanut butter jars, ketchup/salad dressing bottles, deodorant containers, health and beauty aid bottles, yogurt tubs, and milk jugs.

Aluminum and Steel Containers:

Samples include aluminum cans, foil, pie plates, decorative tins, and empty aerosol cans.

Paper:

Samples include kraft brown paper bags, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, stationery, flyers, cards, windowed envelopes, and telephone books. In addition, juice boxes and milk/juice cartons that have been rinsed clean can also be recycled.

Paperboard:

Samples include frozen food boxes, paperboard carrying boxes for soda and beer, cereal and other dry food boxes, notepad backs, toilet tissue cores, and corrugated boxes flattened into pieces that are no larger than 2×2 feet (no food contamination allowed).

Items that Cannot be Recycled:

No packing peanuts, plastic grocery bags, window glass, plastic utensils, motor oil, or any hazardous chemicals/materials. Please remove all lids from recyclable items and throw them in the regular garbage. Lids cannot be recycled!

The Waste Management’s refuse, recycling, and yard waste neighborhood collection schedule and map can be found

If your trash pick-up day falls on or after one of the holidays listed, your pick-up will be delayed by one day. The holidays are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.