County Recycling Events
Upcoming 2026 Event Dates
November 7, Pumpkin Smash & Recycle, Village of South Elgin Dept. of Public Works, 1000 Bowes Rd., South Elgin, 9am – noon, pumpkins and other compostable fall decor, LED and fluorescent lamps, batteries, ink jet cartridges (see details below)
- Want to see if there's another Pumpkin Smash closer to you? Full list here.
December 5, "Electronics and More" pop-up, in front of Ace Hardware, 994 N. Lake St., Aurora, 9am -noon, electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes, & apparel, books and paper, batteries
Next Event Details
Pumpkin Smash & Recycle
Saturday, Nov. 7, 9am - noon at South Elgin Dept. of Public Works, 1000 Bowes Rd.
Free and open to all Kane County residents. Bring your carved and whole pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and corn bunches. Please see preparation instructions below.
We will also collect:
- household batteries (max. weight of 11 pounds per battery - no car/marine/large back-up batteries)
- fluorescent and LED light bulbs (max size: 4' tubes - no 6' or 8' tubes, no fixtures)
- ink jet printer cartridges (small, from home ink jet printers, no toner cartridges)
Pumpkin instructions:
- Spray painted pumpkins should go in trash - small to moderate amounts of craft paint are ok
- Remove candles and all misc. decor (yarn, stickers, etc.)
- Remove twine and/or wire from corn stalks and bunches
- No hay bales please
