Recycling 101

Recycling 101

Join LRS in Protecting the Planet

Consistent recycling is vital for long-term sustainability, but recycling the right way is just as important. We invite you to learn the fundamentals of recycling and practice them with us!
Earth Day is coming!

See details below for LRS facility tours!

JOIN US!

Tour LRS’ state-of-the-art
Material Recovery Facility

Earth Day: April 22nd, 2024

Join us on a one-hour tour of our state-of-the-art Exchange Material Recovery Facility

Limited space available!

Sign up begins March 22nd at 9:00 AM Central Time!

Recycling Resources

Wondering what you can and can’t recycle? We’ve got answers!

BIG NEWS!

Paper Cups Can Now Be Included in Your Recycling Bin

Got paper cups? Let’s recycle them! As LRS continues to build a more sustainable future, we’re proud to announce a partnership with the Food Packaging Institute that allows us to accept paper cups for recycling in five Illinois counties:

  • Cook
  • DeKalb
  • DuPage
  • Kane
  • Lake

This new initiative – effective June 26, 2023 – will allow us to divert more materials away from landfills—a huge win for the environment. So, how can you help? It’s easy. Just make sure there is no food or liquid residue inside your paper cups when putting them in your curbside recycling bin, and please do not include any lids or straws with the cups. As always, thank you for recycling!

The Journey of a Can

Wondering how the cans you drink from make it to your refrigerator? Let us tell you!

Additional Recycling Guides

Dig into our helpful charts and guides to learn the best practices for reducing, reusing, and recycling.

  • The Waste and Recycling Process: From customer sorting to the repurposing of materials, this is the template for a healthier planet.

  • Going Green is a Choice: Go behind the scenes and see how LRS is taking the lead when it comes to recycling and sustainability.

  • What to Compost: This handy visual chart shows you which items can be used for composting—nature’s way of recycling.

  • Residential Waste and Recycling Cart Sizes: See the dimensions and sizes of our carts that are available for waste, recycling, and yard waste collection.

Find LRS services in your area

If service is not available, please contact us or call 844-NEED-LRS

Recycling FAQ

To request a recycling service quote for your home or business please click here. You can also call us at 844-NEED-LRS. Please provide you service address, phone number and details on kind of service you are looking for. One of our representatives will contact you regarding your request.

Different municipalities might have different requirements on type of containers. To learn more please Contact Us or call us at 844-NEED-LRS. One of our representatives will contact you regarding answering your questions about container type requirements and size of recycling containers.

Different municipalities might have different requirements on what can be collected, this could differ by state and county. To learn more please Contact Us or call us at 844-NEED-LRS. One of our representatives will provide needed clarification and direction on local recycling requirements.

LRS e-waste collection differs based on the municipality contracts. This includes special collection for electronics requiring different handling than garbage or curbside recyclables. Some e-Waste collections require customers to submit requests during specific collection months. Please see your municipalities Electronics Collection Schedule and associated monthly request deadline. For additional questions on e-Waste collection service please call us at 844-NEED-LRS or Contact Us.

Hazardous waste is waste that has substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. They usually have one or more of the following hazardous traits: ignitability, reactivity, corrosively, toxicity. LRS does not have a drop off facility for HHW. Some LRS municipal contracts state has option to service HHW. Please see your municipalities Hazardous Waste collection details and schedule. For additional questions on e-Waste collection service please call us at 844-NEED-LRS or Contact Us.

View the latest service updates from LRS

Additional Services

Residential Recycling Collection
Step up to waste & recycling collection that’s on time, on point, and on a mission for the planet. With LRS, your pickups bring zero stress and full peace of mind.
Business Recycling Collection
When you trust your business’s recycling collection to LRS, first-class service and industry-leading sustainability become routine.
Core value
Sustainability
We’re proud to be reducing consumption, diverting material away from landfills, and consistently working to improve our planet’s long-term viability. But, that’s just the beginning…