Naperville, IL – As residents begin cleaning up after holiday celebrations, the City of Naperville is reminding households to properly sort trash and recyclable items to avoid contamination and missed pickups this week.
According to the City of Naperville, most gift wrapping paper, paper packaging, and cardboard boxes can be recycled through the city’s curbside recycling program. These materials may also be dropped off at the Naperville Recycling Drop-Off Center for residents who prefer to recycle outside of normal pickup schedules.
City officials emphasized that separating trash and recycling into different piles during cleanup can help streamline disposal and ensure recyclable materials are processed correctly. Cardboard boxes should be broken down before being placed in recycling carts or drop-off bins.
The city also noted that holiday string lights should not be placed in curbside recycling bins. Instead, residents can recycle old or broken holiday lights year-round at Naperville’s Electronics Recycling Center. This helps prevent damage to recycling equipment and keeps hazardous materials out of landfills.
Improper recycling—such as including plastic-coated wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, or food-contaminated materials—can cause entire loads to be rejected. Officials encourage residents to check labels and remove non-paper decorations before recycling wrapping paper.
The reminder comes as recycling volumes typically increase in late December and early January due to gift packaging, shipping boxes, and decorations. City leaders say following proper guidelines helps reduce waste and supports Naperville’s broader environmental sustainability goals.
Residents looking for full recycling rules, drop-off hours, and accepted materials can find detailed information on the city’s website at naperville.il.us/garbagerecycling.
Have holiday recycling questions or noticed missed pickups in your neighborhood? City officials encourage residents to report issues directly through municipal service channels.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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