Residents can drop off food scraps and clothing at convenient locations to support sustainability. Food scraps will be collected at the Compost Site, 91st Street and Wolf’s Crossing Road, one of two locations, from June 2 through Aug 29, 2025. (PN File Photo)
The City of Naperville, in partnership with several area organizations, is providing residents with two new recycling opportunities to further the community’s commitment to sustainability.
The Food Scrap Composting Program and Clothing and Textile Recycling Program will run from Mon., June 2, to Fri., Aug. 29. The temporary addition of these two free programs open to Naperville residents supports the City’s goal of providing easy and convenient ways to recycle.
“Residents have more opportunities than ever to make sustainable choices, thanks to increased awareness, innovative ideas, and support from local organizations such as the ones we are partnering with for these two new recycling programs,” said Naperville Sustainability Manager Ben Mjolsness. “We’re grateful to these organizations as well as the residents who help create a more sustainable community by participating in all of the recycling options the City provides.”
Food Scrap Composting Program
The City again has partnered with its refuse and recycling contractor, Groot Industries, to reduce the amount of food waste sent to landfills with the free Food Scrap Composting Program. Building on the 2024 pilot program, this year’s program again offers two accessible drop-off locations at the CNG Station, 1720 W. Jefferson Ave., and the City-owned parking lot at 91st Street and Wolf’s Crossing Road for residents to drop off food scraps.
Only food scraps will be accepted at both locations. Acceptable items include fruits, vegetables, pastas, breads, crackers, meat/bones and cereals. Food waste must be free from packaging and produce stickers. Residents should bring their food scraps in their own containers and empty them into the marked bins, which Groot will regularly empty and process the materials for compost. The bins will be available to Naperville residents every day at all times and should not be removed from the drop-off site. Residents must transport materials to the drop-off site themselves.
Unlike the 2024 pilot program, yard waste, including grass clippings, will not be permitted in the compost bins at either drop-off location. This change helps maintain the quality of composted material and ensures that unaccepted items do not impact the data collected, which could ultimately affect the program’s evaluation.
The program’s success will be evaluated to determine its continuation or potential expansion in the future. More information about the Food Scrap Composting Program, including guidelines on accepted materials and a map of drop-off locations, is available on the City’s website at naperville.il.us/food-scrap-compost.
Clothing and Textile Recycling
The City has also partnered with DuPage County, eWorks and RewearAble to collect clothing and textiles for reuse and recycling. Naperville residents can drop off accepted items at the City’s Environmental Collection Campus, 156 Fort Hill Drive, on weekdays from 7AM to 3PM. The program’s success will be evaluated to determine whether it will continue.
Accepted items include clothing, shoes, sheets, bedding, towels and other household textiles in worn condition. Shoes must be matched and tied or banded together. Items should be bagged or boxed but not tied or taped closed. Items not able to be reused will be repurposed into cleaning/painting rags, or reused in insulation, packing material and/or carpeting. Due to processing limitations, heavily soiled and/or wet items, pillows, pet beds and curtains will not be accepted. A complete list of acceptable and unacceptable items is available at naperville.il.us/textile-recycling.
To learn more about the program, including information about RewearAble, a nonprofit clothing recycling program that provides sustainable employment for adults with disabilities, and other recycling programs offered through the City of Naperville and DuPage County, visit naperville.il.us/textile-recycling.
