Recycling Center Grayslake: Hours, Map, Moved Items & Accepted Drop-Offs
Use this Grayslake guide before you load the car. Berry Avenue still matters for electronics, textiles, shoes and food scraps, but normal household recyclables such as cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, metal cans and glass bottles or jars moved to WM Lake County Recycling Center.
Fast Answer: Berry Avenue or WM Lake County?
For Grayslake, Illinois, there are now two practical drop-off answers. Use the Village/SWALCO Grayslake Recycling Center at 585 Berry Avenue for electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes and residential food-scrap composting. Use WM Lake County Recycling Center at 30869 IL-83 for the household recyclables that moved away from Berry Avenue.
The main wasted-trip risk is bringing cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel cans and glass bottles or jars to Berry Avenue. SWALCO says those materials now go to WM Lake County Recycling Center, 30869 IL-83, during WM’s listed weekday drop-off hours.
Screenshot Guide: Grayslake Berry Avenue vs WM Moved Drop-Off
The screenshot below is placed near the decision section because Grayslake no longer has one simple “recycling center” answer. Readers first need to understand which items stay at Berry Avenue and which household recyclables moved to WM Lake County Recycling Center.
Image description: This visual helps users understand that Grayslake no longer has one simple “recycling center” answer. The Berry Avenue Public Works site still accepts electronics, textiles/shoes and food scraps, while household recyclables such as cardboard, paper, plastic containers, aluminum/steel cans and glass bottles/jars moved to the WM Lake County Recycling Center.
On This Page
- Grayslake recycling center overview
- Berry Avenue and WM hours
- Which facility should you use?
- Moved household recyclables
- Accepted at Berry Avenue
- Electronics list and limits
- Textiles, shoes and food scraps
- Not accepted at Berry Avenue
- Cost, resident and business rules
- Groot FAQ PDF details
- Holiday and schedule checks
- Before-you-go checklist
- Map and directions
- FAQ
Grayslake Recycling Center Overview
The Grayslake Recycling Center is best understood as a Village/SWALCO drop-off site at the Public Works facility, not a full household-recycling drop-off for every material. Its current value is electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes and residential food-scrap composting.
Common household recyclables now follow a separate route. SWALCO says cardboard boxes, mixed paper, plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel cans and glass bottles or jars may now be dropped off at WM Lake County Recycling Center, 30869 IL-83, Grayslake, IL 60030.
Grayslake Recycling Center Hours: Open Today, Saturday and Sunday
The Village and SWALCO list the Grayslake Public Works / Berry Avenue drop-off hours as Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. No regular Sunday or evening hours are listed for the Berry Avenue recycling drop-off.
WM Lake County Recycling Center is a different facility. SWALCO lists WM Lake County Recycling Center hours as Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM for the moved household recycling items.
| Question | Practical Answer | Before You Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Is Berry Avenue open today? | Use Monday-Friday 8 AM-3 PM or Saturday 8 AM-12 noon as the listed planning window. | Check official pages for holiday, weather or service notices. |
| Is Berry Avenue open Saturday? | Saturday is listed as 8 AM-12 noon. | Arrive early if bringing TVs, monitors or several electronics. |
| Is Berry Avenue open Sunday? | No regular Sunday hours are listed. | Plan a weekday or Saturday morning trip. |
| When is WM open for moved recyclables? | SWALCO lists WM Lake County Recycling Center Monday-Friday 7 AM-3 PM. | Use WM for cardboard, paper, plastic containers, metal cans and glass bottles/jars. |
Address, Map and Which Facility to Choose
Use 585 Berry Avenue, Grayslake, IL 60030 for the Village/SWALCO Public Works drop-off. Use 30869 IL-83, Grayslake, IL 60030 for the moved household recycling route. These are different locations, so do not drive to Berry Avenue with a full load of cardboard, paper, cans or glass.
| Facility | Address | Use It For | Listed Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grayslake Public Works / Village Recycling Center | 585 Berry Avenue, Grayslake, IL 60030 | Electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes and food scraps. | Mon-Fri 8 AM-3 PM; Sat 8 AM-noon. |
| WM Lake County Recycling Center | 30869 IL-83, Grayslake, IL 60030 | Cardboard boxes, mixed paper, plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel cans and glass bottles/jars. | Mon-Fri 7 AM-3 PM. |
Important Update: Household Recycling Items Moved
SWALCO says the public recycling drop-off for several common household recyclables moved away from the Village of Grayslake Recycling Center effective October 1, 2025. The current practical rule is simple: normal household recycling items now go to WM, not Berry Avenue.
| Material | Berry Avenue Now? | Correct Current Route | Resident Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard boxes | No longer accepted at the Village Grayslake Recycling Center. | WM Lake County Recycling Center, 30869 IL-83. | Flatten boxes before drop-off. |
| Mixed paper / paper / newspapers | No longer accepted at Berry Avenue. | WM Lake County Recycling Center. | Keep paper dry and free from trash. |
| Plastic containers | No longer accepted at Berry Avenue. | WM Lake County Recycling Center. | Empty and rinse containers. |
| Aluminum and steel cans | No longer accepted at Berry Avenue. | WM Lake County Recycling Center. | Empty cans before drop-off. |
| Glass bottles and jars / washed glass | No longer accepted at Berry Avenue. | WM Lake County Recycling Center. | Remove food residue and avoid broken glass. |
Accepted Drop-Offs at the Grayslake Berry Avenue Site
The Berry Avenue site continues to collect electronics through SWALCO. SWALCO and the Village also list clothing, textiles, shoes and food waste for composting at the Grayslake Public Works location.
Electronics Accepted at Grayslake Recycling Center
The Village accepted-electronics list includes many common home electronics. SWALCO also lists the Grayslake site as no cost for Lake County residents, businesses prohibited, and limited to seven items per visit, with no limit on miscellaneous cords and cables.
| Accepted Electronics Examples | Local Tip |
|---|---|
| Televisions and monitors | Bring help for heavy screens and do not dump outside posted hours. |
| Computers, laptops and tablets | Back up files, sign out and wipe personal data first. |
| Printers, keyboards, mice, fax machines, scanners and small servers | Remove paper, loose packaging and non-electronic trash before loading. |
| VHS/DVD/DVR/CD players and recorders, game systems, cable/satellite receivers | Keep cords bundled so unloading is faster and safer. |
| Hard drives, phones, cameras, shredders and holiday lights | Keep small items in a box so they do not fall out during unloading. |
Textiles, Shoes and Food-Scrap Composting
SWALCO lists clothing, textiles, shoes and food waste for composting at the Grayslake Public Works Facility. SWALCO’s food-scrap listing gives the Grayslake Recycling Center address as 585 Berry Avenue and lists Monday-Friday 8 AM-3 PM and Saturday 8 AM-12 PM, excluding holidays.
| Food-Scrap Item | Drop-Off Guidance | Keep Out |
|---|---|---|
| Fruits, vegetables, breads, grains, pasta, cereal | Accepted in SWALCO’s residential food-scrap guidance. | Do not mix with plastic bags or styrofoam. |
| Eggshells, dairy with no liquids, leftovers and kitchen scraps | Keep liquids out and use a clean container for transport. | No grease, oil or liquids. |
| Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags, meat, seafood, shells and bones | These are listed as accepted food-scrap examples. | No glass, metal, diapers or pet waste. |
| Paper towels, paper plates, napkins, grass cuttings and garden waste | Accepted according to SWALCO’s posted food-scrap list. | No soil, rocks, cement, bricks, rubber bands or twist ties. |
Items Not Accepted at the Berry Avenue Electronics Collection
The Village not-accepted list is important because many residents assume every battery, bulb, appliance or chemical can go with electronics. Batteries, fluorescent bulbs, appliances, lighting fixtures, AC units, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, smoke/fire detectors, paint, liquids, chemical waste, packaging materials and broken glass are not accepted in the electronics collection.
| Not Accepted at Electronics Drop-Off | Why It Causes Problems | Better Action |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries, including alkaline, non-rechargeable and lead acid | Batteries need separate safe handling and can create fire or chemical risk. | Use SWALCO battery guidance, household chemical waste options or approved retailers. |
| Fluorescent bulbs | Bulbs can break and may contain hazardous material. | Use a SWALCO-approved bulb or household chemical waste route. |
| Small/large appliances, AC units, refrigerators and dehumidifiers | These are not part of the electronics collection and may involve appliance or refrigerant rules. | Use appliance, bulky-item, hauler or SWALCO guidance. |
| Paint, liquids and chemical waste | They can spill, react or contaminate the drop-off area. | Use household chemical waste disposal options. |
| Packaging materials and broken glass | They contaminate electronics collection and create handling risk. | Remove packaging before arriving and dispose of broken glass safely. |
Cost, Resident Rule and Business Restriction
SWALCO lists the Grayslake electronics drop-off as no cost for Lake County residents. Businesses are prohibited, and the posted electronics rule limits residents to seven items per visit, with no limit on miscellaneous cords and cables.
Official Groot FAQ PDF: What Changed After October 1, 2025?
The Village Groot FAQ is useful because it explains why the Berry Avenue answer changed. It says the recycling center remains open, but accepted items changed: electronics recycling, shoe/textile collection and food-scrap drop-off remain, while home-recyclable items are no longer accepted there.
| PDF Detail | User-Friendly Meaning | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Berry Avenue remains open, but accepted items changed. | The center did not close; it became more limited. | Use Berry Avenue for electronics, textiles/shoes and food scraps only. |
| Cardboard, paper, glass and other household recyclables moved to WM. | The old “bring everything recyclable to Berry” habit can waste a trip. | Use WM Lake County Recycling Center at 30869 N Route 83 / IL-83. |
| WM facility is listed Monday-Friday, 7 AM-3 PM. | Moved recyclables are weekday-only in the official PDF language. | Do not plan a Saturday/Sunday WM trip unless official WM/SWALCO updates say otherwise. |
| Green Package composting remains available at $175/year with a separate 35-gallon cart. | This is a curbside subscription, separate from the Berry Avenue food-scrap drop-off. | Use the Village/Groot page if you want weekly curbside organics collection. |
| One bulk item per week remains, and bulk should not be set out earlier than 6 PM the night before service day. | Bulk curbside rules are separate from recycling-center drop-off rules. | Use the Groot/Village curbside rules instead of bringing bulk items to Berry Avenue. |
Holiday, Weather and Schedule Checks
SWALCO’s food-scrap drop-off listing says the Grayslake food-scrap site excludes holidays. The Village and SWALCO pages should be checked before holiday weeks, severe weather, road work or special local service updates, especially when bringing electronics or food scraps.
How to Prepare Before Visiting Grayslake Recycling Center
- Sort by destination first. Electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes and food scraps may use Berry Avenue. Cardboard, mixed paper, cans, plastic containers and glass bottles/jars now use WM Lake County Recycling Center.
- Check today’s hours. Berry Avenue is listed Monday-Friday 8 AM-3 PM and Saturday 8 AM-noon. WM is listed Monday-Friday 7 AM-3 PM for moved household recyclables.
- Use the correct map. Berry Avenue and WM Lake County Recycling Center are different locations in Grayslake.
- Count electronics. SWALCO lists a seven-item limit per visit for electronics, with no limit on miscellaneous cords and cables.
- Remove non-electronic trash. Packaging materials and broken glass are not accepted in the electronics collection.
- Keep batteries, chemicals and bulbs out. These require separate disposal routes and should not be mixed with electronics.
- Separate food scraps. Do not mix food scraps with bags, glass, metal cans, electronics, textiles or household trash.
- Never dump outside posted hours. Unattended dumping can create safety, contamination and enforcement problems.
Map to Grayslake Recycling Drop-Off Locations
The map below is for the Berry Avenue/Public Works drop-off location. If your load is cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel cans or glass bottles/jars, use the WM Lake County Recycling Center directions button instead.
Independent guide note: Recycling-Centre.org is not the official Village of Grayslake, SWALCO, Groot or WM Lake County Recycling Center website. Hours, accepted items, moved-item rules, resident limits, holiday notices and service details can change. Always verify with the official Village or SWALCO page before visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recycling Center Grayslake
Where is the Grayslake Recycling Center?
The Village/SWALCO Grayslake Recycling Center is at the Grayslake Public Works Facility, 585 Berry Avenue, Grayslake, IL 60030. The Village describes the site as being at the end of Berry Avenue, east of Route 83.
What are Grayslake Recycling Center hours?
Berry Avenue is listed Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
Is Grayslake Recycling Center open Sunday?
No regular Sunday hours are listed for the Berry Avenue recycling drop-off. Plan a weekday or Saturday morning visit unless the Village or SWALCO posts a special update.
What is still accepted at Berry Avenue?
Berry Avenue continues to accept electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes and residential food waste for composting, based on Village and SWALCO guidance.
Can I bring cardboard to Grayslake Recycling Center?
No. SWALCO says cardboard boxes moved away from the Village Grayslake Recycling Center. Use WM Lake County Recycling Center at 30869 IL-83 instead.
Where do paper, plastic, cans and glass go now?
SWALCO says mixed paper, plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel cans and glass bottles/jars may now be dropped off at WM Lake County Recycling Center, 30869 IL-83, Grayslake, IL 60030.
What are WM Lake County Recycling Center hours for moved items?
SWALCO lists WM Lake County Recycling Center hours as Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM for the moved household recycling items.
What electronics are accepted in Grayslake?
Accepted examples include TVs, monitors, computers, laptops/tablets, printers, keyboards, mice, fax machines, scanners, small servers, media players, game systems, receivers, hard drives, phones, cameras, shredders and holiday lights.
Are batteries accepted at Grayslake electronics drop-off?
No. The Village not-accepted list includes batteries, including alkaline, non-rechargeable and lead-acid batteries. Use a separate approved battery recycling or disposal route instead.
Is Grayslake electronics recycling free?
SWALCO lists the Grayslake electronics drop-off as no cost for Lake County residents. Businesses are prohibited.
How many electronics can I drop off?
SWALCO lists a limit of seven items per visit, with no limit on miscellaneous cords and cables.
Does Berry Avenue accept food scraps?
Yes. SWALCO lists residential food-scrap drop-off at the Grayslake Recycling Center, 585 Berry Avenue, during posted hours, excluding holidays.
What food scraps can go in the Grayslake food-scrap drop-off?
SWALCO lists items such as fruits, vegetables, breads, grains, pasta, cereal, eggshells, dairy with no liquids, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, meat, seafood, bones, paper towels, paper plates, napkins, grass cuttings, leaves and garden waste.
What should stay out of food scraps?
Keep out glass, metal, styrofoam, plastic bags, plastic of any kind, liquids, grease, oil, diapers, pet litter/waste, rubber bands, twist ties, soil, rocks, cement and bricks.
Final Local Summary
For Recycling Center Grayslake, use 585 Berry Avenue for electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes and food scraps. The listed Berry Avenue hours are Monday-Friday 8 AM-3 PM and Saturday 8 AM-12 noon.
For cardboard boxes, mixed paper, plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel cans and glass bottles/jars, use WM Lake County Recycling Center, 30869 IL-83. SWALCO lists WM drop-off hours as Monday-Friday 7 AM-3 PM.