Solid Waste Agency of Lake County

Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL (SWALCO)
In 1989, Lake County became the first county in Illinois to adopt a solid waste management plan in compliance with the Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) was formed in 1991 to implement the Lake County Solid Waste Management Plan, and currently is comprised of members from 41 communities, as well as Lake County and Great Lakes NTC, representing at least 85% of the county's population.

2021 Garden Learning Series Schedule 

  • Seed Starting (Feb. 10)
  • Successful Vegetable Gardening: Tips and Resources to Lead you to Success in your Garden (Mar. 10)
  • Successful Vegetable Gardening: Beyond Basics Master Gardeners will Share Research-Based Methods and Practices to up your Garden Game! (Apr. 14)
  • Composting Basics (May 12)
  • The Vegetable Garden's Planted: Now What? Garden Maintenance Best Practices (June 9)
  • Adaptive Gardening: Gardening for Life (July 14)

Recycle First. Trash Last.

SWALCO Campaign Overview

Recycle Campaign Poster

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) has begun a new county-wide campaign to increase recycling levels. The campaign is called "Recycle First. Trash Last." According to the campaign's overview, "There's an interesting opportunity in recycling's life cycle to begin to transition the mindset from one of pulling recyclables out of the trash, to, ideally, pulling the trash out of recycling. This campaign puts the priority on recycling first...and defining what's left...as trash...and visualizing 'trash' as nearly (ideally) non-existing. More than just something not to send to the landfill, recycling becomes a valuable resource. Recycling first and trashing last makes the act of reclaiming these resources a proactive part of people's everyday habits.

For more information on the recycling campaign and items that can be recycled, visit Recycling First Trash Last Website.

Recycle First. Trash Last. Recycling Guidelines (English and Spanish)

More Information
Visit the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County website for more information.
For Grayslake specific information visit the Grayslake - Neighborhood Programs page.


Village Recycling Programs

Curbside Recycling

The Village's current residential waste hauler provides a green recycling container for curbside recycling. The Village added an option for residents to upgrade from a 65-gallon can to a 96- gallong can at no cost. Residents wishing to take part in the program can register with the Request for Service System between January 1 and February 15. Visit the Recycling Can Exchange Program for more details.

Recycling Center

The Village is currently operating the Recycling Center, located the Grayslake Public Works Facility (at the end of Berry Avenue, east of Route 83). The Center is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and accepts newspapers, aluminum cans, cardboard, washed glass, and plastic.

Electronics Recycling

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County provides an electronics collection bin at the Grayslake Public Works facility. Open hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Accepted Items Include: Televisions, Monitors, Computers (including laptop and tablet), Printers, Keyboards, Mice, Fax Machines, Scanners, Small Scale Servers, VHS/DVD/DVR/CD (players and recorders), Game Systems, Cable and Satellite Receivers, Hard Drives, Telephones, Cameras, Shredders and Holiday Lights

If you questions regarding the Village's recycling programs, please contact the Request for Service System at (847) 223-8515.