Two Communities Tie for Top Curbside Recycling Rate in Kane County
The cities of Geneva and St. Charles led Kane County in curbside recycling in 2025, tying for the highest recycling rate at 28.8 percent, according to data provided to the County by waste haulers.
The Village of Gilberts followed with a 27.5 percent recycling rate, while the Village of Algonquin recorded 26.2 percent. Overall, Kane County reported a curbside recycling rate of 22.8 percent for the year. A municipal recycling rate is the gross weight of recyclables reported divided by the combined gross weight of recycling and trash.
Countywide, about 196,000 households participated in curbside waste collection programs in 2025. The waste haulers providing these services reported collecting 251,146 tons of material. That means that each household generates roughly 1.28 tons per annually, or roughly seven pounds each day. Of those seven daily pounds, on average 4.9 pounds are landfilled, 1.5 pounds are recycled, and 0.6 pounds are composted.
Curbside recycling allows residents to place accepted materials at the curb for regular collection, offering a convenient alternative to drop-off sites. In Kane County, the program uses a single-stream system, meaning recyclable materials do not need to be separated because they are sorted mechanically at a processing facility. Accepted items typically include paper, flattened cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, and plastic bottles, tubs and jugs. Materials should be empty, clean and placed loose into recycling carts.
Kane County operates drop-off centers that accept a range of recyclable materials that shouldn't go in recycling carts, including electronics and textiles.
The County also hosts special recycling events throughout the year where residents can dispose of a variety of items and during designated events, shred personal documents.
Learn more about Kane County and its recycling efforts at https://www.kanecountyil.gov/recycling
