Recycling may be affected by coronavirus-related staffing issues

Even trash pickup is changing due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kane County recycling coordinator Jennifer Jarland warned Monday that haulers who serve area residents are contemplating changes, citing staffing shortages.

Some are considering co-mingling recyclables and trash, Jarland said.

The companies also are looking at co-mingling yard waste and trash, she said, instead of running separate trucks.

And Waste Management has told her it will only pick up materials that are in garbage cans or carts. Large items put out at the curb will not be picked up, Jarland said.

Jarland suggests residents should check with their city, or with their garbage hauler, for updates. She also is posting updates at countyofkane.org,

In the meantime, the hazardous household waste recycling facility in Naperville, which is the designated drop-off for Kane County, has been closed.

Kane has closed its drop-off electronic and textiles recycling sites in West Dundee and Batavia until the state's shelter-in-place order is lifted.

The April 11 electronics, books and textiles drive at the Kane County Branch Court parking lot in St. Charles has been canceled, as has the April 25 paper-shredding drive.

The dropbox for unused pharmaceuticals, and the one for needles, at the Kane County Coroner's office, has been closed.