Sustainability for Residents
Residents can take several positive steps to enhance sustainability. Learn how residents can help protect our environment and natural resources while working toward a healthier and more sustainable future.
Implement Energy Efficiency at Home
Energy Efficiency Incentives
The City of Naperville Electric Utility offers a range of rebates for residents who implement certain energy efficiency measures in their home that not only relieve demand for our energy grid but also saves the customer money on their monthly utility bill.
Incentive programs include installation of a smart thermostat, solar panels, attic insulation, high efficiency AC or heat pump, EV charging station, upgrading single pane windows, routine AC tune ups, and furnace blower motor replacement.
Check out our Sustainability Incentives and Rebates page for more information!
Replace Light Bulbs with LEDs
By switching your light bulbs to LEDs, you can save energy and money on your utility bills. In fact, LED light bulbs use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and 50% less energy than compact fluorescents. LED light bulbs also last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, which means you don’t have to change your light bulbs quite as often.
Visit the Community Services Department in the Municipal Center (400 S. Eagle St.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up free LED light bulbs for your home.
Please note: free LED light bulbs are available for residents of incorporated Naperville with a limit of four light bulbs per household. Please bring a copy or screenshot of your Naperville utility bill as proof of residence.
Water Conservation Measures
Collect Water in a Rain Barrel
Have you ever thought about a rain barrel to provide a free irrigation option? Rain barrels capture rainwater from your roof for reuse in watering gardens. Rainwater is better for plants and soil because it is free from the salts, ions and fluoride found in tap water. Just as importantly, rain barrels capture water that otherwise would run off and could harm streams and rivers. Order a rain barrel anytime with The Conservation Foundation or you can order one for pick up during the Arbor Day Tree Sale.
Consider Low-Flow Fixtures
Low-flow fixtures include toilets, faucets, and shower heads that use less water per minute than standard and outdated fixtures. Low-flow fixtures can decrease water usage by about 30% depending on the fixture, saving water, energy, and money on your utility bill.
Sustainable Landscaping
Plant a Tree
Each year, the City hosts an Arbor Day Tree Sale, in which residents can choose from a number of species including maples, oaks and elms for use in beautifying their yards and sustaining the environment.
Cultivate a Beautiful Yard Without Pesticides
Studies show that the use of lawn chemicals can have environmental and health ramifications. These chemicals can contaminate surface and groundwater, affect outdoor and indoor air quality, and threaten the health of pets and wildlife. Alternative approaches include:
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn to act as a natural fertilizer. Overseed to fill in existing bare spots in the late summer or early fall. This approach will prevent weeds from taking over these spaces in the spring. Aerate your soil to facilitate healthy grass growth.
- Replace turf grass with native and deep-rooted plants.
- Keep your mower blade setting at least 2-3 inches tall to allow your grass to develop deeper, more drought-resistant roots.
- View ideas and resources can help achieve a beautiful yard while also caring for the environment.
Consider Installing a Native Planting Pollinator Garden
Have you considered using native plants in your landscaping? Join the many homeowners who have incorporated native plants into their landscapes to create beautiful outdoor spaces, invite birds and butterflies to their yards, reduce their use of water, fertilizers and pesticides and protect our rivers. The Conservation Foundation’s Conservation@Home program offers free advice and ideas to help eliminate chemical use, incorporate earth-friendly landscaping and create native gardens.
You can also register your pollinator garden for the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
You can also register your pollinator garden for the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge.
Create a Monarch Waystation
The City encourages residents to plant habitats for monarch butterflies, which are in desperate need of suitable places to lay eggs. Habitats that meet criteria established by Monarch Watch can become certified as a Monarch Waystation.
How to Create a Monarch Waystation
Participate in No Mow 'til Mother's Day
By waiting to pull out their lawnmowers and refraining from the use of pesticides and herbicides, residents allow early flowering plants to grow, providing a critical food source for newly emerged pollinators and supporting the development of healthy urban ecosystems.
Registered participants will be exempt from ordinances governing "weeds" and grass height until the Saturday following Mother’s Day with the display of a printable No Mow ‘til Mother’s Day participation sign, similar to a building permit. The 2025 program will open to new registrations April 1, 2025.
Consider an Electric Lawn Equipment Rebate
This popular program, introduced in 2022, provides a $50 rebate to residents who purchase a battery-powered electric lawn mower, snow blower, leaf blower, trimmer, edger or manually powered reel lawn mower. Participants are eligible for one rebate per household per calendar year, and rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Naperville’s electric lawn equipment rebate will reopen on April 1, 2025, offering $50 rebates to eligible residents who purchase a battery-powered electric lawn mower, snow blower, leaf blower, trimmer, edger or manually powered reel lawn mower. Learn more on our Sustainability Incentives and Rebates page.
Use Green Products
Looking to green up more than just your cleaning arsenal? The nonprofit Environmental Working Group reviews, rates and provides recommendations on a wide range of products including cosmetics, food and water filters.
Check your County’s Sustainability Resources
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- DuPage County sustainability resources
- Will County sustainability resources
- Earth911 recycling and sustainability resources
Recycle the Right Way
One simple way to reduce your environmental impact is recycling at home. But to do it right, it’s important to recycle the approved items and keep all non-recyclables out of your recycling bin. When recycling, remember to
- Recycle clean bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard,
- Keep food and liquids OUT of your recycling bin,
- Don't put your recyclables in plastic bags in your recycling bin. (Loose plastic bags are NOT recyclable, either.)
The following is a complete list of items you CAN recycle in your residential recycling bin:
- Bottles: glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 (#6 plastic is not accepted)
- Cans: aluminum cans, foil and trays, tin or steel cans, empty aerosol cans and paint cans
- Paper: newspaper, advertisements, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, phone books, books, office paper, sticky notes, gift wrap, paper bags (NOTE: shredded paper is NOT recyclable and should be placed in your garbage cart.)
- Cardboard: corrugated cardboard boxes, frozen food boxes, gift boxes, tissue boxes, cereal boxes
- Other: plastic 6-pack rings, empty milk cartons and drink boxes
The City also offers free drop-off recycling services for Naperville residents at the Environmental Collection Campus, 156 Fort Hill Drive, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you have questions about whether an item can be recycled, please call the City's waste and recycling provider Groot Industries at 630-892-9294 or visit naperville.groot.com and use the Waste Wizard to search the item in question.
Recycle Your Holiday Lights
The Electronics Recycling Center accepts holiday lights for recycling year-round from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at 156 Fort Hill Drive. Accepted lights include mini lights (Italian lights) as well as C7, C9, rope and LED lights in all colors and lengths as well as extension cords.
Electronic Waste
Electronics are accepted for recycling at the City of Naperville’s Environmental Collection Campus, 156 Fort Hill Drive, on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents are required to stay in their vehicle while staff unload the items for recycling. Collection is sponsored by eWorks ESI through a partnership with DuPage County. Questions about this collection point should be directed to eWorks at (217) 364-7543. Learn more about accepted items on the Electronics Recycling page.
Household Hazardous Waste
The Household Hazardous Waste facility in Naperville is open and available to all residents of Illinois at no charge. Household hazardous waste items are materials purchased for cleaning or maintaining a home. Business waste is not accepted. Learn more about accepted items on the Household Hazardous Waste Facility page.
The Household Hazardous Waste Facility is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is located at 156 Fort Hill Drive.