Downtown Geneva is going green with new dedicated recycling containers being installed on South Third Street this week as part of a new pilot program.

Shopping and dining patrons will be able to conveniently recycle empty bottles and aluminum cans at each cross street from James to South streets. The Third Street containers – five decorative blue metal cans and five Lakeshore Recycling Systems carts – will include signage to notify the public that the receptacles should only be used for recycling.

Cups, liquids, soiled food containers, pizza boxes, and other refuse need to be thrown into the trash to avoid contaminating the recycling containers.

Following discussion from City leaders and Geneva’s Natural Resources Committee earlier this year, the City Council approved a pilot program to add the recycling containers to the Third Street corridor. The program, developed with input from the committee, helps the City advance important aspects of the environmental stewardship objectives included in the City’s 2025 Strategic Plan.  

City staff and the committee will be evaluating the program’s effectiveness in the coming months. If the downtown recycling endeavor proves to be successful, the Geneva City Council could consider additional funding in the future.