Paper, Cardboard, & Shredded Paper

Keeping Cardboard and Paper out of the Trash!

If you have cardboard that you need to dispose of, as long as it is clean and dry, simply flatten it and place it in your recycling cart.

Keep in mind that too much cardboard in the recycling cart can create a “jam” in the cart, where when the recycling truck driver comes to empty your cart, the contents will remain stuck in your recycling cart.

Another option to dispose of your cardboard, if you are an eligible resident, is to (still flatten and) take it directly to Harter’s Fox Valley Disposal’s site, 169901 Ringle Avenue, Ringle, for free disposal.  You will need to go there during their office hours and check in at the office there.   You will be required to show your eligible address, and then they will direct you to where to go to drop off your cardboard.

As far as paper goes, a lot of people are afraid of their confidential information being seen and/or shared if placed in the recycling cart.  Please know, general recycling of paper is very safe.  When the paper reaches the recycling sorting facilities (called MRF – Material Recovery Facility), the paper is moved extremely quickly through the conveyors and different machinery/computers and the staff that assists with sorting materials along the line would have no way of reading what is on there.  The only way it becomes “unsafe” is when:

*blows out of the recycling dumpster (if the lid blows open on a windy day)

*if the driver of the recycling truck forgets to close the top door on the truck after dumping the recyclables within (then when driving down the road, papers can potentially blow out)

If you have confidential paper that you do not feel comfortable throwing in the recycling cart, and if you are able to hold on to it until the Village holds its FREE spring and fall paper shred day events.

If you feel it necessary to shred your paper, please know that shredded paper is NOT allowed in your recycling cart.  When shredded paper reaches the MRF, it essentially acts like confetti by exploding and landing all over the place, and falling into other recycling material lines, potentially contaminating those lines.

If you have shredded paper, you can either see if a local farmer will take it for bedding, if you have a garden, you can use it in your compost, take it directly to Harter's Fox Valley Disposal, or last resort, simply throw your shredded paper in the trash.

Community Paper Shredding Events

The Village of Weston is working again with IROW to host spring & fall community paper shredding events.

In 2026, the events will be held on May 20 and October 7.  Both will be behind the Weston Municipal Center, during the hours of 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  This event is open to the general public.

IROW staff will be here to collect your unwanted papers, which  will be immediately placed into their secure trucks, where following each event, will be hauled directly to their licensed facility for destruction.