City Set to Host Two Clean-up Events on Earth Day

Published on April 20, 2026

The City of Aurora is set to host two significant clean-up events on Saturday, April 25, to commemorate Earth Day.

The City’s Community Engagement Division will be spearheading Aurora’s first-ever City-wide clean-up event from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. throughout all 10 of the City’s Wards.

Each Ward will have one specific clean up location, as hundreds of volunteers are expected to join Mayor John Laesch in beautifying the community. The day of service will kick off at 8:30 A.M. on the Water Street Mall, located in front of Aurora City Hall, as volunteers will be greeted with coffee and donuts, plus pick up materials to begin the clean-up effort.

“This event is an exciting opportunity for residents and staff to come together, celebrate neighborhood pride, and make a lasting, meaningful impact across Aurora while helping build a cleaner, stronger, and more connected community,” Community Engagement Manager Iliana Rivera-Núñez said.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up utilizing the City’s new volunteer portal at volunteers.aurora.il.us.

That same morning, the City’s Property Standards Division will be hosting its annual free Spring Electronics Recycling Drive-Thru event, taking place from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Metra Route 59 Train Station, located at 1090 N. IL Route 59.

The free event, which is open to Aurora residents only and requires registration, is set to draw over 2,000 people and provides the community with a safe, efficient, and convenient opportunity to recycle older electronics. Each vehicle is limited to two screens — either televisions or computer screens — but can have an unlimited number of other electronics to be recycled.

“This serves as one of the most popular events of the year here in Aurora,” Director of Property Standards Josue Alcaraz said. “We appreciate being able to provide this service to the community and look forward to helping all residents safely dispose of older electronics, helping to sustain our environment.”

Accepted electronics at the event will include cables, cable boxes, cameras, cash registers, cell phones, copiers, cords, DVD players, fax machines, keyboards, laptops, printers, print cartridges, projectors, radios, satellite dishes, stereos, typewriters, VCRs, and video games.

Accepted household items at the event will include blenders, bread makers, carpet sweepers, coffee makers, clocks, curling irons, electric knives, electric toothbrushes, fans, fryers, hair cutters, hair dryers, heaters, holiday lights, irons, landline phones, metal tools, mixers, remotes, shaving equipment, toaster ovens, and vacuum cleaners without bags.

Items that will not be accepted include large appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, washers, and dryers, batteries of any type, air conditioners, ballasts, bare CRT tubes, capacitors, carbon monoxide detectors, dehumidifiers, light bulbs, liquids, microwaves, salvaged units, smoke detectors, VHS cassette tapes, wood speakers, medical equipment, and any material that is considered or has come in contact with biohazard or radioactive materials.

For more information on Aurora’s Spring Electronics Recycling Drive-Thru, please visit www.aurora.il.us/ElectronicsRecycling.