Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Arlington Heights
In Illinois, garbage and recycling services run on weekly zone-based routes. Exact pickup days vary by local municipality and private hauler.
State Mandate
Electronics and landscape waste are strictly banned from landfills.
Groot-issued Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must fit inside your Groot-issued cart. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day. From April to October, do not place carts out before 7:00 PM the night prior; from November to March, carts can be placed out after 4:00 PM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
Groot-issued Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the single-sort recycling cart without being bagged. Excess recyclables may be placed in a plain paper bag next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper (flattened to 2x2 ft max)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #7)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Duct tape
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in 30-gallon biodegradable Kraft paper bags or rigid 32-gallon containers weighing under 50 pounds. Standard bags require a prepaid Village landscape sticker unless using a yearly subscription cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs (under 6 inches diameter)
- ✓Approved food scraps (fruits, veggies, bread, coffee grounds)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your designated solid waste collection day
Placement
Place items curbside next to your Groot cart. Do not place bulk items in the street or block sidewalks.
Accepted
- ✓ Small furniture and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Rolled carpet (tied, under 5 feet long, under 50 lbs)
- ✓ White goods and appliances (requires a call ahead)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and remodeling debris exceeding 1 cubic yard
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Unscheduled electronics over 50 pounds
- ✕ Auto parts
Remodeling refuse and oversized items that exceed the 1 cubic yard limit or weigh more than 50 pounds are subject to a special pickup fee of $17.48 per cubic yard. White goods are free but must be scheduled by calling 800-244-1977.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday on or before your scheduled collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Landscape waste and food scrap collection strictly follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the regular collection schedule is generally not interrupted unless it is legally observed on a Monday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Duct Tape on Yard Bags
When sealing your 30-gallon Kraft paper bags for landscape waste, never use silver duct tape or plastic packing tape [1.2.1]. These materials do not decompose in the commercial composting facilities and will cause Groot collection crews to reject and leave your bags at the curb.
Keep Meat and Bones Out of Compost
While Arlington Heights encourages food scrap composting in your yard waste bins, this only applies to plant-based items like vegetables, fruits, and bread. Meat, poultry, seafood, bones, dairy liquids, and pet waste are strictly prohibited and will contaminate the compost stream.
Skip the Plastic Bags for Recyclables
Plastic grocery bags and garbage bags are the number one cause of jammed sorting machinery. Keep all your recyclables completely loose in your Groot cart. If you need to recycle plastic bags, return them to the Village Hall or local grocery stores like Mariano's.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilA Free Spring Clean-Up Week typically occurs in mid-April. During this designated week, Groot will collect up to five unstickered bags or bundles of landscape waste per household entirely for free.
Fall
Mid-October - Mid-DecemberThe Village's 2-for-1 leaf collection program runs from mid-October through mid-December, allowing residents to dispose of two 30-gallon Kraft bags of leaves using only a single prepaid landscape waste sticker.
Winter
JanuaryUnbagged, live Christmas trees stripped of all lights, ornaments, stands, and tinsel are collected for free on your regular garbage day during the first and second weeks of January. No landscape sticker is required.
About Arlington Heights Waste Management
The Arlington Heights Four-Quadrant Collection Schedule
Arlington Heights divides its weekly refuse, recycling, and landscape waste collection into four specific geographic quadrants centered around the intersection of Arlington Heights Road and Oakton Street [1.1.1]. By servicing different zones on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, Groot Industries ensures efficient routing while keeping neighborhood traffic down. Back-door service is also available for residents who prefer not to wheel their carts to the curb, though an additional premium rate applies.
Unmatched Convenience with Free At-Your-Curb Electronics Recycling
Unlike many neighboring Cook County municipalities that charge steep fees or force residents to drive to regional drop-off centers, the Village of Arlington Heights offers a highly convenient solution for electronic waste. Through the municipal contract with Groot, residents can schedule free curbside pickup for up to two electronic items per week. This includes televisions under 50 pounds. You simply need to call Groot customer service at least 24 hours in advance to get on the route sheet.
The Fall 2-for-1 Leaf Sticker Program
Managing heavy autumn foliage in the Midwest is made significantly more affordable with Arlington Heights' unique seasonal sticker discount. From mid-October through mid-December, the Village runs a highly anticipated '2-for-1' leaf collection program. During this window, residents only need to affix one prepaid landscape waste sticker for every two compostable 30-gallon bags of leaves placed at the curb, effectively cutting autumn disposal costs in half.
Discount Programs for Seniors and Military Families
The Village of Arlington Heights ensures equitable access to waste services through a comprehensive discount program. Single-family households headed by a resident aged 65 or older, households with active-duty military personnel, and low-income or disabled residents are eligible for substantially reduced monthly rates for both curbside and back-door refuse collection. Applications for these discounts are processed through the Arlington Heights Senior Center or the Village's Health & Human Services Department.
Drop-off Facilities
Arlington Heights Health and Human Services (Village Hall)
33 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Materials Accepted
SWANCC Glenview Transfer Station (Electronics Drop-off)
3 Providence Way, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old TV or computer in Arlington Heights?
Arlington Heights residents are eligible for free curbside pickup of up to two electronic items per week [1.1.3]. You simply need to contact Groot at 800-244-1977 or email [email protected] at least 24 hours before your normal collection day to schedule the pickup. TVs weighing over 50 pounds may incur a $50 fee.
Does Arlington Heights offer any discounts on garbage bills?
Yes. Single-family households with a head of household 65 or older, households with a permanently residing active-duty military member, and low-income or disabled residents qualify for discounted collection rates. You can apply for these programs through the Arlington Heights Senior Center or the Village Health & Human Services Department.
When can I put my garbage cans out by the curb?
From April through October, carts can be placed at the curb no earlier than 7:00 PM the night before your collection day. From November through March, the time is pushed up, allowing you to place carts out after 4:00 PM the night before. All carts must be removed by 8:00 AM the day after collection.
Where can I buy landscape waste stickers in Arlington Heights?
Prepaid landscape waste stickers for yard bags can be purchased at the Village Hall, the Arlington Heights Senior Center, local Jewel-Osco and Mariano's grocery stores, and several nearby Ace Hardware locations. The stickers cost $2.86 each.