Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Aurora
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood section.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash.
Yard Waste
Collected on your regular trash day from the first Monday in April through the first Friday in December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash collection is contracted through Groot and billed quarterly, while municipal water and sewer services are billed bi-monthly by the City of Aurora.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior citizens (age 65+) and eligible disabled residents can apply for water rate and utility tax rebates, as well as a specialized senior orange bag garbage program.
Green or Black (varies; 35, 65, or 95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Lids must be fully closed. Extra bags (max 32 gallons / 50 lbs) require a $2.75 waste sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Cold ashes
Blue or Green with specialized lid (35 or 65-gallon cart) Bin (Recycling)
Items should be loose, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables. Extra recyclables can be placed in separate max 25-gallon containers without a sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Use 30-gallon Kraft paper bags (max 50 lbs) with a $2.75 sticker (except during free leaf pickup). Brush must be bundled, max 4 ft long and 50 lbs, requiring no sticker from April through November.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Twigs
- ✓Branches (under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular collection day
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb along with your regular trash by 6:00 a.m., ensuring one valid waste sticker is visible on each large item or bundle.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Small rolls of carpeting
- ✓ Bundled construction debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Vehicle tires
Each bulk item or bundle requires one $2.75 garbage sticker. Appliances also require one sticker but must be scheduled in advance with Groot by calling 630-892-9294.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on or before your scheduled collection day, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling during the active season.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on Friday; if the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday. Your garbage pickup will be affected by the day the holiday is observed.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
October - December; AprilGroot collects yard waste bags containing leaves for free (no sticker required) during a two-week period in the Spring and a six-week period in the Fall. Exact dates are announced annually.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected during the first two full weeks of January. Trees must be free of all decorations, bags, and stands. Wreaths with wire frames must be stickered as regular trash.
Winter
December - MarchDuring significant snowfall, keep trash carts at the end of your driveway rather than in the street to allow city plows to clear snow safely and efficiently.
Local Tips & Community Info
Aurora Refuse Collection Guide
Living in the City of Lights means taking advantage of the flexible sanitation programs offered through Groot Industries, Aurora's official waste hauler. The municipality provides a tiered system, allowing single-family homes to choose the level of service that best fits their household volume. By selecting the right cart size and understanding the local sticker system, you can keep your property clean while effectively managing disposal costs.
Standard and Low-Volume Trash Options
Standard base cart service offers residents a choice between 35-gallon, 65-gallon, or 95-gallon toters, which are emptied on a weekly basis. If you generate very little garbage, you might opt for the Low Volume Service, which provides a 35-gallon cart collected every other week to help reduce expenses. For those over the age of 65, the city features a Senior/Hardship program. Qualifying residents can forgo a traditional bin and instead purchase special 14-gallon orange bags for their weekly refuse needs.
Navigating the Waste Sticker Program
When you have more garbage than your designated toter can hold, Aurora utilizes a waste sticker system. Any excess refuse must be placed in a standard 32-gallon trash bag, weighing no more than 50 pounds, with a visible City of Aurora waste sticker attached. These stickers can be purchased at local participating retailers and ensure that the hauler will grab the extra items left beside your cart.
Curbside Recycling Services
Recycling in Aurora is straightforward and unlimited. Groot provides either a 35-gallon or 65-gallon recycling toter to each household. Unlike extra garbage, excess recyclables do not require a waste sticker. You can place additional approved materials in personal containers alongside your main cart, provided they do not exceed 25 gallons in capacity. The city encourages residents to use the 'Feed The Cart' guidelines to avoid contaminating the recycling stream with plastic bags or food waste.
Yard Debris and Seasonal Leaves
Seasonal yard maintenance is fully supported from the first Monday in April through the first Friday in December. All grass clippings and vegetation must be placed in 30-gallon Kraft paper bags, each adorned with a standard waste sticker. However, the first two weeks of April usually offer free yard waste collection. Additionally, residents can put out bundled brush—branches up to four inches in diameter and four feet long—without needing a sticker, as long as the bundle weighs under 50 pounds.
Scheduling Bulk Items and E-Waste
Large household items and electronic waste require special handling. Standard electronics like televisions or computers cannot be placed in your regular bin due to state laws. To dispose of e-waste, you must contact Groot at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a prepaid pickup. If you have bulky furniture, you should also notify the hauler to ensure the driver is prepared to load oversized materials during your normal route.
Timing and Cart Placement Rules
To guarantee your refuse is collected, all carts, bags, and bundled brush must be positioned at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. The municipality also enforces a rule that bins should not be set out any earlier than 7:00 p.m. the evening prior. Once the hauler has emptied your toters, you are required to pull them back from the street to maintain neighborhood aesthetics.
Drop-off Facilities
A-Team Recyclers
Chicagoland Area (Front door pickup offered for Aurora)
Materials Accepted
City of Aurora Customer Service Center
3770 McCoy Dr, Aurora, IL
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if my garbage is missed in Aurora?
You should contact Groot Industries directly at 630-892-9294 to report a missed pickup and arrange for a driver to return to your address.
How do seniors get the special orange bags for trash?
Eligible residents aged 65 and older can enroll in the senior service program and purchase 14-gallon orange bags in rolls of 20 at various designated retail locations throughout the city.
Do I need to buy stickers for my autumn leaves?
During the dedicated fall leaf collection period—typically starting in mid-October and running until early December—leaves placed in 30-gallon Kraft paper bags are collected for free without requiring a sticker.