Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Blue Island
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.
Typically Gray or Blue Bin (Trash)
Use the provided 95-gallon LRS cart. Place at the curb by 7 AM on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable food wrappers
- ✓Food waste
Typically Blue with Green Lid Bin (Recycling)
Items must be loose and unbagged. Rinse all containers free of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes (broken down)
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1-#7 (excluding #5 and #6)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Paper plates and towels
- ✕#5 plastics (Solo cups, cutlery)
- ✕Shredded paper
Yard Waste Bin
Place in Kraft paper bags or personal cans (max 35 gallons/50 lbs). Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Collection runs April 1 to December 15.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs
- ✓Branches (bundled with twine, max 4 ft long and 18 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place alongside your waste cart by 7 AM. Mattresses must be properly wrapped in plastic to be collected.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Small household appliances
- ✓ Mattresses (MUST be wrapped)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Unwrapped mattresses
Loads exceeding the 2-item limit that fit in a 2-yard dumpster require a free appointment with Public Works. Larger loads require paid arrangements directly with LRS.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same delay pattern as regular trash if the holiday falls during the active April-December season.
Holiday schedules are communicated directly on the LRS Blue Island municipality portal.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Pizza Boxes Out
Unlike some municipalities, Blue Island's LRS facility strictly prohibits pizza boxes in the recycling cart. The grease and food residue contaminate clean paper products.
Skip the Solo Cups
While many plastics are accepted, #5 plastics—which include party staples like plastic plates, cutlery, and Solo cups—cannot go into your Blue Island recycling bin.
Leave Recyclables Loose
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags. The sorting machinery at the LRS facility gets jammed by plastic film. Dump recyclables directly into the 95-gallon cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April - NovemberWeekly street-side yard waste collection runs from April 1 through the end of November (with final pickups extending into December). Make sure your yard debris is bagged in Kraft paper—never plastic.
Fall
October - NovemberLeaves will no longer be picked up loose from parkways. You must bag your leaves and place them next to your LRS toters for standard pickup. Raking leaves into the street violates city rules as it clogs storm sewers.
Winter
JanuaryLive Christmas tree collection happens during the first three weeks of January. Trees must be completely bare (no tinsel, lights, or bags). Collection may occur on a different day than your normal trash due to snow and ice routing.
About Blue Island Waste Management
Blue Island's LRS Collection System
Since July 2017, the City of Blue Island has contracted exclusively with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) to manage residential waste. Every eligible household is equipped with a 95-gallon cart for weekly trash and a separate 95-gallon cart for bi-weekly recycling. Carts must be rolled out to the curb no later than 7 AM on your designated collection day to ensure timely service.
Weekly Two-Item Bulk Allowance
One of the standout benefits of Blue Island's LRS contract is the weekly bulk item allowance. Residents can place up to two large items—such as furniture or properly prepared household fixtures—out for collection each week alongside normal trash. Note that each item must weigh under 50 pounds, and mattresses require specialized preparation to be collected.
Handling Major Cleanouts and Oversized Loads
If you are undertaking a spring cleanout and have more bulk waste than the standard two-item limit, Blue Island offers flexible options. Accumulations that fit into a two-yard dumpster can be picked up by making an appointment through the Public Works Department. For even larger volumes left behind by renovations, you'll need to contact LRS directly to arrange special hauling, which may involve additional fees.
Preventing Sewer Blockages with Yard Waste
During the fall season, it is critical that Blue Island residents avoid raking leaves into the street, as this directly contributes to blocked city sewers and localized flooding. Instead, leaves and yard debris must be packed in Kraft paper bags or personal 35-gallon cans and placed alongside your regular trash between April 1 and the first week of December.
Drop-off Facilities
Tri-State Disposal (Dumpster Rentals & Transfer)
13903 S Ashland Ave, Blue Island, IL 60464
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have a massive pile of bulk waste that exceeds the two-item limit?
If you have more than two items but the pile is small enough to fit inside a standard two-yard dumpster, you can call the Blue Island Public Works at 708-597-8604 to schedule an appointment. If your pile is larger than that, you must contact LRS at 844-633-3577 to arrange a special pickup, which may involve additional fees.
Are there any special rules for throwing away a mattress in Blue Island?
Yes, absolutely. To protect sanitation workers from bedbugs and hazards, all mattresses must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic before being placed at the curb. If they are not wrapped, LRS will leave them behind.
Can I rake my fall leaves into the street for the city to vacuum?
No. The city strictly prohibits raking leaves into the street because it causes severe blockages in the sewer system. All leaves must be placed in Kraft paper yard bags or personal 35-gallon cans and set out on your normal trash day.
Why did LRS leave my recycling bin at the curb?
The most common reasons for a rejected recycling bin in Blue Island include bagging recyclables in plastic grocery bags, including heavily contaminated items like greasy pizza boxes, or tossing in prohibited #5 plastics such as Solo cups and plastic plates.