Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Blue Island
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as your trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your scheduled service day from April 1 through December 15.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential garbage and recycling service fees are billed directly through the City of Blue Island on your monthly municipal water and sewer statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person, Phone, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior citizens age 65 and older living in owner-occupied single-family homes can apply annually at the City Clerk's office for discounted water and trash rates.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
LRS Waste Services in Blue Island
The City of Blue Island has partnered exclusively with LRS to manage residential garbage, recycling, and organic yard waste. Through this unified municipal contract, residents are provided with highly durable 95-gallon containers. One cart is designated for weekly household refuse, while the second cart is for bi-weekly recycling collection. This system is designed to keep the historic neighborhoods clean and minimize street litter while maximizing the diversion of recyclable materials from local landfills.
Understanding Your Collection Schedule
Your designated trash day depends on your specific neighborhood zone within Blue Island. Collection crews operate between the hours of 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. To ensure your address is serviced, your 95-gallon carts must be rolled out to the curb or alleyway no later than 7:00 AM on the morning of your pickup. Setting your bins out the night before is acceptable, provided they are safely secured. Keep in mind that route times can fluctuate due to weather, traffic, or driver changes, so having the bins out early is essential.
Bulk Waste and Mattress Regulations
Blue Island offers a generous bulk item policy compared to many neighboring communities. Residents are permitted to set out up to two bulk items per week alongside their standard trash cart at no extra charge. Items must not exceed 50 pounds. However, if you are disposing of a mattress or box spring, Illinois sanitary regulations strictly require that it be entirely wrapped in plastic. Unwrapped mattresses will be left behind and can result in a property fine. Free mattress covers are often available on a first-come, first-served basis at the City Clerk's Office. If you have more than two large items, you must schedule a special pickup with Public Works by calling 708-597-8604.
Recycling: What Belongs in the Cart?
Recycling in Blue Island is collected every other week, and the city utilizes a single-stream system, meaning all approved recyclables go into the same cart. You are encouraged to place rinsed plastic bottles (numbers 1-4 and 6-7, but excluding #5 plastics), glass jars, metal cans, and flattened cardboard directly into the bin. Never bag your recyclables; plastic grocery bags jam the sorting machinery at the LRS facility. Additionally, items heavily soiled with food residue, like greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, and styrofoam, belong in your regular garbage.
Seasonal Yard Waste Rules
Keeping your lawn looking great is easy with Blue Island's seasonal yard waste program, which runs from April through early December. Grass clippings, leaves, and garden debris must be placed in biodegradable Kraft paper bags or personal 35-gallon cans clearly marked for yard waste. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited for organic matter. Branches and twigs can be collected if they are securely tied into bundles using biodegradable twine. Bundles cannot exceed four feet in length or 18 inches in diameter, ensuring the crews can safely load them.
Drop-off Facilities
Tri-State Disposal (Dumpster Rentals & Transfer)
13903 S Ashland Ave, Blue Island, IL 60464
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should my garbage and recycling carts be on the curb?
All waste and recycling carts must be placed at the curb or alley collection point no later than 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day.
How do I dispose of a mattress in Blue Island?
You can place a mattress out as one of your two weekly bulk items, but it must be completely wrapped in plastic before it is placed outside. Mattresses left unwrapped will not be collected and may result in a city fine.
What is the limit for weekly bulk item collection?
Residents can place up to two bulk items (under 50 lbs each) on the curb per week. If you have more than two items, you must contact Blue Island Public Works to arrange a special pickup.