Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Carpentersville
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.
Green (Groot Issued) Bin (Trash)
Place the cart at the curb with the wheels facing the house. The lid must be completely closed. Extra bags or cans require one $2.50 refuse sticker each.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Small broken household items
- ✓Food waste
Blue (Groot Issued) Bin (Recycling)
Empty and rinse all containers. Place recyclables loosely in the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Leave approximately 2 feet of space between your carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and chipboard (no wax coating)
- ✓Office paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum trays, foil, and cans
- ✓Clear, brown, and green glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass, mirrors, and ceramics
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous chemical containers
Yard Waste Bin
Use 33-gallon biodegradable kraft paper bags (max 50 lbs). Brush must be tied with biodegradable string, not wire. Dirt, rocks, sod, and fruit/vegetables are prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Garden plants, weeds, and vines
- ✓Bark pieces and pine cones
- ✓Bundled branches and brush (max 4 feet long, 50 lbs)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (One item free per week)
Placement
Place your single free bulk item at the curb next to your green refuse cart on your normal collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and dining tables
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ White goods/appliances (requires scheduling and 10 stickers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✕ Automotive tires and batteries
- ✕ Major construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
One bulk item is free weekly. Subsequent items need one $2.50 sticker. White goods (refrigerators, washers) require 10 stickers and a scheduled phone call to Groot at (847) 429-7370.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups will move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
During the active collection season (April through November), yard waste collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your normal weekday collection schedule will generally remain completely unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Handles from Plastic Buckets
While Carpentersville accepts plastic buckets (such as 5-gallon kitty litter containers) in the blue recycling cart, you must completely remove the metal carrying handles before recycling them, as the mixed materials disrupt the sorting machines.
Keep Food Waste Out of Yard Bags
Do not throw garden vegetables, fallen fruit, or kitchen scraps into your biodegradable yard waste bags. Groot treats food-contaminated landscape material as garbage, and it will be rejected from the commercial composting stream.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The most common recycling mistake is gathering clean cardboard, cans, and bottles into a plastic garbage bag before placing them in the blue cart. The sorting facility cannot open these bags safely, causing the entire bag to be thrown in the landfill.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Fall
April - NovemberThe seasonal yard waste collection program officially runs from April 1st through November 30th. During this window, Groot provides weekly yard waste collection for all single-family residents.
Winter
Late December - JanuaryGroot collects live Christmas trees from December 26th through January 31st at no additional charge. After January 31st, an old Christmas tree will be counted as your one free weekly bulk item.
Fall
October - NovemberThe Village reminds residents that raking or blowing autumn leaves directly into the street is a strict code violation. Loose leaves block storm sewer grates, which leads to localized neighborhood flooding during heavy rains.
About Carpentersville Waste Management
Navigating Carpentersville's Curbside Groot Services
The Village of Carpentersville contracts directly with Groot Industries to manage residential garbage, recycling, and seasonal yard waste. Under this agreement, every single-family household is equipped with a standard green refuse toter and a blue recycling toter. Homeowners must place these carts as close as possible to the curb with the wheels facing the house. To prevent urban pests and litter, the Village enforces strict placement times: carts may be placed out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the evening before your designated collection day, and all empty containers must be removed from the curb by 11:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Handling Extra Trash with the Refuse Sticker System
While your monthly Groot service covers the contents of your green 95-gallon refuse cart, any additional garbage requires compliance with the Village's sticker program. If you find yourself with excess waste, you can use personal garbage cans or smaller plastic bags, provided they weigh less than 50 pounds. You must affix one Carpentersville refuse sticker to each extra bag or can set out for collection. These stickers can be conveniently purchased for $2.50 at the Village Hall or at local currency exchanges. Residents who frequently overflow their cart can contact Groot to rent an additional green toter for a recurring monthly fee.
Weekly Bulk Allowance and White Goods Preparation
One of the most resident-friendly aspects of Carpentersville's waste program is the weekly bulk item allowance. Each household is permitted to set out exactly one bulk item—such as a piece of furniture, a mattress, or a rolled carpet—every week at no extra charge. Any subsequent bulk items placed on the same day require a standard refuse sticker. However, large appliances (known as white goods, like refrigerators, washers, and ovens) are handled differently. Disposing of a white good requires ten (10) refuse stickers affixed to the appliance, and you must call Groot at (847) 429-7370 in advance to schedule the specialized pickup.
Commingled Single-Stream Recycling Requirements
Your blue Groot recycling cart accepts a robust list of commingled materials, including aluminum foil, steel cans, clean corrugated cardboard, office paper, and rigid plastic containers. It is critical that residents leave these items loose in the cart. Placing recyclables inside plastic grocery bags ruins the sorting process at the material recovery facility. Additionally, avoid placing any window glass, dinnerware, or ceramics in the blue cart, as these materials melt at different temperatures than standard container glass and will contaminate the batch.
Proper Disposal of E-Waste and Batteries in Kane County
Illinois law strictly prohibits televisions, computer monitors, and household electronics from being dumped in residential landfills. Therefore, Groot will not collect electronic waste from your curb in Carpentersville. Fortunately, as part of Kane County, residents have fantastic local access to e-waste and battery drop-offs. The nearby Kane County West Dundee Recycling Center operates on weekdays to accept electronics (note that a small fee applies to screens and TVs) alongside household batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and textiles.
Drop-off Facilities
Kane County Recycling Center (West Dundee)
900 Angle Tarn, West Dundee, IL 60118
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or washing machine in Carpentersville?
Large appliances (white goods) are not collected for free. You must purchase ten (10) refuse stickers from the Village Hall, affix them to the appliance, and call Groot Industries at (847) 429-7370 to schedule a special pickup.
Do I have to pay for bulk item collection?
Carpentersville allows each residence to throw away one standard bulk item (such as a sofa, chair, or mattress) every week for free. If you have a second bulk item in the same week, you must affix a $2.50 refuse sticker to it.
What should I do if my garbage doesn't fit in the green Groot cart?
If you occasionally have excess trash, you can place it in a personal garbage can or a small plastic bag (under 50 lbs) and attach one $2.50 Carpentersville refuse sticker to it. If you constantly run out of room, you can contact Groot to rent an additional green cart for a monthly fee.
Where can I drop off an old television or computer?
By state law, Groot cannot collect electronics at the curb. However, Carpentersville residents can drop off electronics at the Kane County West Dundee Recycling Center located at 900 Angle Tarn. Note that while computers are free to drop off, televisions and monitors require a fee based on screen size.