Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Chicago
Trash Day
Weekly collection Monday through Friday, determined by your neighborhood district (serves single-family homes and residential buildings with up to 4 units).
Recycling
Bi-weekly (every two weeks) on your regular trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Seasonal collection from April through November; request free pickup via CHI 311 with materials set out in paper lawn bags.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or after 6:00 PM the evening before).
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage service costs $9.50 per month per dwelling unit and is billed directly on your unified City of Chicago utility bill alongside water and sewer charges.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly (every two months for metered accounts) or Monthly (for unmetered accounts)
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone, and In-Person at City Payment Centers or Kiosks
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior homeowners aged 65+ who qualify for the Senior Sewer Exemption receive a 50% discount on the garbage fee ($4.75/month per unit). Additional income-eligible assistance is available via the Utility Billing Relief program.
Black (96-gallon Super Cart) Bin (Trash)
All residential trash must be bagged and securely placed inside the lidded Black Cart. Pickup occurs weekly, Monday through Friday, based on your grid schedule.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Empty aerosol cans
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue (96-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week. All items must be loose (unbagged), empty, and reasonably clean. Do not bag recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jars (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (wires, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put yard waste in the Black or Blue carts. Residents must bag yard debris separately and request a special pickup by calling 311. Service runs April 1st to November 30th.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush and branches
- ✓Shrubbery clippings
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request
Placement
Items must be carried to the alley or curb depending on your regular collection point. They must be easily accessible for city crews.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances (washers, dryers)
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors must be removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions
- ✕ Computers and monitors
- ✕ Household chemicals
- ✕ Construction debris
There is no extra fee for bulk pickup for residents living in single-family homes or multi-unit buildings (up to four units) serviced by the DSS.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed city holiday falls on a weekday, garbage and recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is strictly collected via 311 request and may be slightly delayed during holiday weeks based on truck availability.
Because recycling is serviced every other week and divided into six distinct zones, a holiday might only disrupt the schedule of specific zones. Residents should check the DSS 2026 Blue Cart schedule map for exact zone disruptions.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April - NovemberThe city's dedicated yard waste collection trucks run actively during this period. Remember that you must explicitly request service via 311 for leaf, brush, or garden waste removal.
Fall
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf-drop season, the DSS dedicates extra resources to bagging and leaf collection trucks to help keep neighborhood storm drains clear. Bag leaves separately and request a 311 pickup.
Winter
JanuaryAfter the holidays, Chicago hosts annual Christmas tree recycling drop-off events across various city parks. Trees are chipped into mulch, which is later made freely available to residents. Trees must be completely bare of decorations.
Local Tips & Community Info
Chicago Residential Waste Collection Overview
Navigating your local sanitation services is a crucial part of living in the Windy City. The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) provides reliable waste management for residents, ensuring clean neighborhoods and sustainable disposal practices. Generally, single-family homes and smaller multi-unit buildings featuring up to four units qualify for city-provided services. If you live in a larger residential complex, a private commercial hauler manages your refuse. Understanding the local rules, such as properly using your black garbage cart and blue recycling bin, helps the entire system run smoothly.
Understanding the Trash Pickup Schedule
For eligible Chicago residents, standard household garbage is collected once a week. Your black cart is reserved exclusively for non-recyclable household waste. To ensure a successful pickup, the sanitation department requires that all trash is bagged and the lid of your black cart is completely closed. Overflowing carts may result in skipped collections or excess fees. You should place your carts in the alley or at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. If you are unsure of your exact pickup schedule, you can easily look up your address on the official City of Chicago portal or by calling 311.
Blue Cart Recycling Guidelines
Chicago operates a bi-weekly recycling schedule using the distinctive Blue Cart program. These carts are meant for single-stream recycling, meaning you can place all approved materials directly into the bin without sorting them beforehand. Accepted items include flattened cardboard, clean paper, glass bottles, metal cans, and plastics marked with numbers one, two, or five. However, there are strict rules against plastic bags; soft plastics can jam the sorting machinery at processing facilities. Always keep your recyclables loose inside the cart. When placing your blue bin out for collection, make sure it is not blocked by parked cars or fences, as crews need clear access.
Yard Waste and Food Scrap Disposal
Maintaining a Chicago yard means dealing with seasonal debris like leaves, branches, and grass clippings. Fortunately, the city offers dedicated yard waste pickup from April 1st through November 30th each year. Residents can request this free service by dialing 311. Remember to bag yard clippings in paper yard bags, not plastic. Additionally, Chicago is making major strides in sustainability by offering free food scrap drop-off locations across the city. By utilizing these local compost drop-off centers, you can directly help divert organic waste from local landfills, enriching regional soils rather than adding to the garbage stream.
Bulk Items and Hazardous Materials
Disposing of large or hazardous items requires extra care. Bulky items like old furniture, mattresses, or home appliances cannot just be stuffed into your weekly black cart. While city crews will often pick up large items left in the alley alongside your cart, it is always best to schedule a bulky waste pickup by calling 311 to avoid alley clutter and potential code violations. Hazardous household waste, such as old paint, motor oil, batteries, and electronics, are strictly prohibited in regular bins. You must take these dangerous items to the city's Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility situated on North Branch Street.
Handling Holiday Schedule Delays
City-observed holidays can occasionally disrupt the standard sanitation routine. During weeks containing a major holiday, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Labor Day, your normal trash and recycling pickup may be delayed by one day. Because the exact service day can fluctuate during these busy times, the DSS advises residents to keep their carts accessible throughout the entire week. Staying updated through the official city website or local neighborhood announcements will ensure you do not miss your adjusted collection schedule.
Drop-off Facilities
Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF)
1150 N. North Branch Street, Chicago, IL 60642
Materials Accepted
City Sponsored E-Waste Drop-Off Events
Various rotating citywide locations (Check chicagorecycles.org)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What items are strictly prohibited from my Chicago blue recycling cart?
You should never place plastic bags, food waste, greasy pizza boxes, Styrofoam, or hazardous chemicals in your blue recycling cart. Items should be loose and clean to prevent contamination.
How do I report a missed garbage pickup in Chicago?
If your black or blue cart was not emptied on your scheduled day, you can report the missed pickup by calling 311 or submitting a request online through the CHI 311 system.
Are all residential buildings covered by the city's trash collection?
No, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation only provides service to single-family homes and multi-unit buildings with four or fewer units. Larger apartment complexes are required to hire private waste haulers.