Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Downers Grove
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 Blue or Green (Republic Services Issued) Bin (Trash)
Place your 35-, 65-, or 95-gallon cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day (but no earlier than 12:00 noon the day prior). Extra bags must have a $3.50 sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Broken household items (non-hazardous)
Typically Blue or Light Blue (Republic Services Issued) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. Place all items loosely inside the cart to ensure they can be sorted mechanically.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Office paper and mail
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups/packing peanuts)
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Mirrors and Pyrex glass
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Plastic bags (film)
Yard Waste Bin
No stickers required. Use brown paper bags, a personal can labeled 'YARD WASTE', or an optional organics cart. Max weight 50 lbs per bag/can. No liquids or pet waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, and brush
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and eggshells
- ✓Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta
- ✓Meat, bones, and seafood
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Up to two items)
Placement
Place your two free bulk items next to your refuse carts by 6:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. Empty carts must be removed by midnight.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Refrigerators and washing machines (White Goods)
- ✓ Carpet rolls (tied, max 5 feet long, 3 feet diameter, 50 lbs)
- ✓ Small amounts of tied construction debris (max 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Motor oil and liquid paints
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
The first two bulk items/white goods are free weekly. Any additional bulk item requires a $3.50 refuse sticker. Each additional white good beyond the two-item limit requires 9 stickers.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday-Friday), or on a Sunday and is legally observed on a Monday, collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active organics season, yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as your regular refuse pickup.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the weekday collection schedule is not affected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Styrofoam is Strictly Prohibited
Never place polystyrene foam materials, such as coffee cups, takeout plates, egg cartons, or packing peanuts, into your recycling cart. These shatter into microplastics at the facility and must be thrown in the regular trash.
Keep Liquids and Pet Waste Out of Compost
While the Downers Grove organics program happily accepts meat and dairy scraps, you must never include liquids, grease, or pet waste. Pet waste introduces dangerous pathogens into the commercial compost stream.
Do Not Bag Your Christmas Tree
During the free collection period in January, live Christmas trees must be placed at the curb completely bare. Do not wrap the tree in a plastic disposal bag, as the plastic cannot be processed by the wood chippers.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Fall
April - DecemberStandard weekly yard waste and organics collection runs from April 1st through the second full week of December.
Winter
December - MarchStarting in late December 2026, residents with a Republic Services organics cart can opt into a winter organics collection service. During these winter months, food scraps and yard waste will be collected every other week.
Winter
JanuaryRepublic Services provides free curbside collection of live Christmas trees during the first two full weeks of January. Trees must be completely free of tinsel, hooks, and ornaments.
About Downers Grove Waste Management
The 2026 Transition to an All-Inclusive Cart System
Effective April 1, 2026, the Village of Downers Grove launched a modernized waste contract with Republic Services. Transitioning away from a heavy reliance on refuse stickers, every household is now equipped with 35-, 65-, or 95-gallon refuse and recycling carts. The new base rate comprehensively covers weekly cart collection, while eliminating the mandatory sticker requirement for standard yard waste and up to two bulk items per week. Refuse stickers (now reduced to $3.50 each) are only required for extra garbage bags that do not fit inside your designated cart.
Unmatched Two-Item Weekly Bulk and Appliance Allowance
Unlike most municipalities that limit households to one bulk item per week or charge extra for appliances, Downers Grove residents enjoy a highly generous provision. Under the updated Republic Services contract, households can place up to two bulk items (like a sofa or mattress) OR 'white goods' (like a refrigerator or washing machine) at the curb every single week at no additional charge. Any items exceeding this two-per-week limit require standard refuse stickers—specifically, 9 stickers for each additional white good.
Aggressive Organics and Food Scrap Diversion
Downers Grove is pioneering environmental sustainability by allowing residents to commingle food scraps with their standard yard waste. Without needing to purchase stickers, residents can toss fruit peels, vegetable scraps, meat, bones, and dairy into their brown kraft paper bags, personal 33-gallon cans clearly marked 'YARD WASTE', or a designated Republic Services organics cart (which can be requested at no extra cost). This diverts significant organic material from landfills to specialized composting facilities.
Deep Senior Discounts for Older Residents
To keep utility costs manageable for older populations, the Village offers a substantial senior citizen discount for residents aged 65 and older. Once age is verified through the Village's Finance window or via email to Republic Services, seniors receive nearly a 50% discount on their monthly waste bill. For the 2026-2027 billing cycle, seniors pay just $10 per month for the 35-gallon cart service, compared to the standard $19 rate.
Account Pauses for Snowbirds and Travelers
Recognizing that many residents travel for extended periods, Downers Grove allows homeowners to place their Republic Services account on a seasonal 'hold.' Service can be paused for a minimum of one month and a maximum of 10 months. This flexible billing feature ensures residents do not pay for garbage and recycling collection while their property is vacant during the winter or extended vacations.
Drop-off Facilities
Naperville Environmental Collection Campus (Household Hazardous & E-Waste)
156 Fort Hill Dr., Naperville, IL
Materials Accepted
Downers Grove Used Motor Oil Drop-Off
Fenced lot at the intersection of Curtiss St. and Mackie
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use garbage stickers in Downers Grove?
As of April 2026, stickers are no longer required for your primary garbage (which goes in your provided cart), standard yard waste, or for up to two bulk items/appliances per week. You only need to purchase $3.50 stickers for extra trash bags that do not fit in your cart, or if you exceed the two-item weekly bulk limit.
Can I throw away meat and dairy in my yard waste bag?
Yes! Downers Grove operates a robust organics recycling program. You can mix food scraps—including meat, bones, shellfish, dairy, bread, and vegetables—directly with your leaves and grass clippings in a kraft paper bag, a labeled personal can, or a Republic Services organics cart.
How do I throw away an old refrigerator in Downers Grove?
Downers Grove allows residents to throw away up to two 'white goods' (appliances like refrigerators or washers) per week for free. Just place it at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. No stickers are needed unless you put out more than two appliances in one week.
How do I get the senior discount for garbage collection?
Residents aged 65 and older qualify for discounted rates. You must send proof of age documentation via email to [email protected], or visit the Finance window at the Civic Center (850 Curtiss Street) with your ID.