Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Elgin
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as trash.
Yard Waste
Yard waste and food organics are collected weekly on your regular pickup day from April 1 through the first full week of December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside refuse and recycling services provided by LRS are billed directly as a line item on your monthly City of Elgin water utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Gray (Available in 35, 64, or 96 gallons) Bin (Trash)
Lids must be fully closed. Extra bags or containers (max 35 gallons/45 lbs) left outside the cart require one Elgin Trash Sticker each. Carts must face the street and sit 5 feet apart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam/Polystyrene
- ✓Cold ashes (bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the cart. Food containers must be rinsed and emptied. Extra cardboard left outside the cart must be flattened to a maximum of 4' x 4'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard (max 3' x 3' inside cart)
- ✓Office paper, magazines, and newspaper
- ✓Hard plastic bottles, jugs, and jars
- ✓Aluminum/steel cans and clear/green/brown glass
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Use LRS organics carts, 2-ply brown kraft bags (max 50 lbs), or a marked 35-gallon personal container. Brush must be bundled (max 5 ft long, 2 ft diameter, 45 lbs). Stickers are no longer required as of Jan 1, 2025.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Twigs and brush
- ✓Food waste (produce, grains, baked goods)
- ✓Floral items
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your standard collection day
Placement
Place bulk items next to your gray trash cart on the parkway by 6:00 a.m. Ensure the Elgin Trash Sticker is clearly visible on each item.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be enclosed in taped plastic)
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Carpet rolls (max 5 ft long, 2 ft diameter)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, monitors)
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Propane tanks
Carpet disposal requires one sticker per roll (up to 8 rolls collected per week). Oversized items (like pianos or treadmills) or full move-outs require contacting LRS directly at 855-612-7938 for a special pickup quote.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all garbage, recycling, and organics collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active collection season (April-December), organics and yard waste follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, standard weekday collections are not affected. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, collection is delayed by one day starting on Monday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring, Summer & Fall
April - First week of DecemberWeekly yard waste and organics collection runs actively during this period. Residents can freely dispose of food scraps alongside their grass clippings without needing to purchase any municipal refuse stickers.
Fall
September - DecemberA special Senior/Large Lot unbagged leaf pick-up program operates on Mondays for properties larger than one acre or seniors (65+) enrolled in the Senior Credit Program. Leaves must be raked to the curb without bags.
Winter
JanuaryLRS provides free curbside live Christmas tree collection during the first three full weeks of January on your regular service day. Trees must be entirely bare—remove all ornaments, tinsel, metal stands, and disposal bags.
Local Tips & Community Info
Sanitation Services Along the Fox River
Keeping Elgin beautiful is a collaborative effort between local residents and Waste Management (WM), the city's contracted refuse hauler. Unique to this municipality, households have the flexibility to choose a disposal plan that precisely matches their lifestyle. Whether you generate a large amount of refuse weekly or produce very little garbage, the local programs are designed to accommodate varying neighborhood needs while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
Choosing Between Carts and Stickers
Unlike many neighboring suburbs that enforce a one-size-fits-all cart system, Elgin offers two distinct garbage collection paths. The traditional 'Toter Service' provides residents with a standard 64-gallon or 96-gallon wheeled cart billed directly on a monthly basis. Conversely, the 'Sticker Program' is ideal for households that produce minimal waste. Under this pay-as-you-throw option, residents simply purchase individual municipal refuse stickers from local grocery stores and attach one to each 32-gallon trash bag they leave at the curb, eliminating the flat monthly cart fee.
Curb Placement and Neighborhood Rules
To ensure your weekly pickup goes off without a hitch, all household waste, recyclables, and yard debris must be positioned at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated neighborhood collection day. For aesthetic and safety reasons, local ordinances prohibit placing materials out before 5:00 p.m. the evening before your scheduled pickup. Once the WM trucks have cleared your street, you are required to move your empty containers back to your property by midnight.
Recycling Guidelines for Residents
Every Elgin home participating in the city's sanitation program receives a recycling cart at no extra charge. This single-stream system allows you to toss paper, flattened cardboard, glass, and approved plastics together without sorting. It is critical to keep your recyclables loose. Bagging your cans and cardboard in plastic liners disrupts the machinery at the regional sorting facilities. Remember to rinse out food containers, as severe food contamination can result in your bin being left unemptied.
Handling Yard Waste and Fall Leaves
From the first week of April through the end of November, WM collects yard waste alongside your normal trash. Elgin residents must use 30-gallon Kraft paper bags or personal 32-gallon cans clearly marked for yard waste. Unless you subscribe to the specific yard waste cart program, every bag or bundled pile of brush requires a pre-purchased Elgin refuse sticker. During a brief window in late autumn, the city often provides a specialized leaf collection program to help residents clear their lawns before winter sets in.
At-Your-Door E-Waste Solutions
Disposing of dead batteries, old cans of paint, and broken electronics is surprisingly simple in Elgin. The municipality participates in the 'WM At Your Door Special Collection' program. Rather than hauling your heavy televisions and toxic household chemicals to a distant drop-off site, you can schedule a secure pickup right from your front porch. This service must be pre-arranged online or via phone, ensuring that hazardous materials are safely diverted from the local landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Kane County Recycles Drop-Off Locations
Various locations across Kane County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay for trash collection using only stickers in Elgin?
Yes, Elgin offers a unique pay-as-you-throw Sticker Program. Instead of paying a monthly cart fee, you can purchase municipal refuse stickers and attach one to each 32-gallon garbage bag you place at the curb.
What is the earliest time I can put my trash out?
City regulations state that refuse and recycling containers cannot be placed at the curb earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to your scheduled collection.
How do I get rid of an old television or computer?
Elgin residents can utilize the 'WM At Your Door Special Collection' program. By contacting Waste Management directly, you can schedule a home pickup for electronics and household hazardous waste.