Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Elmwood Park
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Tuesday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on the same day as trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular collection day from mid-April through November 30.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential refuse and recycling fees are bundled directly into your monthly Village of Elmwood Park water and utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, Phone, Drop Box
City-issued 65-gallon or 95-gallon Toter Bin (Trash)
All refuse must fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Excess garbage must be placed in a small personal container (under 50 lbs). Do not pile plastic bags directly on the ground. Place at curb by 6:00 AM on service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and scraps
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
City-issued 65-gallon Toter Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the bin. Do not bag them. Rinse out all bottles, cans, and jars, and throw away any plastic lids before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and chipboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic water and milk jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass or mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Collected mid-April to Nov 30. No stickers required. Use Kraft paper bags or personal 33-gallon cans marked with an 'X'. Brush must be bundled with biodegradable twine (max 4 ft long, 2 ft wide, 50 lbs).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Plant and garden debris
- ✓Tree limbs and brush (under 3 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular service day
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb by 6:00 AM on your service day. For items over 50 pounds or large appliances, you must call Flood Brothers 24 hours in advance.
Accepted
- ✓ Small tables, chairs, and household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Rolled carpet (must be taped/tied, max 4 ft long, 2 ft diameter, 50 lbs)
- ✓ White goods and appliances (requires 24-hour notice)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Loose construction debris exceeding 1 cubic yard
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paints
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
Standard bulk items and appliances are free. Excessive construction debris costs a minimum of $15.00 per yard (two-yard minimum) and must be scheduled.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday (or is observed on a Monday after a Sunday holiday) on or before your scheduled pickup day, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. Friday customers will be serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active season.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the regular Tuesday-Friday collection schedule is not interrupted.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Late Autumn
October 21 - November 29The Village Public Works Department runs an annual Leaf Program. Residents are encouraged to rake loose leaves into neat piles along the street (keeping them one foot away from the curb) to be collected by specialized vacuum trucks.
Winter
JanuaryFlood Brothers provides a special collection for live Christmas trees throughout the entire month of January. Ensure all tinsel, ornaments, lights, and nails are completely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
Spring
AprilCurbside yard waste collection officially resumes on April 15th. Before this date, you must either compost your yard debris privately or hold onto it, as it will not be collected with standard winter refuse.
Local Tips & Community Info
Village Sanitation Directives and Timetables
Elmwood Park mandates strict adherence to local disposal ordinances to ensure neighborhoods remain sanitary and visually appealing. The village retains Groot as the primary contractor for all residential solid waste removal. To guarantee your household refuse is picked up, your designated carts must be wheeled out to the alleyway or curb line by 6:00 a.m. on your specific service day. However, to prevent nocturnal scavengers and maintain curb appeal, municipal code dictates that receptacles should not be set out before 4:00 p.m. on the preceding afternoon. Following collection, empty bins must be returned to your property by midnight.
Ecological Best Practices for the Blue Bin
Maximizing waste diversion is a major goal for the Elmwood Park community. The provided blue carts are designated exclusively for single-stream recycling, meaning all approved materials can be mixed together. You are encouraged to toss in cardboard boxes, paper goods, tin cans, and glass jars. A crucial directive for all households is to avoid utilizing plastic trash bags for recyclable items. Film plastics create massive operational hurdles at the recovery facilities by tangling the sorting belts. All items should simply be dropped loosely into the blue cart after being rinsed free of food waste.
Oversized Load and White Goods Protocol
When upgrading your living room or clearing out basement clutter, standard carts are often insufficient. Fortunately, your standard municipal service allows for the disposal of one heavy or oversized item each week, such as a dining table or an armchair. Mattresses are also accepted but must be tightly wrapped in protective plastic before hitting the curb. Conversely, large domestic appliances—often called white goods—like refrigerators and washing machines demand special handling. Residents must dial Groot directly to arrange a customized appliance pickup, which typically incurs a separate processing fee.
Landscaping Debris Collection Window
Maintaining Elmwood Park's beautiful lawns generates substantial organic material, which the village manages through a dedicated seasonal program. Starting in early April and wrapping up in late November, yard waste is collected on the same day as your regular trash. Residents are required to pack grass, leaves, and small plant trimmings into 30-gallon biodegradable Kraft paper sacks. Alternatively, an unlined, rigid trash can clearly labeled for yard waste is acceptable. If you are trimming trees, the resulting branches must be bound tightly with biodegradable string, keeping bundles under four feet long.
Schedule Shifts During Federal Holidays
Hauling operations pause for six major national observances: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever one of these recognized dates lands on a weekday, the typical route schedule is pushed back by one full calendar day. For example, a Tuesday pickup will shift to Wednesday, and this cascading delay will continue through Saturday to ensure all neighborhoods receive their weekly service.
Drop-off Facilities
Elmwood Park Public Works E-Waste Drop-Off
7330 W Fullerton Avenue, Elmwood Park, IL 60707
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage pickup services for Elmwood Park?
Groot is the authorized municipal contractor that manages all residential garbage, recycling, and seasonal yard waste collection for the Village of Elmwood Park.
What is the earliest time I can put my trash cans out?
According to village regulations, residents may not place their refuse or recycling carts at the curb or alleyway any earlier than 4:00 p.m. on the day prior to their scheduled collection.
Can I throw away electronic devices in my normal trash?
No. Illinois environmental legislation prohibits e-waste, such as computers and televisions, from entering landfills. These items require disposal at registered electronic recycling drop-off centers.