Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Evanston
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Thursday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same designated day as your trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Collected on your regular trash pickup day (weekly from April through November, and bi-weekly from December through March).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Sanitation and waste service charges are bundled directly onto your bi-monthly Evanston municipal water and sewer utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Income-eligible households, seniors (65+), and persons with disabilities can apply for reduced utility rates through the Access Evanston Program.
City-branded Cart (35, 65, or 95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
All waste must be bagged, contained, or bundled. Cart lids should be able to close. Carts must not exceed 50 lbs. Material must be at the curb or alley by 7 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food packaging
City-branded Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely in the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Carts must not exceed 50 lbs. Download the Recycle Coach App to verify acceptable materials.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Use the City-provided 35g or 95g Food and Yard Waste cart, or use stickered biodegradable paper bags (stickers are $2.50). Cart must not exceed 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and grains
- ✓Meat, bones, and eggshells
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper towels
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a year for free (Spring and Fall), or on-demand for a fee
Placement
Bulk trash must be placed on the alley line or parkway by 7 a.m. on the scheduled Friday. Crews will not remove items from private property.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Up to 25 medium garbage bags (equaling 6 cubic yards)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction material
- ✕ Tires and appliances
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Hazardous materials (gas, oil, paint)
Special Pickups outside the free dates cost a $100 flat fee for the first 3 cubic yards, and $25 per additional cubic yard, billed to your water account.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a City-recognized holiday falls on or before your regular collection day, services will be postponed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Food and yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse.
Residents are highly encouraged to use the Recycle Coach app to receive direct service reminders and holiday schedule updates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - MarchFrom December through March, the food and yard waste collection transitions from a weekly schedule to an every-other-week schedule. Winter collections alternate between 'A' weeks (Monday/Tuesday routes) and 'B' weeks (Wednesday/Thursday routes).
Spring and Fall
April and August/SeptemberEvanston offers its free bulk trash collection in April (Spring) and late August to September (Fall). Your exact bulk pickup day always falls on a Friday corresponding to your normal weekly trash day.
Winter Holiday
December - JanuaryThe City of Evanston provides seasonal holiday light recycling, normally from December 1 to January 31 each year. You can drop off string lights, extension cords, and rope lights at locations like the Levy Senior Center or Ecology Center.
Local Tips & Community Info
Evanston Residential Solid Waste & LRS Partnership
The City of Evanston maintains a robust and sustainable waste management program through a primary contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS). Whether you live in a single-family home or a larger condominium complex, managing your household waste is designed to be as seamless as possible. Standard refuse and recycling services are automatically bundled into your bi-monthly municipal utility bill, meaning residents do not have to worry about managing separate sanitation invoices. Each household is typically assigned a standard refuse cart, with sizes ranging from 35 gallons up to 95 gallons based on your family's specific needs. If you find that your current bin size is inadequate, you can request an adjustment by contacting the city's 311 call center. Keep in mind that acquiring additional carts beyond your primary allocation will result in an $11.93 monthly supplemental fee added to your bill.
Curbside Collection Times and The Recycle Coach App
To ensure neighborhood streets remain clear and collection routes run smoothly, Evanston residents must adhere to strict curbside timing regulations. All trash, recycling, and compost carts must be positioned at your designated alleyway or curb by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your scheduled pickup. The city requires that all waste be properly contained inside the bins with the lids fully closed. Overloaded carts or containers exceeding the 50-pound weight limit may be rejected by the automated trucks. To help you stay on track, the city highly recommends downloading the free Recycle Coach app. This convenient mobile tool provides personalized collection reminders, alerts you to holiday schedule shifts, and features a searchable database to help you determine exactly which items belong in which cart.
Expanded Food and Yard Waste Composting
Evanston is deeply committed to sustainability, which is reflected in its expanded year-round Food and Yard Waste program. Residents can now compost a much wider variety of organic materials, including meat, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, and standard yard trimmings. During the peak landscaping season from April through November, compost collection occurs weekly. In the winter months between December and March, the service shifts to an alternating bi-weekly 'A' and 'B' schedule based on your residential zone. If you choose not to utilize a dedicated city-branded organics cart, you can still participate by placing your yard clippings and brush into standard kraft paper bags, provided that a $2.50 city yard waste sticker is visibly affixed to each bag.
Special Bulk Pickups for Large Household Items
When you are clearing out a basement, upgrading furniture, or dealing with excess garbage that simply will not fit into your standard LRS cart, you will need to arrange for a special collection. Evanston defines a special pickup as any trash that exceeds the capacity of your designated garbage cart plus one additional bag. Because these oversized loads require specialized equipment and extra labor, the city assesses an additional fee for bulk collection. Residents cannot simply leave heavy couches or excess construction debris in the alley; instead, you must proactively call 311 to schedule a special pickup date and receive a pricing estimate for the removal.
Educational Cart Tagging Program
To improve the quality of local recycling streams, Evanston periodically conducts an educational Cart Tagging program. During these initiatives, city staff wearing high-visibility vests visually inspect the contents of residential recycling carts before the trucks arrive. If your bin contains clean, acceptable materials like cardboard, glass jars, and plastic bottles, you will receive a 'Thank You!' tag on your cart. If prohibited items like plastic bags, styrofoam, or greasy pizza boxes are spotted, an 'Oops!' tag is left to provide immediate, helpful feedback. This initiative is strictly educational and is designed to help the community reduce costly recycling contamination without penalizing residents.
Drop-off Facilities
Evanston Ecology Center
2024 McCormick Blvd, Evanston, IL 60201
Materials Accepted
SWANCC Glenview Transfer Station (Electronics Drop-off)
3 Providence Way, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should my carts be placed out for collection?
All refuse, recycling, and compost carts must be placed at the curb or alleyway no later than 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day, ensuring the lids are fully closed.
Can I compost meat and dairy in Evanston?
Yes! Under the expanded Food and Yard Waste program, residents can place meat, bones, eggshells, and food scraps into their designated composting carts alongside standard yard trimmings.
How do I dispose of a large piece of furniture?
Since the city charges a fee for trash that exceeds your standard cart's capacity, you must call 311 to schedule a special bulk pickup and receive a pricing estimate for the removal.