Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Glen Ellyn
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 green or blue (supplied by Groot) Bin (Trash)
All standard refuse must fit within the one provided wheeled cart without needing a sticker. Place at curb by 7 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste (if not composting)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Regular solid waste
Typically blue or green (marked for recycling) Bin (Recycling)
Items should be co-mingled and placed loosely in the cart. Do not bag recyclables. Clean and rinse all food containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass and metal containers
- ✓Aerosol cans
- ✓Plastics #1-#5 and #7
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (under 3x3 ft)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam (Plastic #6)
- ✕Single-use plastic cups
- ✕Packing peanuts
- ✕Food-soiled containers
- ✕Ceramics
- ✕Light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in kraft paper bags or 33-gallon unlined cans. Each container or brush bundle (max 50 lbs) requires one green yard waste sticker. Collected April through mid-December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden vegetation
- ✓Brush
- ✓Branches (under 3 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Special arrangement or Biennial Unlimited Collection
Placement
Special bulk items must be placed at the curb by 7 AM on the scheduled day. For safety, glass must be taped, and sharp hazards (like nails) must be removed.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches
- ✓ Chairs
- ✓ Lamps
- ✓ Bicycles
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Bundled construction debris (max 50 lbs per bundle, nails bent/removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Loose concrete, bricks, or stone
- ✕ Uncontainerized fencing
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Residual liquid paint
- ✕ Utility sinks
Fees apply for standard large item special pickups. Contact Groot at 847-429-7370 for an exact quote. The biennial event allows bulk items for free.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a Monday, Glen Ellyn's refuse, recycling, and yard waste collections will be delayed by one day, taking place on Tuesday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection is paused entirely during the winter season (mid-December through March), regardless of the holiday schedule.
If a holiday falls on a weekend and does not affect the Monday schedule, your collection will proceed as normal.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Recycling
Never bag your recyclables. Items bundled in plastic garbage bags cannot be sorted at the facility and will be thrown directly into the landfill as trash. Drop items loosely into the bin.
Watch the Plastic Numbers carefully
While plastics #1 through #5 and #7 are accepted, Glen Ellyn strictly prohibits #6 plastic. This means all styrofoam products and single-use party cups must go into your regular household refuse cart.
Prep Your Cardboard Correctly
If you have large corrugated cardboard boxes, they must be flattened and cut down to sections no larger than 3-feet by 3-feet before being placed into the recycling cart.
Seasonal Information
Fall
September to mid-DecemberThe Village offers a discounted leaf collection rate. Use specialized leaf stickers on standard yard waste containers or bags to save on disposal costs. These containers must strictly contain leaves.
Winter
JanuaryHoliday green collections occur during the first three pickup days in January at no extra cost. Christmas trees must be entirely free of bags, lights, ornaments, and tinsel.
Winter
December to MarchFor households subscribed to the curbside composting program, collection shifts from a weekly pickup to every other week during the cold winter months.
About Glen Ellyn Waste Management
Glen Ellyn's Weekly Waste Collection System
In the Village of Glen Ellyn, household garbage and recycling are collected every Monday by Groot Industries. Each household receives one wheeled refuse cart and unlimited recycling collection without needing additional stickers. To ensure your items are picked up, place your carts at the curb by 7:00 AM on Monday, but no earlier than 4:30 PM on Sunday afternoon. Carts must be stored away within 24 hours after your pickup.
Yard Waste and Discounted Leaf Collection
From April through mid-December, Groot collects yard waste on your normal Monday schedule. You must attach a $3.52 green yard waste sticker to each 33-gallon unlined trash container or kraft paper bag. Additionally, Glen Ellyn offers a discounted leaf collection program from September through mid-December. By separating your leaves and using special discounted leaf stickers, you can save money while keeping the village clean during the heavy fall shedding season.
Curbside Composting Subscription Program
Glen Ellyn residents have the unique opportunity to subscribe to a curbside composting program through Groot Industries. This voluntary service helps divert food scraps—like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and dairy—from the landfill. Subscribers receive a dedicated organics cart and won't need to purchase separate yard waste stickers for organic yard debris. Collections are weekly from April through November and shift to a bi-weekly schedule during the winter months.
Biennial Unlimited Refuse Collection
Every two years, Glen Ellyn coordinates an 'Unlimited Refuse Collection' day to help residents clear out odds and ends that cannot be recycled or fit in a standard cart. During this special event, large household items such as couches, chairs, and bundled construction materials can be placed at the curb without tags. However, items like electronics, household hazardous waste, and liquids are strictly prohibited.
Drop-off Facilities
DuPage County Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Options
Refer to the DuPage County Recycling Guide for regional drop-off centers
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my garbage out in Glen Ellyn?
All refuse, recycling, and yard waste must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day (Monday). However, Village ordinance dictates you cannot place items at the curb before 4:30 PM on the Sunday prior.
Can I throw out leftover house paint in the trash?
Dried latex paint is accepted in the regular trash. You must ensure there is no residual liquid by mixing kitty litter or a drying agent into the paint a few days before disposal. Leave the lids off so the hauler can see the paint is completely dry.
What is the Curbside Composting program?
It is a voluntary, subscription-based service provided by the Village and Groot Industries. It allows residents to dispose of food scraps (like coffee grounds and vegetable peels) and yard waste in a specialized organics cart instead of the landfill.
Who do I call if Groot misses my trash pickup?
If your carts were properly placed at the curb by 7:00 AM and your pickup was missed, you must contact Groot Industries directly at 847-429-7370 before noon on the day following your scheduled collection.