Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gurnee
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.
Green or Black (varies by cart size) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be contained within the cart with the lid completely closed. Carts should be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Soiled paper
Green with Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
Items must be loose in the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic grocery bags. Rinse food containers before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (empty and dry)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in 30-gallon kraft paper yard waste bags with a prepaid sticker attached, or in a rigid container marked with an 'X'. Brush must be bundled, no larger than 4 feet in length and 50 pounds in weight.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches
- ✓Garden trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place the single bulk item at the curb next to your trash cart by 6:00 AM on your normal service day. Mattresses and box springs must be securely wrapped in plastic.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and couches
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Small household furniture
- ✓ Toilets
Not Accepted
- ✕ White goods (refrigerators, washers)
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Large clean-outs, excessive amounts of furniture, or white goods require calling Waste Management directly to schedule a special pickup, which will incur an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on or before your regular collection day, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Landscape waste collection follows the same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your collection schedule is generally not affected during the work week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Never put your recyclables inside plastic grocery or garbage bags. When these enter the single-stream recycling facility, they wrap around sorting gears and cause system breakdowns. Take plastic grocery bags back to local retailers in Gurnee instead.
Keep it Empty, Clean, and Dry
A single unrinsed ketchup bottle or half-full soda can can ruin an entire batch of otherwise good paper recycling. Ensure all liquid and food residue is rinsed out before tossing containers into the recycling bin.
No Tanglers Allowed
Items like garden hoses, holiday lights, wire, and extension cords are known as 'tanglers'. They are not recyclable curbside and present a serious safety hazard to sanitation workers and machinery.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April - NovemberLandscape waste collection is active. Ensure you are using proper kraft paper bags with stickers or a rented yard waste cart. Do not mix yard waste with regular household trash.
Autumn
October - NovemberTake advantage of Gurnee's seasonal fall leaf collection. Keep leaf piles away from storm drains to prevent localized flooding in your neighborhood during heavy fall rains.
Winter
December - MarchDuring heavy snowfalls, avoid placing your trash and recycling carts directly in the street. Place them on your driveway apron to ensure they do not interfere with Village snow plows.
About Gurnee Waste Management
Reliable Residential Waste Management in Gurnee
Keeping the Village of Gurnee clean and beautiful requires a coordinated community effort. Nestled in Lake County and home to major attractions like Six Flags Great America, our village experiences unique seasonal variations. Waste Management (WM) serves as the primary hauler for single-family residences, ensuring dependable weekly collection of refuse, recycling, and seasonal yard waste to preserve Gurnee's vibrant suburban environment.
Navigating Gurnee's Single-Stream Recycling Program
Gurnee utilizes a single-stream recycling system, making it easier for residents to divert waste from landfills. All approved recyclables, including flattened cardboard, clean paper, glass bottles, and rigid plastics, can go into your designated recycling cart. It is crucial to leave items loose rather than bagging them, as plastic bags jam the local sorting facilities in Lake County and increase contamination rates.
Seasonal Landscape Waste and Fall Leaf Collection
The changing seasons in Northern Illinois mean yard maintenance is a major part of residential life. Gurnee’s landscape waste collection typically runs from April through November. Residents can use kraft paper yard bags with affixed landscape waste stickers or subscribe to a seasonal cart service. Additionally, the Village usually coordinates a specialized fall leaf collection program to help manage the heavy leaf drop before the winter snow arrives.
Handling Electronic Waste and Special Materials
Illinois law strictly prohibits disposing of electronics like televisions, computers, and monitors in standard curbside trash. Gurnee residents can utilize the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) programs for electronic recycling and household chemical waste disposal. Utilizing these local Lake County drop-off points ensures that hazardous materials stay out of our local waterways and ecosystems.
Drop-off Facilities
SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) Drop-off Facility
1311 N. Estes Street, Gurnee, IL 60031
Materials Accepted
Waste Management - Grayslake Hauling
Route 83 and Route 120, Grayslake, IL
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash carts out in Gurnee?
All trash, recycling, and yard waste containers must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day to ensure pickup by Waste Management.
How do I dispose of a television in Gurnee?
Televisions and other electronics are banned from Illinois landfills and cannot be placed curbside. You must take them to a SWALCO electronic recycling drop-off site or schedule a special e-waste pickup.
Does Gurnee require a sticker for yard waste?
Yes, unless you subscribe to the seasonal yard waste cart service. If using kraft paper bags or your own 32-gallon rigid containers, each one must have a prepaid landscape waste sticker attached.
Can I throw away paint with my regular trash?
Latex paint can be thrown in the regular trash only if it is completely dried out (you can use cat litter or paint hardener). Oil-based paints are considered hazardous and must be taken to a SWALCO Household Chemical Waste collection event.