Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Highland Park
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.
Blue or Black (varies by size) Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day (but no earlier than 7:00 PM the night before). All trash must fit inside the cart, or extra bags must have a prepaid sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Treated wood
Blue or Green (LRS designated) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; leave them loose in the cart. Extra recycling can be placed next to the cart for free, preferably using a cardboard box as a makeshift bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic containers and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Mixed paper and mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Use the yellow-lidded compost cart for all organics. Excess yard waste requires a prepaid LRS sticker attached to a kraft paper bag or tied bundle (under 50 lbs and max 4 ft long).
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, veggies)
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Coffee grounds and tea bags
- ✓Soiled pizza boxes
- ✓Twigs and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place the single bulk item at the curb next to your trash cart by 7:00 AM on your normal service day. Mattresses must be securely wrapped in plastic for driver safety.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and sofas
- ✓ Small furniture items
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
Not Accepted
- ✕ White goods (refrigerators, washers)
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Items over 50 lbs requiring two people to lift
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Additional bulk items incur a charge of $17.64 per yard. White goods and appliances are not standard bulk and require a scheduled pickup with a $48.99 fee per item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on or before your regularly scheduled pickup day, services will be delayed one day for the remainder of the holiday week.
Yard Waste Exception
Compost and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular refuse.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, your collection schedule is generally not affected during the standard work week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Plastic grocery bags and garbage bags tangle the sorting equipment at Lake County recycling facilities. Always leave your paper, plastics, and glass loose in the cart. Never bag your recyclables.
Compost Cart Strict No-Nos
While the yellow-lidded cart is excellent for organic food scraps and yard waste, it strictly prohibits diapers, pet waste, cooking oil, grease, and Styrofoam. Keeping these out ensures the compost remains clean and usable.
Cardboard Boxes Count as Bins
If you have excess recycling, do not stuff it into a plastic bag. Instead, flatten your extra cardboard boxes or use an open cardboard box as a makeshift bin placed directly next to your cart on service day.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe annual Spring Clean-Up event takes place in April, allowing residents to discard additional bulk items and up to 1 cubic yard of bundled construction material curbside without using standard volume stickers.
Fall
October - NovemberDuring the fall leaf season, excess landscape waste beyond what fits in the yellow-lidded cart must be placed in kraft paper yard waste bags with affixed LRS stickers to guarantee pickup.
Winter
December - JanuaryTake advantage of the free Christmas tree collection running through January 25th. Ensure all lights, ornaments, garlands, and plastic tree bags are completely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
About Highland Park Waste Management
Comprehensive Waste Solutions in Highland Park
Maintaining the pristine environments of Highland Park—from the scenic shores of Rosewood Beach to historic residential neighborhoods—requires a flexible and robust waste management system. The City partners with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) to provide a volume-based refuse program. Residents can select 35, 65, or 95-gallon carts, or opt for a premium backdoor subscription service, ensuring that waste removal accommodates the diverse architectural landscapes and lifestyle needs across this Lake County community.
Leading the Way: All-In Curbside Composting
Highland Park boasts an impressive 40% residential recycling diversion rate, a success largely fueled by its progressive organics program. The city equips households with a specialized yellow-lidded compost cart designed for a co-mingled mix of landscape yard waste and everyday food scraps. This allows residents to easily divert meat bones, dairy products, eggshells, and even greasy pizza boxes from the landfill right alongside their fall leaves and grass clippings.
Convenient Curbside Electronic and Bulk Waste Removal
Unlike many municipalities that require a drive to a distant county drop-off center, Highland Park makes recycling heavy and awkward items incredibly convenient. Through the LRS contract, residents are entitled to one free curbside pickup of a large electronic waste item (under 50 lbs) on their first service day of the month, provided they call ahead to schedule. Furthermore, one standard bulk item, such as a piece of furniture, can be left out weekly at no extra charge.
Local Recycling Center and Seasonal Cleanup Events
For items that cannot go in curbside bins, the Highland Park Recycling Center on Half Day Road serves as a vital community resource. Open on Tuesdays and the first Saturday of the month, the facility accepts fluorescent bulbs, foam #6, and textiles. The city also coordinates an annual Spring Clean-Up event with LRS, offering expanded bulk item collection to help residents clear out winter clutter seamlessly.
Drop-off Facilities
Highland Park Recycling Center
1180 Half Day Road, Highland Park, IL 60035
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put food scraps in my yard waste bin in Highland Park?
Yes! Highland Park operates an 'All-in Community-wide Curbside Composting Program.' You can place food scraps, including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and bones, directly into your yellow-lidded compost cart along with your regular yard waste.
How do I get rid of an old TV or computer?
LRS provides Highland Park residents with one free electronic waste pickup (for items under 50 lbs) on your first service day of the month. However, you must call LRS ahead of time at 844-633-3577 to schedule this free curbside collection.
Is there a fee for putting out extra garbage bags?
Yes, Highland Park operates on a volume-based waste system. If your trash exceeds your cart's capacity, each additional loose bag (under 50 lbs) requires an extra waste sticker attached to it for collection.
What are my options if I have a long driveway and can't easily bring carts to the curb?
LRS offers a Backdoor Subscription Service for residents who prefer not to take their carts out to the curb. This premium service involves a specific backdoor charge in addition to the standard monthly base fee, and is available for 35-gallon and 65-gallon cart setups.