Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Joliet
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 Lid Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb after 6:00 p.m. the night before or by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the green lid is fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable materials must be placed completely loose inside the cart. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic garbage bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and tubs
- ✓Glass jars and bottles
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (wires, cords, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Use 30-gallon Kraft paper bags, a personal container (up to 32 gallons max 45 lbs) clearly labeled 'YARD WASTE', or a rented WM yard waste cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular collection day
Placement
Place your bulk item at the curb or alley by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Carpet must be cut to 4-foot lengths, rolled, taped, and weigh under 50 lbs per roll.
Accepted
- ✓ Chairs and couches
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Rolled carpet (cut to 4-foot lengths)
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Vehicle tires and batteries
- ✕ Heavy construction debris
Standard collection of one bulk item is included with weekly service. For heavier cleanouts, residents must rent a roll-off dumpster or utilize a WM Bagster for an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on or before your scheduled collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
During its active collection season, yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as garbage and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, standard weekday services are typically not disrupted. Always verify with the Waste Management holiday calendar.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Bag-Free Recycling
Never put your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. The sorting machinery cannot process plastic films, so keep your paper, plastic, and metal items completely loose inside the yellow-lidded cart.
Label Personal Yard Waste Cans
If you use a personal 32-gallon can for grass clippings instead of Kraft bags, clearly mark it with a 'YARD WASTE ONLY' label. If it isn't labeled, drivers may mistake it for trash and refuse to empty it.
Schedule E-Waste Separately
Never attempt to hide old cell phones, laptops, or TVs in the green lid trash cart. Use the WM At Your Door service to dispose of these properly and legally directly from your front porch.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
March - DecemberYard waste collection is seasonal in Joliet. It begins annually during the second week of March and concludes during the first full week of December. During this window, it is picked up weekly on your normal trash day.
Summer
June - AugustDuring hot summer months, the city restricts lawn watering based on odd/even street addresses. Adhere to these ordinances to maintain water reserves while still managing your yard's organic growth.
Winter
December - MarchWhen heavy snow falls, place your garbage and recycling carts in the cleared portion of your driveway approach rather than the street to allow city plows to pass safely.
About Joliet Waste Management
Managing Special Items with WM At Your Door Service
In Joliet, hazardous materials and electronic waste are legally banned from standard curbside bins. To help residents properly dispose of these items, Waste Management provides the 'At Your Door Special Collection' service. By visiting wmatyourdoor.com or calling 800-449-7587, Joliet homeowners can easily schedule front-porch pickups for items like televisions, paints, automotive fluids, batteries, and household cleaners, keeping these toxins out of local Illinois landfills.
Streamlined Weekly Collection System
Waste Management handles weekly trash, recycling, and yard waste on a unified schedule. All three streams must be set out by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day, though they are serviced by different trucks at varying times. Carts may be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night prior, and empty carts must be removed from the parkway by the end of collection day to adhere to local city ordinances.
Bagster Program for DIY Remodeling
Taking on a small home renovation? Instead of paying the full price for a large roll-off dumpster, Joliet residents can take advantage of the WM Bagster program. The City of Joliet occasionally provides a limited supply of free Bagster bags at City Hall. Each 3-cubic-yard bag is perfect for drywall and construction debris. When filled, residents just schedule and pay a flat fee for a WM truck to haul the bag away.
Designated Container Lid Colors
Contamination slows down processing, so Joliet enforces strict color-coding for its waste carts. Standard household trash should only go into carts outfitted with a green lid. Conversely, your loose, unbagged recyclables must be placed into the container sporting the yellow lid. Keeping these streams separate and utilizing proper carts helps prevent valuable materials from being rejected at the sorting facility.
Drop-off Facilities
WM At Your Door Special Collection
Curbside/Front-Porch Pickup Service for Joliet Residents
Materials Accepted
City of Joliet City Hall
150 W. Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What items go in the green lid versus yellow lid carts in Joliet?
In Joliet, your Waste Management cart with the green lid is strictly for standard household garbage. The cart with the yellow lid is exclusively for unbagged, loose recyclable materials like cardboard, cans, and plastics.
How do I dispose of old paint and a broken TV?
You cannot put household chemicals or electronics in your standard carts. Joliet offers the WM 'At Your Door' service, which provides a scheduled home pickup for these exact materials. You can arrange a collection online at wmatyourdoor.com or by calling 800-449-7587.
Is yard waste collected year-round?
No. Yard waste collection in Joliet is seasonal, typically running from the second week of March through the first full week of December. Grass and leaves must be in Kraft paper bags or clearly labeled 32-gallon personal containers.
Can I throw out rolled carpeting with my regular trash?
Yes, but it must be properly prepared for the drivers. Carpet is considered a bulk item and must be cut into lengths of no more than 4 feet, securely rolled, and tied with string or tape. Each roll cannot weigh more than 50 pounds.