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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection fees are contracted through Waste Management and billed directly on your monthly City of Joliet water and sewer utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Online, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior Citizen discount is available for residents aged 65 and older who apply and provide proof of age to the Customer Service Department.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Joliet Waste Management Collection System
The City of Joliet partners exclusively with Waste Management (WM) to handle all residential sanitation needs. Under this unified system, single-family dwellings are provided with color-coded containers: green lids signify standard household garbage, while yellow lids denote recyclable materials. Although both your refuse and recycling are collected on the exact same day each week, they are serviced by different trucks at varying times, so it is entirely normal to see one cart emptied hours before the other.
Curbside Placement Guidelines
Proper bin positioning ensures efficient neighborhood cleanups and prevents missed stops. Residents must have their carts wheeled to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection morning. However, local ordinances stipulate that containers should not be placed outside before 6:00 p.m. the evening prior. When setting them out, ensure the wheels rest against the curb and leave a minimum clearance of three feet from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and secondary bins. Once emptied, all carts must be retrieved by the end of the day.
Single-Stream Recycling Protocols
Joliet’s recycling program utilizes a single-stream method, meaning all approved glass, paper, cardboard, and rigid plastics can be comingled inside your yellow-lidded cart. It is vital to keep these items loose rather than bagging them, as plastic garbage bags severely tangle the sorting machinery at WM facilities. Avoid tossing food-soiled containers, styrofoam, or tanglers like garden hoses into your recycling bin, as these constitute contamination and can ruin an entire load of good recyclables.
Seasonal Landscape Waste
For households tackling yard upkeep, landscape waste collection kicks off in March and concludes in early December. Residents have three distinct ways to package organic debris: traditional brown Kraft paper yard bags, a personal 32-gallon container clearly marked 'Yard Waste' that weighs no more than 45 pounds, or a dedicated yard waste cart rented directly from Waste Management. Grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs are readily accepted, but heavy materials like dirt and rocks are strictly prohibited.
Handling Bulky Materials and E-Waste
Getting rid of oversized items is highly convenient for Joliet homeowners. The current contract permits the disposal of one large bulk item—such as a couch, mattress, or broken cabinet—each week alongside your regular trash without an extra fee. For tricky items like televisions, computers, old paint, and household chemicals, residents must utilize the 'WM At Your Door' program. This specialized service requires a phone call to schedule a secure, home-based pickup for hazardous and electronic waste, ensuring toxic materials stay out of local landfills.
Holiday Collection Shifts
Sanitation schedules can occasionally shift due to major national holidays. Waste Management observes New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your usual service day falls on or after one of these holidays during the workweek, your collection will be delayed by a single day. Weekend holidays typically do not disrupt the normal Monday-through-Friday route schedule.
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
How do I dispose of old paint and electronics in Joliet?
You cannot put hazardous chemicals or electronics in your curbside bins. Instead, you must contact the 'WM At Your Door' service to schedule a special collection specifically for these restricted materials.
What are the rules for setting out my garbage and recycling carts?
Carts must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, but no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before. Be sure to space them at least three feet apart from other objects.
Does the city pick up large furniture like couches?
Yes, Joliet residents are allowed to set out one large bulk item per week alongside their regular green-lidded garbage cart at no additional charge.