Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kankakee
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood route and ward.
Recycling
Every other week on your regular trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash collection day from April 1 through November 30.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential garbage and sewer disposal fees are billed monthly through the city's Environmental Services Utility, while collection services are managed by Republic Services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Auto-Pay, In Person
City-issued 95-gallon container Bin (Trash)
Place the container at the curb no more than 24 hours before pickup, and bring it back up within 24 hours of pickup to avoid a Code citation.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Small broken household items
City-issued recycling container Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other week. All materials must be placed loosely inside the container; never bag your recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Active April 1 through November 30. Use 30-gallon brown paper yard waste bags or designated yard waste cans. Do not mix with regular garbage.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small sticks and twigs
- ✓Leaves
- ✓General lawn waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One large item per week
Placement
Place your bulk item at the curb no earlier than 24 hours before your regular service day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large non-appliance household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Heavily water-soaked items
- ✕ Loose items lying on the ground
One bulk item is included for free. If you have excess bulk items, you must contact Kankakee Public Works for a special pick-up and pricing.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active season.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, standard collection schedules remain unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
April 1 - November 30Regular lawn waste pickup runs during these months. You can place grass clippings and small sticks in designated yard waste containers or biodegradable paper bags on your regular trash day.
Autumn
Mid-October - Early DecemberThe City provides a free leaf vacuuming service. Rake your leaves into neat rows along the back of the curb (not in the alley or street). Do not use plastic bags.
Post-Storm
Year-RoundIf a severe Midwest storm knocks down large tree limbs or shrubs that won't fit in a standard yard waste container, call the Kankakee Environmental Services (Public Works) Department directly for special storm clean-up.
Local Tips & Community Info
Republic Services Curbside Garbage Collection
Household solid waste management in Kankakee is facilitated by Republic Services, the city's contracted refuse hauler. Every residential address is assigned specific collection days for standard garbage disposal. All household waste must be placed securely in the designated municipal carts and brought to the curb early in the morning to guarantee pickup. If you generate extra garbage that overflows the provided bin, you must securely bag the excess. However, any trash outside the official cart must comply with city weight limits and not pose a hazard to the collection crews. Residents are encouraged to pull their carts back to their property promptly after the trucks have emptied them.
Proper Recycling Practices in Kankakee
Diverting reusable materials away from Illinois landfills is a major priority for the City of Kankakee. Republic Services handles residential recycling alongside normal refuse routes. Your blue cart is exclusively for recyclable materials such as aluminum cans, flattened cardboard, empty plastic jugs, and clean glass containers. To keep the recycling stream uncontaminated, never place materials inside plastic grocery bags. Plastic bags tangle the sorting equipment at the processing center. Simply toss your clean recyclables loosely into the bin. Items like styrofoam, food-soiled paper, and tanglers like garden hoses should go directly into the regular garbage.
Heavy Item and Furniture Removal
When you are upgrading your home or clearing out outhouses, standard bins often aren't enough. Kankakee residents can dispose of large items like couches, chairs, and small appliances through bulk waste collection. Usually, you are permitted to set out a limited number of heavy items per week alongside your normal trash. If a piece of furniture exceeds the standard weight limit of 40 to 50 pounds, or if you need to discard multiple large items simultaneously, you must contact Kankakee City Hall or Republic Services directly to coordinate a special pickup. Appliances containing Freon typically require distinct handling and prior scheduling.
Yard Waste Regulations and Seasonality
Managing lawn clippings and fallen leaves is easy with the city’s seasonal yard waste program. Beginning in April and running through the middle of December, yard debris is collected on your normal trash day. All organic yard waste must be contained within biodegradable kraft paper bags or loose inside a standard 32-gallon trash can clearly marked with a large 'YW' or 'Yard Waste' label. Plastic garbage bags are strictly prohibited for leaves and grass. If you have trimmed trees or shrubs, the branches must be cut down to four feet in length and bundled tightly with twine. Logs and thick stumps are not accepted in the yard waste program.
Impact of National Holidays on Pickup Days
Republic Services observes several major national holidays, which can cause minor interruptions to your regular curbside schedule. These holidays include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever a designated holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling operations are paused for that day. Consequently, all scheduled collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by exactly 24 hours. Normal Monday-through-Friday service routines resume immediately at the start of the following week.
Drop-off Facilities
Belson Steel Center Scrap (Kankakee County E-Waste Program)
1685 N State Rt 50, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my garbage out in Kankakee?
Carts should be placed at the curb early on the morning of your scheduled collection, typically before 6:00 AM, to ensure Republic Services drivers do not bypass your home.
How do I get rid of branches after a storm?
Tree limbs and branches must be chopped to a maximum length of four feet and tied into manageable bundles using heavy string or twine. These can be placed out on your yard waste collection day.
Can I recycle plastic grocery bags in my curbside bin?
No, plastic shopping bags are not accepted in the municipal recycling program because they damage sorting machinery. You should return them to local grocery stores that offer bag recycling drop-offs.