Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kankakee
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.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Your Recyclables Loose
Do not enclose your paper, glass, or cans in plastic garbage bags before putting them in the recycling cart. Bagged materials cause massive jams at the sorting facility.
Avoid Water-Soaked Furniture
If you are setting out a mattress or upholstered furniture for your weekly bulk pickup, try to keep it dry with a tarp if it's raining. Republic Services will refuse to collect exceptionally heavy, water-logged items.
No Branches in the Leaf Piles
During the fall leaf vacuuming season, never mix sticks or branches into your leaf piles. Woody debris damages the city's vacuum equipment and your pile will be skipped.
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.
About Kankakee Waste Management
Kankakee's Automated Municipal Waste Program
The City of Kankakee utilizes a standardized 95-gallon container system managed by Republic Services for all residential garbage collection. To maintain orderly neighborhoods and comply with city ordinances, residents must adhere to strict placement timelines. Carts cannot be placed at the curb more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled collection day and must be retrieved within 24 hours after pickup. Failure to promptly remove your carts from the parkway may result in a formal citation from Kankakee Code Enforcement.
Proper Bi-Weekly Recycling Protocol
Kankakee encourages environmental stewardship by providing a dedicated container for single-stream recycling. Collected on an every-other-week schedule, this service accepts standard materials including clean glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, and paper products. To ensure efficient processing at the material recovery facility, it is critical that residents place all recyclables loosely inside the cart. Plastic garbage bags and film wraps are strictly prohibited as they wrap around the sorting machinery.
Managing Large Bulk Items and Excess Waste
Getting rid of a heavy couch or an old mattress is highly convenient under the municipal contract. Republic Services collects one large bulk item (up to 2 cubic yards) per household on your regular service day every week at no extra charge. However, specific restrictions apply: bulk items cannot be set out more than 24 hours in advance, and crews will reject loose debris lying on the ground, heavily water-soaked furniture, construction materials, or large appliances. For oversized cleanouts exceeding this limit, residents must contact Kankakee Public Works to request special pricing.
Seasonal Lawn Waste and Leaf Vacuuming
From April 1st through November 30th, standard lawn waste is collected weekly on your regular garbage day. Residents can use containers or biodegradable paper bags for grass clippings and small sticks. As autumn approaches, the City of Kankakee supplements this service with a dedicated leaf vacuuming program running from mid-October through early December. Public Works crews will vacuum leaves raked neatly along the back of the curb, but they will bypass any piles contaminated with litter, plastic bags, or mixed tree branches.
Free E-Waste Drop-Off for Kankakee Residents
Electronic waste contains toxic heavy metals and is legally banned from Illinois landfills. Because you cannot throw computers or televisions in your Republic Services cart, Kankakee County has partnered with Belson Steel Center Scrap to provide a free electronic recycling solution. Qualifying residents of Kankakee can transport their old electronics directly to the designated drop-off facility in nearby Bourbonnais. A valid photo ID is required upon entry to verify residency.
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
How long can I leave my garbage cart at the street in Kankakee?
Per city code, your 95-gallon Republic Services container cannot be placed at the curb more than 24 hours before your scheduled pickup day, and it must be brought back to your property within 24 hours after it is emptied. Violations can result in a citation.
Will the city pick up large branches after a severe thunderstorm?
Yes, but not through your standard garbage hauler. The Kankakee Environmental Services (Public Works) department handles storm clean-up and major yard waste that cannot fit into standard lawn containers. You must call Public Works at (815) 933-0472 to report woody waste that needs to be collected.
Can I throw away an old refrigerator for my free weekly bulk pickup?
No. While Republic Services collects one bulk item (up to 2 cubic yards) per week for free, appliances are explicitly prohibited from this service. They will also reject construction debris, heavily water-soaked items, or loose trash lying on the ground.
Where can I drop off an old television or computer?
Electronic waste is banned from the trash. However, Kankakee County partners with Belson Steel Center Scrap (located at 1685 N State Rt 50, Bourbonnais, IL) to offer free e-waste recycling to Kankakee residents. You must bring a photo ID for residency verification.