Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Morton Grove
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 Cart (35, 65, or 95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM. Maintain a 4-foot clearance between carts and keep them 10 feet from parkway trees. Cart handles must face the house.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Small broken household items
City-Issued 65-gallon Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart. Excess recycling can be placed in a paper bag beside the cart or in a personal 32-gallon can explicitly marked 'Recycling Only'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard (cut to 2' x 2' sections)
- ✓Paperboard, office paper, and mail
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and films
- ✕Duct tape (plastic or silver)
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food waste or liquids
Yard Waste Bin
Active March 15 - December 15. Requires a prepaid landscape sticker on each 30-gallon kraft bag or bundle unless subscribed to a cart program. Bundles must be tied with biodegradable twine, max 4 ft long, 2 ft diameter, and under 45 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Brush and branches
- ✓Garden plants and weeds
- ✓Food scraps (ONLY if subscribed to the specific Food Scrap Cart program)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One bulk item per week
Placement
Place your one free bulk item at the curb alongside your regular trash cart by 6:00 AM. For appliances, you must call in advance.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and recliners
- ✓ Desks and wooden furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large non-appliance household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Hazardous waste or wet paint
- ✕ Large quantities of construction debris
- ✕ Oversized or overweight items requiring special equipment
The first standard bulk item is free. Additional bulk items, oversized materials, and major appliances ('white goods') require you to call Groot in advance to schedule and prepay any applicable fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active March-December season.
If a designated holiday falls on a Sunday, it is officially observed on the following Monday, pushing Tuesday collections to Wednesday, and Wednesday collections to Thursday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Filters in the Food Scraps
If you are subscribed to the Landscape/Food Scrap cart program, you can compost coffee grounds and tea leaves, but you must strictly avoid throwing the paper coffee filters or tea bags into the bin.
Use Biodegradable Twine for Brush
When bundling loose branches and twigs for curbside pickup, you must secure them using natural, biodegradable twine. Bundles tied with plastic zip ties, nylon rope, or metal wire will be rejected by the Groot driver.
Ditch the Plastic and Duct Tape
Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery bags, and ensure that flattened cardboard boxes are free of heavy plastic or silver duct tape. These materials contaminate the paper recycling stream and jam automated sorting equipment.
Seasonal Information
Winter
JanuaryDuring the month of January every year, residents are permitted to exchange their garbage or recycling toters for a different size (35, 65, or 95-gallon) entirely free of charge. Exchanges requested outside of January incur a switch-out fee.
Spring through Fall
March 15 - December 15Curbside landscape waste collection operates strictly within these dates. During the off-season, residents who wish to continue composting can register for the year-round WasteNot bucket exchange program.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf-fall, ensure all leaves are properly bagged in kraft paper bags or placed in your landscape cart. Sweeping or blowing leaves into the streets or the North Branch of the Chicago River violates local stormwater ordinances.
About Morton Grove Waste Management
Morton Grove's Dual-Zone Refuse Collection Schedule
The Village of Morton Grove efficiently manages its residential solid waste by dividing the city into two distinct collection zones, using the North Branch of the Chicago River as the natural boundary. Residents living East of the North Branch receive their weekly trash, recycling, and yard waste services on Tuesdays. Those residing West of the North Branch are serviced on Wednesdays. To ensure seamless collection by Groot Industries' automated trucks, all carts must be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 AM on your designated morning.
Optimizing Single-Stream Recycling and Cart Positioning
Morton Grove promotes robust environmental stewardship through a commingled, single-sort recycling program. Residents are provided a 65-gallon recycling toter to mix flattened cardboard, paper, glass, and plastics. Because Groot utilizes automated mechanical arms, positioning is critical: carts must be placed at least four feet apart from each other, ten feet away from parkway trees or parked cars, and with the handles facing your house. If you generate excess recycling, you may use a personal 32-gallon container clearly marked 'Recycling Only' or place overflow recyclables in paper bags next to the cart.
Flexible Landscape Waste and Food Scrap Composting
Landscape waste collection runs seasonally from March 15 through December 15. Morton Grove offers immense flexibility, allowing residents to use a pay-as-you-throw sticker system for 30-gallon kraft bags, or to opt into a seasonal subscription cart. Notably, residents who subscribe to the 65-gallon or 95-gallon Landscape/Food Scrap Cart program can compost organic kitchen waste alongside their grass clippings. Additionally, the Village has partnered with WasteNot Compost to offer a year-round, bucket-exchange composting service for eco-conscious households.
Effortless Bulk Item and Appliance Disposal
Disposing of large household goods in Morton Grove is highly convenient. Groot's municipal contract allows for the collection of one standard bulk item—such as a mattress, couch, or wooden dresser—per week at no additional charge. However, if you need to discard multiple large items, or if you are throwing away heavy appliances ('white goods') like refrigerators or washing machines, you must call Groot directly at 800-244-1977 in advance to schedule a specialized pickup and arrange for any applicable fees.
Drop-off Facilities
SWANCC Glenview Transfer Station
3 Providence Way, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is my garbage picked up in Morton Grove?
Your collection day depends on your location relative to the North Branch of the Chicago River. Residents living East of the river are serviced on Tuesdays, while residents living West of the river are serviced on Wednesdays.
Can I compost food scraps with my yard waste?
Yes, but only if you are subscribed to the specific 65-gallon or 95-gallon Landscape Waste/Food Scrap Subscription Program through Groot. Acceptable items include fruits, vegetables, grains, non-liquid dairy, and eggshells. You cannot put food scraps into standard stickered yard waste bags.
How do I throw away an old refrigerator or washing machine?
Major household appliances are collected on your regular service day, but they are not included in the 'one free bulk item' rule. You must call Groot Industries directly at 800-244-1977 in advance to schedule the appliance pickup and coordinate the fee.
Can I change the size of my Groot garbage cart?
Yes. Residents can exchange their current refuse or recycling carts for a different size (35, 65, or 95 gallons). If you request this exchange during the month of January, it is completely free of charge. Exchanges made during any other month will incur a $25.00 switch-out fee.