Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mount Prospect
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly Monday through Friday, with your specific pickup day determined by neighborhood zone and viewable via the Recycle Coach tool.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste and organics are collected weekly on your regular collection day from April through mid-December.
Set Out Time
Between 4:30 PM the day before and 6:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling service fees are bundled with your monthly Village water and sewer bill, or billed quarterly if your property does not receive Village water service.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH/Credit/Debit), 24/7 Payment Kiosk, 24/7 Drop Box, Mail, In Person
Green Wheeled Cart Bin (Trash)
All standard garbage must fit inside the green cart with the lid completely closed. Carts must be placed at the curb with a 2-foot separation from other objects, with the handle facing away from the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Small broken household items
Blue Wheeled Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not place items in plastic bags; leave them loose inside the blue cart. If your recycling capacity is insufficient, contact Public Works for a larger cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Glass food and beverage containers
- ✓Steel, tin, and bimetal cans
- ✓Aluminum foil and formed foil
- ✓#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #7 plastics
- ✓Wax and polycoated cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam (EPS)
- ✕Food waste or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Runs April to mid-December. Use rigid containers up to 32 gallons (max 50 lbs) or a rented yard waste cart for mixed food scraps. Kraft bags can only be used for plain yard waste. Brush must be bundled up to 5 ft and 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Twigs and brush
- ✓Fruits and vegetables
- ✓Bread, pasta, and cereals
- ✓Meat (no bones) and dairy (no liquids)
- ✓Coffee grounds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular collection day
Placement
Place bulk items on the parkway next to your green cart with at least a 2-foot clearance. Do not place items in the street.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Microwave ovens
- ✓ Bicycles and BBQ grills
- ✓ Lawn mowers and snowblowers (fluids drained)
- ✓ Furniture and plumbing fixtures (separated)
- ✓ Carpet rolls (cut to 5-foot lengths)
Not Accepted
- ✕ White goods (refrigerators, washers)
- ✕ Construction debris exceeding 1 cubic yard
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
Excessive construction debris over one cubic yard, large tree stumps, and white goods (appliances) require a special pickup arrangement directly with Republic Services (847-981-0091) and will incur an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday on or before your scheduled pickup, service is delayed by one day that week (Friday routes collected on Saturday). If the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday, pushing all collections back one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and organics collection strictly follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as refuse and recycling.
There are no service delays for holidays not listed above, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, or Columbus Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilEarly April marks the resumption of the Village's Organics and Yard Waste program. Begin placing your spring yard cleanup debris and kitchen scraps in rigid containers or rented carts on your normal collection day.
Autumn
Late October - Early DecemberThe Village provides a special Loose-Leaf Vacuum Collection program. Rake leaves onto the pavement exactly one foot from the curb line the day before your scheduled pickup. Do not bag them or mix them with grass clippings or sticks, as this will damage the vacuum machinery.
Winter
JanuaryLive Christmas trees are collected whole (completely stripped of lights, tinsel, wire, and ornaments) typically in early January. Do not place trees in plastic bags or chop them into pieces. Wreaths constructed with metal wire frames must go in the regular garbage.
Local Tips & Community Info
Republic Services and Mount Prospect's Weekly Collection
The Village of Mount Prospect partners exclusively with Republic Services to provide comprehensive weekly waste, recycling, and organics pickup. Residents must wheel their provided carts to the curb or parkway no earlier than 4:30 p.m. the day prior to collection, and absolutely no later than 6:30 a.m. on the actual collection morning. Late set-outs will not prompt a truck to turn around, meaning you will have to wait until the following week for disposal. Standard refuse must be completely contained within the green wheeled cart issued by the municipality, ensuring the lid can close flat to deter pests and wildlife.
Utilizing the Village Organics and Composting Program
Mount Prospect has recently expanded its traditional yard waste services into a robust Organics collection program. From April through mid-December, residents can dispose of grass clippings, leaves, fruits, vegetables, bread, and even meat without bones at no extra charge. You can mix food scraps directly with landscape debris in a rigid, reusable container up to 95 gallons. If you choose to use traditional 32-gallon kraft paper bags, they may only contain yard waste, not food scraps. Plastic bags are entirely prohibited for any type of yard debris or compostable material.
Taking Advantage of Free Bulk Item Pickup
One of the most generous benefits of living in this community is the unlimited, free weekly bulk item collection. Homeowners can place large household goods like mattresses, furniture, bicycles, and microwaves out with their regular garbage. There is no maximum limit on standard household bulk items, making spring cleaning extremely convenient. However, if you are disposing of construction debris, such as drywall or lumber, you are limited to one cubic yard per week, which is roughly equivalent to six 50-pound bundles.
Cart Storage Regulations and Neighborhood Aesthetics
To maintain the visual appeal of residential streets, the local Village Code strictly regulates where you can store your waste containers on non-collection days. Trash, recycling, and organics carts cannot be kept in the front yard or left sitting on the driveway in front of the garage. They must be securely stored in the rear yard, along the side of the house, or inside an enclosed garage. If you reside on a corner lot, containers must be completely screened from the adjacent street by dense landscaping or a permanent fence.
Holiday Interruptions and Winter Tree Disposal
When major holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, or Independence Day fall on a standard weekday, your local garbage route will be delayed by exactly one day. For example, a scheduled Monday pickup will occur on Tuesday. During the first two weeks of January, Republic Services conducts a special curbside collection for real Christmas trees. To ensure your tree is composted, you must remove all lights, ornaments, wire, and tinsel. Do not chop the tree into smaller pieces; it must be left at the curb entirely whole.
Drop-off Facilities
Mount Prospect Public Works Facility
1700 W Central Rd, Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Materials Accepted
Glenview Transfer Station (SWANCC)
3 Providence Way, Des Plaines, IL
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I swap my current garbage cart for a different size?
Residents can easily request a different cart size by calling the Public Works Department directly at (847) 870-5640. Republic Services will typically swap your container on the very next scheduled service day.
How should I prepare loose branches and brush for pickup?
Tree limbs and brush must be securely tied into bundles using biodegradable twine or cloth. Each bundle cannot exceed five feet in length, fifty pounds in weight, or 3.5 inches in branch diameter.
Are artificial holiday wreaths collected as yard waste?
No, artificial wreaths and real wreaths constructed on wire metal frames cannot be composted. They must be placed directly into your green refuse cart for standard landfill disposal.