Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mundelein
Trash Day
Collection runs Tuesday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood service area.
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular 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
Trash and recycling services are provided through Groot Industries and billed directly to residents on a quarterly basis in January, April, July, and October.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior rates are available for residents aged 65 and older on both standard unlimited and limited service tiers.
Village-issued 95-Gallon Cart Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb between 6:00 PM the evening before and 6:00 AM on your collection day. Carts must be placed at least four feet apart from one another and away from cars or mailboxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste (meat, dairy, liquids)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓General refuse
Village-issued 65-Gallon Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the recycling cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Ensure all food containers are rinsed clean before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and office paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic containers and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Collected from April 1 to November 30. Use biodegradable landscape bags or clearly marked containers. Do not include meat, poultry, seafood, grease, or dirt.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and twigs
- ✓Garden debris and weeds
- ✓Approved food scraps (fruits, vegetables, breads, coffee grounds)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week (Standard Plan)
Placement
Place your single bulk item curbside next to the garbage cart on your regular collection day by 6:00 AM.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Chairs and couches
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Household items under 50 lbs (broken down)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances with Freon (unless evacuated and tagged)
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Additional bulk items, excessive construction debris, or large appliances may require an extra fee or a special pickup scheduled directly through Groot.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on or before your regularly scheduled pick-up day, services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the holiday week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage during the active April to November season.
Holidays falling on a weekend typically do not disrupt the standard Monday through Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberFrom April 1 through November 30, Groot collects yard waste and permits the commingling of specific organic food scraps directly in your landscape bags or yard waste containers.
Fall
October - DecemberThe Village's annual loose leaf collection program begins in October and runs until the beginning of December, weather permitting. Leaves must be raked onto the parkway grass, not into the street.
Spring
April - MayA Village-wide Spring Clean Up is held over two weeks in late April or early May, allowing residents to set out unlimited household junk at no additional cost on their regular trash day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Exclusive Groot Industries Collection Services
In the Village of Mundelein, residential solid waste and recycling services are managed exclusively by Groot Industries, Inc. The standard equipment provided to households includes a spacious 95-gallon cart for general refuse and a 65-gallon cart for recycling materials. Depending on your specific neighborhood zone, collection occurs once a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. Groot's collection operations run from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., ensuring all local routes are thoroughly serviced before the evening hours.
Curbside Placement and Equipment Regulations
To facilitate smooth and efficient automated pickup, Mundelein enforces strict cart placement rules. Residents must position their refuse and recycling containers at least four feet apart from one another at the curb. This spacing allows the automated mechanical arms on the collection trucks to grab the bins without accidentally knocking over adjacent carts or mailboxes. Bins should be placed out no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the night before your designated service day, and they must be ready by 6:00 a.m. on the morning of collection.
Landscape Waste and Fall Leaf Programs
Managing seasonal yard debris is easy with Mundelein's structured landscape waste program, which runs annually from April 1 through November 30. During this period, residents can dispose of grass clippings, twigs, and weeds using approved bags or rigid containers bearing a prepaid sticker. As a bonus, the Village typically offers a two-week grace period in early April where bagged leaves are collected for free without requiring a sticker. Additionally, a dedicated fall leaf collection program begins in October, allowing homeowners to rake leaves directly onto the parkway grass near the curb for vacuum removal.
Flexible Subscription Tiers and Senior Discounts
Unlike towns that force a single flat rate on all households, Mundelein's contract with Groot provides five distinct service options. Families can choose between unlimited collection, limited collection, or a pay-by-the-bag sticker program depending on how much trash they typically generate. Furthermore, the Village offers heavily discounted rates for senior citizens aged 65 and older. This tiered approach ensures that single individuals and older adults do not overpay for waste capacity they do not actually use.
Spring Clean-Up and Specialized Billing
Once a year, typically in late April or early May, Mundelein hosts a highly anticipated Village-wide Spring Clean-Up. During this event, homeowners can place an unlimited amount of acceptable household junk and bulk items on the curb at no additional cost, provided individual items are broken down to weigh less than 50 pounds. When it comes to paying your standard Groot waste bill, residents can use the Groot online portal, call customer service, or utilize a convenient physical drop box located inside the local Ace Hardware on East Hawley Street.
Drop-off Facilities
SWALCO Household Chemical Waste Facility
1311 N. Estes Street, Gurnee, IL 60031
Materials Accepted
Mundelein Public Works Facility (Seasonal)
801 Allanson Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do my garbage and recycling carts need to be at the curb?
All materials must be placed curbside between 6:00 p.m. the evening before and 6:00 a.m. on your actual collection day.
Do I need to buy stickers for my yard waste?
Yes, standard landscape waste requires a sticker from April 1 to November 30. However, the Village usually provides a free, stickerless leaf bag pickup for the first two weeks of April.
Where can I drop off my Groot trash bill in person?
If you prefer not to pay online or by mail, you can drop your Groot payment in the secure box located at the Mundelein Ace Hardware at 609 East Hawley Street.