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
!Contamination Tips
Meat is Not for the Yard Waste Bin
While Mundelein highly encourages composting food scraps like fruits, breads, and dairy in your landscape waste bags, meat, poultry, seafood, and grease are strictly prohibited and will attract pests.
Keep Leaves Out of the Street
During the fall leaf collection season, leaves must be piled on the parkway grass near the curb. Raking them into the roadway blocks storm drains and violates village ordinances.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep all paper, cardboard, and containers loose inside your 65-gallon recycling cart. Materials tied up in plastic grocery bags tangle the sorting equipment and will be discarded as standard trash.
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.
About Mundelein Waste Management
Flexible Tiered Garbage Service Levels
The Village of Mundelein offers its residents unique flexibility in managing their household waste. Homeowners can choose between an unlimited standard refuse plan, a limited collection plan, a pay-by-the-bag program, and discounted senior options. The standard unlimited service equips residents with a 95-gallon refuse cart and a 65-gallon recycling cart, making it ideal for busy households, while the pay-per-bag option rewards those who produce minimal waste.
Food Scrap Composting Program
To reduce the volume of organic waste entering local landfills, Mundelein permits residents to mix approved food scraps directly into their landscape waste bags or containers between April 1st and November 30th. Acceptable items include fruits, vegetables, breads, pasta, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Keep in mind that meat, poultry, seafood, and liquids must still go into the regular garbage.
Free Curbside Electronic Waste Pickup
Illinois state law strictly bans televisions, computers, and monitors from ending up in standard landfills. However, unlike many municipalities that require residents to drive to a distant recycling center, Groot provides Mundelein residents with curbside electronic waste collection at no additional charge. You simply need to contact Groot's customer service team in advance to schedule a designated pickup date.
Annual Spring Clean-Up Event
Every spring, typically bridging late April and early May, Mundelein coordinates a highly anticipated Village-Wide Spring Clean Up. Over the course of two weeks, Groot allows residents to place an unlimited amount of acceptable household junk and bulk items at the curb on their regular garbage day entirely free of charge. It is the perfect opportunity for residents to responsibly clear out their basements and garages.
Strict Bin Placement and Distancing
Groot utilizes automated collection trucks in Mundelein, meaning exact cart placement is crucial to ensure your bins are serviced. Carts must be placed at the curb between 6:00 PM the evening before and 6:00 AM on your collection day. To allow the mechanical arms to safely grab the bins, there must be a minimum of four feet of clearance between the garbage cart, the recycling cart, and any nearby obstacles like parked cars or mailboxes.
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
How many bulk items can I throw away in Mundelein?
Under the standard unlimited service plan, Groot allows residents to place one bulk item (such as a piece of furniture or a mattress) out per week at no extra charge. Items should be placed curbside by 6:00 AM on your normal pickup day.
Can I put food waste in my yard waste bags?
Yes! Between April 1st and November 30th, Mundelein allows residents to compost specific food scraps—like fruits, vegetables, breads, and dairy—in their landscape waste containers. However, meat, poultry, seafood, and grease are strictly not permitted.
How do I dispose of old electronics in Mundelein?
Groot provides free curbside pickup for electronic waste. You cannot place these items in your regular trash bin; instead, you must call Groot at 847-693-2700 in advance to schedule a dedicated curbside e-waste collection.
What are the rules for fall leaf collection?
Mundelein's annual loose leaf collection runs from October through the beginning of December. Residents must rake their leaves into piles on the parkway grass right next to the curb. Leaves must never be raked into the street or over storm drains.