Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Naperville
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.
Blue or Gray (Sizes: 35, 68, or 95-gallon Naperville Cart, or personal 32-gallon cans) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Personal containers cannot exceed 32 gallons or 60 pounds. City-issued carts have a 220-pound limit.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste (if not composting)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam (if not dropping off at Dart)
Green (Sizes: 35, 68, or 95-gallon Naperville Cart) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart without plastic garbage bags. Containers should be rinsed out. Shredded paper is strictly prohibited as it jams sorting gears.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and chipboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Plastic containers #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #7
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans (including empty aerosols)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and films
- ✕Styrofoam (Plastic #6)
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Lithium batteries and electronics
- ✕Tanglers (hangers, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Use 32-gallon paper bags or a clearly labeled 'Yard Waste Only' 32-gallon can (max 60 lbs). Brush must be bundled (max 4 ft long, 2 ft wide) with biodegradable twine. A $2.75 Groot sticker is required per item from mid-March to Nov 2.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Food scraps (ONLY if using a rented Groot Yard Waste Cart)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your standard garbage collection day
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. along with your regular trash. Carpet and wood must be securely tied. You must call Groot at 630-892-9294 ahead of time if you are placing out a large appliance.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ One household appliance per week (requires a call to Groot)
- ✓ Rolled carpet (max 2 rolls per week, 4 ft long, 60 lbs max)
- ✓ Bundled drywall or wood (max 2 bundles/cans, 4 ft long, 60 lbs max)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automotive tires
- ✕ Liquid paints and hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Heavy construction debris exceeding limits
One major appliance and up to two bundles of remodeling debris are included free of charge per week. Excessive construction cleanouts will require the rental of a private roll-off dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage during its active operating season.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to the standard Monday-Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Stop Bagging Your Recyclables
The fastest way to have your recycling rejected is by placing it inside a plastic trash bag. Keep items loose in the cart. Plastic bags should be returned to local grocery stores, not put in the curbside bin.
Keep Shredded Paper Out
Do not put shredded paper in your green recycling cart. It is too light for the automated sorting facilities, acts as a contaminant, and sticks to the recycling machinery, causing breakdowns.
No Number 6 Plastics
Check the recycling triangle on your plastic items. Naperville does not accept any plastics marked with a #6, including Styrofoam cups, meat trays, or packing peanuts. These belong in the trash or at a specialized drop-off.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MayThe city offers an annual free Curbside Bulk Brush Collection starting in early May. The city is divided into five collection districts based on garbage day. Brush must be unbundled, neatly stacked, and out by the Sunday before your district's week begins.
Fall
November - DecemberNaperville suspends the yard waste sticker requirement for bagged leaves. From early November through mid-December, you can set out paper yard waste bags or labeled cans of leaves and grass for free weekly collection.
Fall
October - NovemberThe Bulk Curbside Leaf Collection Program allows residents to rake leaves directly into the street next to the curb. The city makes three scheduled passes through every neighborhood, weather permitting.
About Naperville Waste Management
The Naperville Environmental Collection Campus
Rather than forcing residents to wait for sporadic county drop-off events, Naperville centralizes its specialized waste disposal at the Environmental Collection Campus on 156 Fort Hill Drive. This robust municipal hub offers a weekly Electronics Recycling Facility (open Monday through Friday), a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off on weekends, and a general Recycling Drop-Off Center operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This unique setup ensures that harmful toxins and heavy metals are consistently diverted from local Illinois landfills.
Navigating Naperville's Sticker-Based Yard Waste Program
From mid-March until early November, Naperville homeowners must affix a $2.75 Groot yard waste sticker to every 32-gallon Kraft paper bag or bundled pile of brush placed at the curb. However, to help manage seasonal property cleanup, the city pauses this requirement and implements a free bagged leaf and yard waste collection program from early November through mid-December, saving households money during the heavy fall leaf drop.
Free Weekly Appliance and Bulk Remodeling Pickups
Unlike many municipalities that charge steep fees for heavy cleanouts, Groot provides Naperville residents with exceptional bulk and construction disposal perks at no extra cost. Homeowners can place one major household appliance (such as a refrigerator, freezer, or washing machine) out per week, provided they call Groot in advance to schedule the truck. Furthermore, limited quantities of DIY remodeling debris, including up to two rolls of carpeting (maximum 60 pounds each) or two bundles of drywall, are accepted weekly alongside normal household trash.
Banning Styrofoam and Adapting Polystyrene Recycling
Naperville takes a strict stance against expanded polystyrene (EPS) in its curbside recycling bins. Plastics labeled as #6, including packing peanuts, foam egg cartons, and takeout containers, are strictly forbidden as they crumble and contaminate the municipal sorting lines. Instead, the city directs sustainability-minded residents to the nearby Dart Container facility in North Aurora, which specializes in safely breaking down and remanufacturing clean polystyrene foam.
Expanding Food Scrap Composting Options
To further its climate and sustainability goals, the City of Naperville offers integrated organics recycling. Homeowners who rent dedicated 65-gallon or 95-gallon yard waste carts directly from the city are permitted to combine their kitchen food scraps alongside their yard trimmings for weekly collection. For those without dedicated carts, Naperville also hosts localized food scrap drop-off sites, ensuring apartment dwellers and low-volume waste generators can still participate in the composting initiative.
Drop-off Facilities
Naperville Environmental Collection Campus (Electronics)
156 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville, IL 60540
Materials Accepted
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
156 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville, IL 60540
Materials Accepted
Dart Container Corporation (Styrofoam Drop-Off)
310 Evergreen Dr, North Aurora, IL 60542
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away an old refrigerator or washing machine in Naperville?
Groot will collect one large appliance per week at no additional charge. However, you must contact Groot Industries at 630-892-9294 prior to your scheduled collection day to inform them so they can dispatch the proper truck.
Where can I buy Naperville yard waste stickers, and how much do they cost?
For the 2026 season, Groot yard waste stickers cost $2.75 each. They are required from mid-March until early November and can be purchased at the Finance Department inside the Naperville Municipal Center (400 S. Eagle St.), as well as at various local grocery and hardware stores.
Can I throw out drywall and rolled carpet with my regular garbage?
Yes, but in limited quantities. Groot accepts a maximum of two rolls of carpeting per week (cut to 4 feet long and weighing under 60 pounds each). For construction materials like wood or drywall, you are limited to two 32-gallon cans or two securely tied 60-pound bundles per week.
Does the City of Naperville accept Styrofoam in the curbside recycling carts?
No. Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam / #6 plastic) is strictly prohibited in your green recycling cart. Residents should instead take clean foam cups, meat trays, and packaging foam to the Dart Container drop-off location in neighboring North Aurora.