Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for New Lenox
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.
Green (35, 65, or 95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day. Any garbage outside the cart must be bagged and have a RED Village of New Lenox extra refuse sticker attached.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Soiled paper
Brown (65 or 95-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Collection is every other week. All recyclables must be placed loose in the brown cart. Do not bag recyclables. Items must be clean and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Active April 1 - November 30. Use 33-gallon brown paper bags with a green Homewood Disposal yard waste sticker, or a rented blue 95-gallon yard waste cart. Branches must be cut to 3-4 feet and bundled, with a sticker attached.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden debris
- ✓Small twigs and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place the single bulk item at the curb next to your green trash cart on your regular collection day. Any additional bulk items require RED extra refuse stickers.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Box springs
- ✓ Small cabinetry
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Large amounts of construction debris
- ✕ Railroad ties
If you have more than one bulk item in a single week, you must purchase and attach RED extra refuse stickers to the additional items to ensure they are hauled away.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active season (April-November), yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as garbage and recycling.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to the collection schedule during the week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The most common recycling mistake in New Lenox is placing recyclables in plastic grocery or garbage bags. These bags tangle the gears at the sorting facility. Always drop your paper, plastics, and glass loosely into the brown cart.
Keep Dirt and Rocks Out of Yard Waste
When cleaning up your garden, ensure no dirt, soil, sod, or rocks make their way into your yard waste bags or blue cart. These heavy, non-compostable items will result in your yard waste being rejected at the curb.
Clean Out Your Containers
A single half-full soda bottle or unrinsed peanut butter jar can ruin an entire load of clean paper recycling. Always give your bottles, cans, and jars a quick rinse and ensure they are dry before tossing them in the bin.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Autumn
Spring (Dates Vary) and October - NovemberThe Village operates a specialized leaf vacuum truck. Rake your leaves onto the parkway (about 12 inches behind the curb) and never into the street, as leaves in the street clog storm drains and cause localized flooding.
Summer
April - OctoberThe Village Public Works offers a call-ahead branch pickup program on Tuesdays. You must call 815-215-4800 to be placed on the schedule. Do not mix construction materials or roots with your branches.
Winter
December - MarchDuring the winter off-season, you can use your blue 95-gallon yard waste cart for extra household garbage, but you MUST attach three (3) RED extra refuse stickers to the cart for it to be collected.
About New Lenox Waste Management
Coordinated Waste Collection in New Lenox
The Village of New Lenox partners exclusively with Homewood Disposal Service to provide comprehensive residential waste management. Whether your home is near the vibrant Village Commons or tucked in a quiet subdivision, you receive weekly garbage and seasonal yard waste collection, alongside bi-weekly recycling. Utilizing the provided carts properly ensures our community remains clean and environmentally friendly.
Navigating the Red Sticker Program for Extra Trash
New Lenox employs a volume-based approach for excess household refuse. While each home is provided a green garbage cart (available in 35, 65, or 95-gallon capacities), any additional garbage must be placed in up to 35-gallon bags, with each bag requiring a RED Village of New Lenox extra refuse sticker. These stickers can be conveniently purchased at the Village Hall or local grocery stores like Berkots and Jewel-Osco.
Bi-Weekly Single-Stream Recycling Guidelines
To help minimize landfill dependency in Will County, Homewood Disposal equips every residence with a brown 65-gallon or 95-gallon recycling cart collected every other week. You can seamlessly co-mingle cardboard, metal cans, glass jars, and plastic containers. It is absolutely crucial to leave all recyclables loose in the cart; putting your items inside plastic garbage bags will jam the sorting machinery and contaminate the recycling load.
Robust Yard Waste and Public Works Leaf Vacuuming
Maintaining your landscape is heavily supported in New Lenox. The standard yard waste season runs from April 1 through November 30, utilizing either a rented blue yard waste cart or brown kraft bags affixed with a green yard waste sticker. Beyond standard collection, the Village's Public Works Department provides an exceptional, free leaf vacuuming service in the spring and fall for leaves raked to the parkway, as well as a call-ahead branch pickup program.
Disposing of Bulky Furniture and Banned Electronics
Upgrading your home furnishings is easy, as Homewood Disposal allows one standard bulk item (like a couch, mattress, or dresser) to be placed curbside each week at no additional charge. However, electronic waste such as televisions and computers are banned from Illinois landfills and cannot go to the curb. Residents must instead utilize the New Lenox Township's specific electronic recycling drop-off days held on designated Wednesdays.
Drop-off Facilities
New Lenox Township Traditional Recycling Center
1100 S. Cedar Road, New Lenox, IL 60451
Materials Accepted
Will County Electronics Drop-off (at Township Office)
1100 S. Cedar Road, New Lenox, IL 60451
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my garbage doesn't fit inside my green cart?
If your waste exceeds your cart's capacity, you must place the extra garbage into standard 30 to 35-gallon bags. Every additional bag must have a RED 'Village of New Lenox' extra refuse sticker attached to it in order to be collected.
Can I throw yard waste into my regular garbage cart?
No. Illinois State Law strictly prohibits mixing yard waste with household garbage. You must place yard waste in brown paper bags with a green yard waste sticker, or rent a dedicated blue 95-gallon yard waste cart from Homewood Disposal.
Does the Village offer leaf collection in the fall?
Yes. The New Lenox Public Works Department operates a leaf vacuum truck during the spring and fall. Leaves should be raked onto the grass parkway, about 12 inches behind the curb. Never rake leaves directly into the street, as this blocks storm drains.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress in New Lenox?
Homewood Disposal allows you to throw away one large bulk item per week for free. Simply place the couch or mattress (mattresses must be wrapped in plastic) next to your garbage cart on your regular collection day. Any additional bulk items will require red refuse stickers.