Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Oak Forest
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.
City-Issued Cart (Green or Blue) Bin (Trash)
Residents may use the provided 95-gallon cart, or personal containers up to 32 gallons and 50 pounds. Per City Code 1060.03, place bins at the parkway no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before pickup and remove them by 9:00 PM on service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Dried out latex paint (with lid off)
City-Issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week. All recyclables must be placed loose inside the cart; do not bag your recycling. Gently rinse food containers before binning.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Office paper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Clean plastic bottles, jugs, and 5-gallon buckets
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and films
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Clothes hangers
- ✕Garden hoses and tanglers
- ✕Motor oil containers
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Place yard waste in brown Kraft paper bags, a rented 95-gallon HDS yard waste cart, or tied in bundles with twine (max 4 feet long, 6 inches in diameter, under 50 lbs). Dirt and rocks are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓General landscape debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place bulk items at the parkway alongside your regular garbage carts no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and tables
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Standard household appliances
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpeting (max 4ft long, 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics and televisions (requires scheduled e-waste pickup)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paints
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Large-scale commercial construction debris
Standard bulk collection is included in the city contract at no extra cost. E-waste pickup is also free but must be scheduled in advance.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week will be pushed back by one day (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
During the active season (April-November), yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as refuse and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday, delaying the entire week. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, there are no service interruptions.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Don't Hide Recyclables in Bags
Never enclose your recyclables in plastic garbage or grocery bags. Bagged items cannot be sorted at the recycling facility and are typically sent straight to the landfill to prevent machinery jams.
Harden Your Latex Paint
Latex paint is water-based and not hazardous, but it cannot be thrown away in liquid form. Add cheap kitty litter, sawdust, or commercial paint hardener to the can. Once completely solid, throw it in the regular trash with the lid removed so the driver can see it's dry.
Keep Shredded Paper and Hangers Out
While standard office paper is highly recyclable, shredded paper falls through the sorting screens and causes immense contamination. Similarly, metal and plastic clothes hangers easily jam the spinning discs at the recovery facility.
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberThe dedicated yard waste collection program runs annually from April 1 through November 30. During this time, all organic landscape debris must be properly bagged, bundled, or placed in a rented organics cart.
Post-Storm/Flooding
Year-RoundIf heavy Midwestern rains cause basement flooding, Oak Forest allows you to dispose of ruined carpeting curbside without an extra fee. The carpet must be rolled, tied into segments no larger than 4'x2', and weigh less than 50 pounds per bundle.
Winter
December - MarchDuring winter snowstorms, ensure your garbage and recycling carts are placed at the end of your driveway rather than in the street to allow Oak Forest Public Works snowplows to safely clear the roadways.
About Oak Forest Waste Management
Comprehensive Residential Waste Services in Oak Forest
The City of Oak Forest partners with Homewood Disposal Service (HDS) to provide residents with an robust, unlimited weekly refuse collection program [1.1.1]. Standard service includes weekly garbage pickup, bi-weekly single-stream recycling, and seasonal yard waste collection. To maintain neighborhood aesthetics, Oak Forest strictly enforces City Code 1060.03, which mandates that carts must be stored in the rear of the property and only placed at the parkway between 6:00 p.m. the day prior to collection and 9:00 p.m. on collection day.
Convenient Curbside Electronics Recycling
A standout feature of Oak Forest's waste contract is the inclusion of free curbside electronic waste (e-waste) pickup. Because electronics are banned from Illinois landfills, residents can easily schedule a specialized truck to collect items like computers, printers, and televisions. This service must be scheduled online or by phone with Homewood Disposal beforehand, and each household is allowed to recycle up to two televisions or computer monitors per calendar year right from their curb.
Flooded Carpet and Unlimited Bulk Disposal
Oak Forest's unlimited garbage collection accommodates large household cleanouts and bulk items like furniture and standard appliances at no extra charge. Uniquely, the city has specific provisions for residents dealing with basement flooding. Homewood Disposal will collect all water-damaged carpeting at the curb on your regular trash day, provided it is cut, rolled, and securely bundled into segments no larger than four feet long, two feet wide, and weighing under 50 pounds.
Navigating Bi-Weekly Single-Stream Recycling
Recycling in Oak Forest is collected every other week on your standard refuse day. Residents use a city-issued recycling cart to conveniently combine flattened cardboard, clean paper, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. However, sorting facilities face severe issues with contamination; items like plastic grocery bags, garden hoses, and clothes hangers are strictly prohibited as they wrap around the sorting gears at Homewood Disposal's Material Recovery Facility.
Managing Household Hazardous Waste Safely
While standard household trash is easily handled curbside, hazardous materials like pesticides, motor oil, and solvent-based paints require special care. Oak Forest directs residents to utilize the regional Household Hazardous Waste drop-off facility located in Naperville. However, it is important to note that standard water-based latex paint is not considered hazardous. Residents can simply dry out leftover latex paint using kitty litter or sawdust and place the open can directly into their normal garbage cart.
Drop-off Facilities
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facility
156 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville, IL 60540
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When am I allowed to put my trash carts out in Oak Forest?
According to City Code 1060.03, carts must be stored in the rear of your property. You may place them at the parkway no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection, and they must be brought back in no later than 9:00 p.m. on your collection day.
How do I throw away an old television or computer monitor?
Electronics are banned from the trash in Illinois. However, Oak Forest residents can easily schedule a free curbside e-waste pickup by contacting Homewood Disposal online or by phone. Simply schedule the pickup and place the electronics at the curb on your regular trash day. There is a limit of two TVs or monitors per year per address.
Can I throw out leftover paint with my regular trash?
If it is oil-based paint, you must take it to a Household Hazardous Waste facility. If it is standard latex paint, it is not hazardous. Simply remove the lid, mix in kitty litter or sawdust until it completely hardens, and throw the open can in your normal garbage.
What are the rules for disposing of carpeting if my basement floods?
Homewood Disposal will collect water-damaged carpeting on your regular trash day. To ensure it is picked up, you must cut the carpet into segments, roll it, and tie it into bundles. Each bundle can be no more than four feet in length, two feet wide, and cannot exceed 50 pounds.