Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Oswego
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.
Typically Green or Grey (Groot 95-Gallon Toter) Bin (Trash)
Place your 95-gallon toter at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Unlimited household waste is permitted if properly bagged next to the full cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and wrappers
- ✓Small broken household items
- ✓Food waste (if not subscribing to compost)
Typically Green with Blue or Yellow Lid (Groot 65-Gallon Toter) Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the cart. Do not bag items. Flatten all cardboard boxes to ensure adequate space in the 65-gallon container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes
- ✓Office paper, newspaper, and mail
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam packing materials
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Use 30-gallon kraft bags with a $2.50 sticker (max 50 lbs). Brush must be bundled (max 4 feet long, 2 feet diameter). No dirt, sod, or rocks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Garden weeds and plant stalks
- ✓Twigs and bundled brush
- ✓Food scraps (ONLY if using the subscription 95-gallon cart)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (One item per week)
Placement
Place your single free bulk item alongside your regular Groot toter at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and dressers
- ✓ Mattress and box spring (counted together as one item)
- ✓ Carpet bundles (rolled, max 4 feet long, max 4 bundles per week)
- ✓ Tied construction debris (max 1 cubic yard)
Not Accepted
- ✕ White goods and appliances (requires a $35 fee)
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous liquids (paint, motor oil)
- ✕ Loose dirt, concrete, or stone
One item is free weekly. Additional bulk debris costs $28 per cubic yard. Appliances (white goods) cost $35 each and must be scheduled 24 hours in advance by calling (630) 892-9294.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
During the active collection season (April through November), yard waste collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is legally observed on Monday, which delays the entire week's schedule. Holidays falling on a Saturday do not affect weekday routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Food Scraps Out of Kraft Bags
While Oswego encourages food scrap composting, these materials cannot be placed in standard paper yard waste bags. Food scraps like coffee grounds and vegetable peels are only accepted if you are enrolled in the premium 95-gallon yard waste subscription cart program.
Do Not Mix Dirt with Yard Waste
When doing heavy landscaping, remember that root sections, gravel, sand, sod, and excess amounts of dirt are strictly prohibited from yard waste collection. These heavy items can rip the paper bags and contaminate the commercial composting process.
Return Plastic Bags to the Grocery Store
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag before throwing them in the recycling toter. Plastic bags get tangled in Groot's automated sorting machinery. Instead, leave items loose and return film plastics to local retail drop-offs.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe 2026 Spring Cleanup Week is scheduled for the week of April 6. During this week, Groot collects additional household waste, bulk items, and stickered yard waste for free on your normal collection day.
Fall
NovemberThe 2026 Fall Cleanup Week is scheduled for the week of November 9. Just like the spring cleanup, extra junk is collected for free. Remember that appliances, TVs, and electronics are still excluded from this free pickup.
Winter
Late November - DecemberOswego typically offers a Free Winter Yard Waste Collection week starting November 30 (for 2026). During this week, you can place unlimited 30-gallon kraft bags of leaves at the curb without needing to purchase the $2.50 stickers.
About Oswego Waste Management
Oswego's Generous Weekly Refuse and Bulk Allowance
The Village of Oswego partners with Groot Industries to offer an incredibly generous residential waste program [1.2.1]. Standard service includes a 95-gallon refuse toter, but unlike many municipalities, Groot will pick up an unlimited amount of appropriately containerized household waste each week. Moreover, residents are permitted to place one large bulk item—such as a sofa, dresser, or a combined mattress and box spring—at the curb every week completely free of charge. You can even set out up to one cubic yard of bundled construction debris as your free weekly item.
Navigating the Yard Waste Sticker and Compost Programs
Oswego provides two options for managing seasonal yard waste from April through November. The standard method requires residents to affix a $2.50 Groot landscape sticker to every 30-gallon biodegradable kraft paper bag or bundle of brush. For households that generate heavy foliage or want to compost food scraps, the Village offers a Yard Waste Subscription program. For a flat seasonal rate of $169.91 (in 2026), residents receive a dedicated 95-gallon cart that accepts both yard clippings and kitchen food scraps, bypassing the need for individual stickers.
The Highly Anticipated Spring and Fall Cleanup Weeks
Twice a year, the Village of Oswego and Groot host massive, free cleanup weeks to help residents manage seasonal clutter. Scheduled for the week of April 6 in the spring and the week of November 9 in the fall (for 2026), these events allow homeowners to place unlimited amounts of household waste, bulk items, and yard waste at the curb without needing any stickers. A bonus 'Free Yard Waste Only' collection week also typically occurs at the end of November to capture the last of the fallen autumn leaves.
Proper Disposal of Major Appliances and Electronics
Large household appliances—known as white goods—such as refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines contain components that require special handling under Illinois state law. Groot Industries does not collect these during the regular weekly bulk pickup or the annual cleanups. Instead, Oswego residents must call Groot directly at (630) 892-9294 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a dedicated white goods pickup, which costs a flat $35.00 fee per item.
Recent Route Optimization for Expanding Neighborhoods
Because Oswego is a rapidly growing community, Groot periodically adjusts its collection routes to maximize efficiency. Most recently, refuse pickup days for growing subdivisions like Piper Glen, Sonoma Trails, and Hudson Point were permanently moved from Wednesdays to Fridays. Residents should ensure their carts are placed out by 6:00 a.m. on their newly designated days, and use the Groot mobile app to track any real-time delays.
Drop-off Facilities
Oswego Public Works Facility
100 Theodore Drive, Oswego, IL 60543
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away an old mattress in Oswego?
Oswego residents are permitted to throw away one bulk item per week for free. Groot considers a mattress and a box spring together as a single bulk item. Simply place them at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your normal garbage day.
How does the Oswego yard waste sticker program work?
From April 1 through November 30, residents must attach a $2.50 Groot landscape sticker to every 30-gallon biodegradable kraft paper bag or bundle of brush. The only exceptions are during the designated free cleanup weeks in the spring and late fall.
Can I compost food scraps with my yard waste in Oswego?
Yes, but with a strict condition. Food scraps like coffee grounds and vegetable peels cannot be placed in the paper yard waste bags. They are only accepted if you upgrade to the Yard Waste Subscription program, which provides a dedicated 95-gallon cart for $169.91 per season.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or washing machine in Oswego?
Major appliances, known as white goods, are not collected during regular weekly bulk pickups or during the Spring/Fall cleanup events. You must call Groot Industries at (630) 892-9294 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a special pickup, which costs a flat $35.00 fee.