Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Palatine
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential refuse and recycling fees are bundled directly onto your bi-monthly Village of Palatine municipal utility bill alongside water and sewer charges.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Direct Debit), Mail, In Person, Drop Box
Groot-issued Cart (Black Lid) Bin (Trash)
All refuse must fit in the Groot cart with a black lid. Excess refuse may be bagged and placed next to the cart. Must be at the curb by 6:30 AM on collection day, but no earlier than 7:00 PM the night before (4:00 PM during standard winter time).
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food packaging
Groot-issued Cart (Green or Yellow Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely in the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags. Ensure the cart is at the curb by 6:30 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Plastic containers, bottles, and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Picked up from the first full week of April through the second full week of December. Use 2-ply brown paper yard bags or bundles (max 4 feet long, 2 feet wide). Max 60 lbs per bag/bundle. Do not use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree trimming debris
- ✓Small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular collection day
Placement
Place alongside your refuse cart by 6:30 AM. For items over 50 lbs or 4 feet in length, you must call Groot at 800-244-1977 in advance to schedule.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Bicycles
- ✓ Lawn mowers (gas and oil removed)
- ✓ Barbecue grills (propane tanks removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances and white goods (unless pre-scheduled)
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous chemical waste
- ✕ Construction debris over 2 cubic yards
Standard and oversized bulk items are collected for free. However, appliances (white goods) cost $20 each, and e-waste costs $20 for up to 5 items (TVs over 50 lbs cost an extra $50).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday on or before your regular collection day, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage during the active April-December season.
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekend, your standard weekday collection schedule will generally remain unchanged.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
MayTake advantage of Palatine's Annual Spring Clean-Up Week in early May. During your scheduled pickup day this week, you can place an unlimited amount of standard refuse, furniture, and bulk junk at the curb for free.
Spring to Fall
April - DecemberThe collection of bagged and bundled yard waste runs continuously from the first full week of April through the second full week of December. Ensure all branches are securely tied with biodegradable cotton twine.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryGroot will collect bare Christmas trees and wreaths placed at the curb on your regular collection day. Additionally, holiday string lights can be dropped off at the 24/7 Recycling Center at the Public Works facility.
Local Tips & Community Info
Palatine Residential Solid Waste and Groot Partnership
The Village of Palatine works exclusively with Groot Industries to provide comprehensive refuse, recycling, and landscape waste services to all single-family residential households. This streamlined partnership ensures that local neighborhoods remain clean and environmentally compliant. Weekly refuse collection covers your household garbage and standard recyclables. To maintain consistency, all waste fees are incorporated directly into your bi-monthly municipal utility bill. When setting out your materials, it is important to know that standard garbage goes into the Groot carts with black lids, while recyclables must be placed in the carts featuring green or yellow lids.
Bin Placement Rules and Exchange Fees
To ensure that automated collection vehicles can properly service your home, all refuse and recycling carts must be positioned at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your designated pickup day. However, they should not be placed in the street or block pedestrian sidewalks. If your family generates more trash than your current bin can hold, or if you wish to downsize, you can request to exchange your cart size for a 35-gallon or 65-gallon container. Please note that Groot assesses a $30 delivery fee, payable in advance, for any cart exchanges. If you have occasional overflow, extra bags of garbage can be placed on top of or immediately next to your refuse cart.
Yard Waste Preparation and Brush Bundling
Seasonal landscape maintenance is a big part of keeping Palatine beautiful. When the yard waste collection season resumes in the spring, residents can easily dispose of grass clippings and shrubbery trimmings. All yard waste must be placed inside standard two-ply brown paper yard waste bags weighing no more than 60 pounds each. Plastic bags or rigid plastic containers are strictly prohibited for organic debris. If you are trimming trees, limbs cannot exceed four inches in diameter. You must bundle branches securely with biodegradable cotton twine or rope, keeping the bundles under four feet in length and under 60 pounds.
Disposing of Appliances and Electronic Waste
Illinois regulations require specialized handling for 'white goods' and electronic waste. If you need to discard a refrigerator, washing machine, or oven, Groot offers appliance pickups every Wednesday. This requires a $20 fee paid directly to Groot in advance. Similarly, if you are throwing away old electronics like computers or televisions, Groot will collect up to five items for a $20 prepaid fee. However, if your television weighs over 50 pounds, an additional $50 surcharge applies per unit. Residents must proactively contact Groot at (800) 244-1977 at least one business day prior to their collection to schedule these special pickups.
Bulk Items and Holiday Schedule Delays
For heavy furniture and mattresses that do not fit in your black-lidded cart, residents can often utilize special bulk item allowances. Occasionally, the village even hosts special Spring Cleanup events that allow for extra debris collection on your normal refuse day. Additionally, when a major national holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas occurs, collection schedules are traditionally pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week. For the most accurate and up-to-date schedule adjustments, it is highly recommended to check the Village of Palatine's Environmental Health Division website or contact the Groot customer service line directly.
Drop-off Facilities
Palatine Public Works Recycling Center
148 W. Illinois Avenue, Palatine, IL 60067
Materials Accepted
Village of Palatine Community Services Counter
200 E. Wood Street, 1st Floor, Palatine, IL 60067
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the official garbage collector for Palatine, IL?
Groot Industries is the exclusive refuse and recycling contractor for all residential single-family homes in the Village of Palatine.
Can I put yard waste in a plastic bin or bag?
No. All yard waste must be disposed of in two-ply brown paper yard waste bags weighing less than 60 pounds, or tied in bundles with biodegradable twine.
How do I get rid of an old television in Palatine?
You must call Groot in advance to schedule an electronic waste pickup. The service costs $20 for up to five items, but televisions over 50 pounds require an extra $50 fee.