Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Park 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.
Brown Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be placed in the provided brown Homewood Disposal bins. Carts must be set out at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Lids must be securely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Common household waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Small amounts of home remodeling debris
Green Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables are collected every other Tuesday. All items should be placed loosely into the green bin without plastic bags. Ensure containers are rinsed clean of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓White, brown, and green glass bottles and jars
- ✓Tin and aluminum containers
- ✓Plastic containers #1 through #5, and #7
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
Yard Waste Bin
Requires a blue 95-gallon rented bin or 30-gallon paper bags with a paid Village sticker. Bundled branches must not exceed 5 feet in length or 4 inches in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular garbage day (Tuesday)
Placement
Place your single weekly bulk item next to your brown garbage bin by 7:00 a.m. on your designated Tuesday collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Kitchen appliances
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous and special waste
- ✕ Automotive parts and car tires
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Large-scale contractor demolition debris
The first bulk item each week is free. For excessive amounts of waste, or if you are doing a massive home cleanout, you will need to privately rent a roll-off dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major observed holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, the standard Tuesday garbage collection will be delayed by one day and take place on Wednesday of that week only.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is completely suspended from December through March, so winter holidays do not impact landscape debris schedules.
Because standard collection is exclusively on Tuesdays, holidays that fall on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday do not impact the Park Forest pickup schedule at all.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Exclude Number 6 Plastics
While Park Forest's recycling program accepts a wide range of plastic numbers from 1 to 7, they explicitly prohibit plastic #6 (polystyrene). Check the bottom of your containers, and toss all Styrofoam cups, clamshells, and packaging into the brown garbage bin.
Keep Electronics Out of the Bins
Never place items with a plug or battery in your brown or green carts. State law prohibits e-waste in landfills. Mixing old devices into your recycling bin introduces hazardous heavy metals into the recycling stream and can result in rejected carts.
Manage Heavy Branches Separately
While yard waste pickup accepts small bundled branches, anything thicker than 4 inches in diameter will be rejected at the curb. For large limbs or whole tree removals, you must contract a private tree removal or landscaping service.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe dedicated yard waste collection season officially kicks off on the first Tuesday of April. Be sure to have your blue bins or stickered Kraft bags ready for early spring cleanups.
Autumn
NovemberCurbside landscape waste collection concludes on the last Tuesday in November. Plan your final leaf raking and garden trimming accordingly, as bags set out in December will not be collected.
Winter
JanuaryHomewood Disposal offers a special Christmas tree composting pick-up service during the month of January. Trees must be completely bare—remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and plastic tree bags before placing them at the curb.
About Park Forest Waste Management
Village-Wide Tuesday Refuse Collection
In Park Forest, single-family homes benefit from a streamlined, village-wide collection schedule where all standard refuse, recycling, and yard waste services occur on Tuesdays. Administered through a contract with Homewood Disposal Services, residents utilize designated brown bins for regular trash, while multi-family properties like townhomes and condos manage their own private waste contracts.
Generous Weekly Bulk Item Allowances
Unlike many neighboring municipalities that charge upfront fees for large items or limit them to an annual cleanup day, Park Forest allows residents to set out one free bulk item every single week. Whether it is a piece of furniture, a washer, or a dryer, you can simply place it at the curb next to your brown bin on Tuesday morning without having to schedule a special pickup.
Disposing of Minor Remodeling Debris
A highly unique feature of the Park Forest waste program is its leniency with minor do-it-yourself construction waste. Homewood Disposal will collect small amounts of dirt, sod, bricks, concrete, and standard remodeling debris during your regular weekly service, provided it is properly contained and not overly excessive, saving homeowners a trip to the local dump.
Navigating the Yard Waste Season
From the first Tuesday in April through the last Tuesday in November, Park Forest implements a strict yard waste diversion program. Residents can either subscribe to rent a 95-gallon blue yard waste bin from Homewood Disposal or utilize 30-gallon biodegradable Kraft paper bags. Each paper bag requires an official Village sticker, which typically costs $3.45 and can be purchased directly at the Village Hall.
Mandatory Electronic Waste Protocols
Because the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act bans e-waste from standard landfills, you cannot toss old televisions or computers into your brown trash bin. Fortunately, the current municipal contract with Homewood Disposal includes provisions for electronic waste collection; residents can contact the hauler directly to coordinate the safe removal of these regulated items.
Drop-off Facilities
Homewood Disposal Service Headquarters
1501 W. 175th Street, Homewood, IL 60430
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is garbage picked up in Park Forest, IL?
For all single-family residences in Park Forest, garbage, recycling, and seasonal yard waste are collected weekly on Tuesdays. Bins should be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m.
Where can I purchase yard waste stickers in Park Forest?
Yard waste stickers for your 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags can be purchased directly at the Park Forest Village Hall. As of recent rates, they are $3.45 per sticker, though prices are subject to slight annual adjustments.
How do I throw away an old couch or refrigerator?
Park Forest allows residents to throw away one large bulk item—such as a couch, mattress, washer, or refrigerator—each week for free. Just place it out next to your brown bin by 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
How does a holiday affect my trash pickup?
If a recognized holiday like Memorial Day or Thanksgiving falls on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, your regular Tuesday collection will be pushed back by one day to Wednesday. Holidays occurring later in the week will not disrupt the schedule.