Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rolling Meadows
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 (35 or 65-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day. Excess trash must be in tightly tied plastic bags (max 30 gallons and 50 lbs). Personal hard garbage cans are prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and scraps
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
City-Issued Cart (currently via Flood Brothers) Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the cart. Do not bag them. Any excess cardboard placed outside the bin must be completely flattened, bundled, and tied securely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Paper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Collected from April 1st through the first week of December. Must be in 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags (max 50 lbs). Do not use plastic bags. No municipal stickers are required.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Plant and garden debris
- ✓Small branches and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular pickup day
Placement
Place at the curb by 6:00 AM on your regular collection day. For massive home cleanouts exceeding standard bulk items, you must call Public Works at 847-963-0500 for a special pickup quote.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Standard household furniture (couches, chairs)
- ✓ Cabinets
- ✓ Small non-electronic appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large-scale construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paints
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
Standard bulk items are collected for free. Special massive cleanouts or oversized pickups arranged through Public Works incur a minimum $50.00 charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week are delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active April-December season.
Rolling Meadows uniquely observes the Friday after Thanksgiving as a Public Works holiday, meaning Friday routes during Thanksgiving week will always be picked up on Saturday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Use Twine, Not Wire
When bundling loose branches and brush for yard waste collection, you must use natural, biodegradable twine. Bundles tied with plastic zip ties, nylon rope, or metal wire will be rejected at the curb.
Ditch the Personal Cans
If your city-issued refuse cart is full, do not fill up a personal plastic or metal garbage can with the excess. The drivers will not empty unapproved hard containers; use tied plastic bags instead.
Flatten and Tie Loose Cardboard
If you have oversized boxes that won't fit in your recycling cart, do not just toss them loosely on the ground. They must be flattened, stacked, and tied securely together to prevent windblown litter.
Seasonal Information
Winter
November - MarchTake advantage of the City's winter set-out rule. During the cold and dark months from November through March, you are permitted to place your carts at the curb as early as 3:00 p.m. the day before pickup.
Spring through Fall
April - DecemberLandscape waste collection runs concurrently with refuse pickup from April 1st through the first or second week of December. Use kraft paper bags only; no stickers are required in Rolling Meadows.
Autumn
OctoberKeep an eye out for the annual SWANCC Electronics Recycling and Document Destruction event, typically held on a Saturday morning in early October at the Public Works facility on Berdnick Street.
About Rolling Meadows Waste Management
Rolling Meadows' Monumental Transition to LRS
In a historic shift for the city, Rolling Meadows is ending its 57-year tradition of in-house Public Works garbage collection. Beginning September 28, 2026, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will officially take over all residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste operations under a new 10-year municipal contract. This transition is designed to stabilize refuse fund costs while introducing upgraded benefits like 95-gallon cart options and free curbside electronic waste recycling for all residents.
Unique Winter Set-Out Allowances
Rolling Meadows acknowledges the difficulty of hauling trash in the dark during frigid Midwestern winters. While the standard rule dictates that carts cannot be placed at the curb before 6:00 p.m. the night prior to collection, the city adjusts this ordinance seasonally. During the darker months of November, December, January, February, and March, residents are uniquely permitted to set their refuse and recycling at the curb as early as 3:00 p.m. the day before pickup.
Strict Regulations on Excess Household Trash
Currently, residents utilize City-issued 35-gallon or 65-gallon refuse containers. If your weekly household waste exceeds the capacity of this provided cart, you must be careful how you set out the overflow. Rolling Meadows strictly prohibits the use of personal metal or hard plastic garbage cans at the curb. Any extra garbage must be placed in heavy-duty plastic bags (maximum 30 gallons and 50 pounds) that are securely tied and placed next to the city cart.
Sticker-Free Yard Waste and Brush Collection
Maintaining a pristine lawn is made easier in Rolling Meadows thanks to a sticker-free landscape waste program. From April through the first week of December, residents can dispose of grass clippings and leaves using standard 30-gallon biodegradable kraft paper bags at no extra cost. When clearing out brush, branches must be cut to lengths of four feet or less and bundled tightly into packages no wider than two feet in diameter to ensure safe loading into the collection trucks.
Managing Electronics and E-Waste
Under Illinois law, electronics like televisions, monitors, and computers are completely banned from standard landfill disposal. Currently, residents rely on regional SWANCC drop-off events or the local recycling center to discard these heavy-metal hazards. However, a major perk of the incoming LRS contract is the addition of a scheduled, free curbside e-waste collection service, meaning residents will soon be able to recycle their digital devices right from their driveway.
Drop-off Facilities
Rolling Meadows Transfer Station (LRS)
3851 Berdnick Street, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When is LRS taking over the garbage collection in Rolling Meadows?
Beginning September 28, 2026, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will officially take over all residential solid waste and recycling collection, replacing the City's 57-year in-house Public Works service. The City will communicate specific changes leading up to that date.
What time can I put my garbage out at the curb?
During standard months (April-October), carts can be placed out starting at 6:00 p.m. the night before collection. However, during the winter months (November-March), you can put them out as early as 3:00 p.m. All materials must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Can I use my own garbage can if my city-issued cart is full?
No. Rolling Meadows does not collect trash from personal metal or hard plastic garbage cans. Any excess refuse must be placed in tightly tied plastic bags (up to 30 gallons and weighing under 50 pounds) next to your city cart.
How do I throw away tree branches and brush?
Branches must be cut to lengths of four feet or less, securely bundled into packages no wider than two feet in diameter, and tied with natural, biodegradable twine. Wire or plastic bindings are not allowed and will cause the bundle to be rejected.