Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rolling Meadows
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood route (check the city's Refuse Map or address lookup tool to confirm your designated day).
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as trash pickup from April 1st through the first week of December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse and recycling charges are bundled directly into your monthly City of Rolling Meadows utility water bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In Person, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
Seniors are eligible for a 15% discount on residential refuse collection fees.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Rolling Meadows Refuse Collection Partnership
Managing household waste in the City of Rolling Meadows is a streamlined process thanks to the municipality's long-standing franchise agreement with Groot Industries. Groot supplies automated curbside collection for all single-family dwellings across the city. Your designated garbage day is determined by your specific neighborhood zone. To guarantee successful service, all refuse and recycling containers must be stationed at the curb no later than 6:30 a.m. on the morning of your scheduled pickup. Hauling trucks run varied routes, so relying on a specific time of day rather than the early morning cutoff can result in a skipped collection.
Cart Placement and Spacing Rules
Because Groot utilizes highly automated trucks equipped with mechanical lifting arms, the physical placement of your bins is incredibly important. Carts must be set on flat ground near the edge of your driveway or parkway with the lid opening facing the street. Residents must leave a minimum clearance of three feet between the trash bin and the recycling cart. Furthermore, ensure the containers are placed well away from parked vehicles, low-hanging tree branches, and mailboxes to prevent any accidental property damage during the lifting process.
Guidelines for Single-Stream Recycling
The community actively participates in a single-stream recycling program, which means all approved recyclable materials can be commingled in your designated cart without the need for manual sorting. Acceptable items include rinsed glass jars, flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and rigid plastics marked with recycling symbols 1 through 5. A major disruption to the sorting facility occurs when residents bag their recyclables in plastic grocery sacks. Please toss items loosely into the bin. Plastic bags should be returned to local retailers for proper recycling.
Seasonal Landscape Waste Protocols
Starting in the first week of April and concluding at the end of November, Groot provides weekly landscape waste removal. Organic yard debris, including grass clippings, weeds, and leaves, cannot be mixed with standard garbage. Instead, residents must utilize 30-gallon biodegradable Kraft paper bags. If you prefer a reusable option, you can use a standard rigid garbage can no larger than 33 gallons, provided it is clearly marked with a red 'Yard Waste Only' decal. Branches must be tied into bundles with biodegradable twine, measuring no longer than four feet and weighing under 50 pounds.
Hazardous Materials and E-Waste Bans
State and federal regulations strictly prohibit the disposal of certain hazardous and electronic items in standard landfills. Rolling Meadows residents must never place wet paint, motor oil, pesticides, or lithium-ion batteries in their refuse carts, as these pose a severe fire risk to the garbage trucks. Additionally, electronic waste like televisions, computers, and monitors are banned. The city periodically hosts specialized e-waste drop-off events, or residents can contact the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) for year-round disposal options.
Impact of Holidays on Collection Routes
During weeks containing major federally observed holidays, the Groot collection schedule shifts to accommodate the hauling staff. The recognized holidays include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If a holiday falls on a Monday through Friday, all subsequent collections for that week will be delayed by a full 24 hours. Normal hauling routines automatically resume on the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Rolling Meadows Transfer Station (LRS)
3851 Berdnick Street, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I contact to get a larger garbage can?
All requests for cart replacements, repairs, or size upgrades must be directed to Groot Industries by calling their customer service line at 800-244-1977.
Is bulk item pickup included in my service?
Yes, Rolling Meadows residents are permitted to leave out one standard bulk item, such as a piece of furniture or a mattress, each week at no extra charge. Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic.
How are garbage collection fees billed?
Your residential waste and recycling hauling fees are conveniently bundled into your monthly City of Rolling Meadows utility bill, alongside your water and sewer charges.