Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for South Elgin
Trash Day
Wednesdays or Thursdays (depending on your neighborhood route)
Recycling
Wednesdays or Thursdays (collected weekly on your regular trash day)
Yard Waste
Wednesdays or Thursdays (March 1st through December 15th on your regular collection day)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash collection fees are bundled with municipal water and sewer charges on your monthly Village utility bill, which is due on the 25th of each month.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
A $7.00 monthly utility credit is available for eligible senior citizens age 65 and older.
Green (95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Place the 95-gallon cart with wheels facing the house by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Unlimited extra bags or 32-gallon cans are allowed if they weigh under 50 lbs each.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Small amounts of tied construction debris (under 2 cubic yards)
Typically Green or Blue (65-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the 65-gallon recycling toter. Never bag your recycling in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, mail, and magazines
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Place in standard 30-gallon brown kraft yard waste bags or in a personal container clearly marked 'Yard Waste'. Max 34-gallons or 50 lbs. Brush must be bundled, max 4 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubs and vines
- ✓Small tree limbs and brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One bulk item per week
Placement
Place bulk items alongside your refuse carts by 6:00 AM. For heavy appliances ('white goods'), you must call Groot directly in advance to schedule the free specialized truck.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, dressers, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Lawn mowers (fluids drained)
- ✓ Bicycles and grills
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and toxic chemicals
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Loose dirt, concrete, or stone over 45 lbs
- ✕ Electronics (requires separate scheduled pickup)
One standard bulk item and up to 2 cubic yards of construction debris are free weekly. Appliances and e-waste are also free but require a phone call. Excessively large piles require an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, your scheduled service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Wednesday pickup moves to Thursday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active season.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard Wednesday or Thursday collection schedule remains completely unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberCurbside yard waste collection automatically runs from April 1st through November 30th alongside your regular garbage day. Ensure all brush is cut and bundled correctly.
Late Autumn
October - NovemberDuring heavy leaf-fall, South Elgin offers a special Leaf Pick-Up program. This must be scheduled in advance by contacting the Administrative Services Department at 847-742-5780 by 10 AM the Friday before the pickup week.
Winter
December - MarchDuring severe snowstorms, trucks may be delayed. Ensure your carts are placed slightly back in your driveway to avoid being hit by village snowplows clearing the neighborhood streets.
Local Tips & Community Info
Reliable Refuse Collection Provided by Groot
In the Village of South Elgin, residential waste disposal is efficiently managed through a partnership with Groot Industries. Most households have their garbage, recycling, and yard waste collected on either Wednesdays or Thursdays, depending on their neighborhood route. To guarantee a successful pickup, it is required to place your bins at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Be mindful not to set them out before 5:00 p.m. the evening prior, and remember to roll them back to your house by 6:00 p.m. the day after collection. The village supplies residents with a standard 95-gallon green cart for everyday trash, and residents are permitted to place excess refuse in securely tied plastic bags, provided they weigh less than 50 pounds.
Streamlined Bi-Weekly Recycling Efforts
Environmental sustainability is highly valued in South Elgin, and the village makes it simple by providing a 65-gallon blue cart specifically for recyclable materials. These collections happen on the same day as your standard trash pickup. Residents can mix all accepted materials—such as cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and rigid plastics—directly into the blue cart without the need to sort them. It is critical to keep all recyclables loose and never bag them in plastic grocery sacks, which can severely damage sorting equipment at the processing center. For unique items like electronics or leftover paint, Kane County Recycles offers excellent local resources and drop-off events.
Landscape Debris and Seasonal Leaf Programs
Caring for your lawn generates a fair amount of yard waste, which is collected simultaneously with your regular garbage from spring through fall. Grass clippings, leaves, and small branches should be packed in standard brown kraft paper bags or a personal 34-gallon container prominently labeled 'Yard Waste'. Additionally, the Village of South Elgin offers a unique perk for older residents: households owned or occupied by citizens aged 65 and older who are enrolled in the Senior Credit Program can qualify for curbside unbagged leaf pickup in the autumn. Small branches and brush can also be left at the curb if they are tied into secure bundles not exceeding four feet in length.
Handling Bulky Furniture and White Goods
Whether you are remodeling your home or replacing old furniture, Groot accommodates the disposal of large, unwieldy items. Residents are allowed to place one standard bulk item—such as a couch, mattress, or dresser—at the curb each week at no additional charge. For major household appliances like refrigerators, washers, or ovens (often referred to as 'white goods'), state law forbids them from being dumped in landfills. However, South Elgin residents can schedule a free pickup for these appliances by calling Groot directly in advance. Any construction debris must be limited to one cubic yard and securely bundled to ensure the safety of the collection crew.
Drop-off Facilities
Kane County Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection
Direct to door (Scheduled via Clean Harbors)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should my trash be at the curb in South Elgin?
You must place all carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled Wednesday or Thursday collection day, and no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the night before.
How do I dispose of a broken refrigerator?
State law prohibits appliances from entering landfills. You must call Groot Industries to schedule a special white goods pickup, which is provided at no additional cost for village residents.
Does the village offer any yard waste benefits for seniors?
Yes, senior citizens aged 65 or older who participate in the Senior Credit Program are eligible for a special curbside unbagged leaf collection during the fall season.