Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for West Chicago
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash collection.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular collection day from April through November.
Set Out Time
By 6:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste hauling is serviced by Groot Industries and billed quarterly, whereas city municipal water and sewer services are billed separately through the City of West Chicago.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior rate discounts are available for residents aged 65 and older through Groot Industries.
Varies (City-issued 35-gallon or 95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
Trash must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Any trash outside the cart requires a Universal Sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Small broken household items
City-issued Cart (or resident's 33-gallon bin marked 'RECYCLING') Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the bin. No sticker is required for recycling pickup. If using a personal can, you must affix a free 'RECYCLING' decal available at City Hall.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Office paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Use brown kraft paper bags or a personal 32-gallon can, each requiring one Universal Sticker. Branches must be bundled (max 4 feet long, under 50 lbs). Alternatively, subscribe to the 95-gallon yard waste cart program.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and brush
- ✓Plant-based food scraps (ONLY in the 95-gallon subscription cart)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular service day
Placement
Place bulk items alongside your regular trash carts by 6:00 a.m. Ensure the Universal Sticker is clearly visible to the driver.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and dressers
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Rolled carpet (up to 5 rolls, max 4 ft length, 18-inch diameter)
- ✓ Small amounts of tied construction debris (under 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paints
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
- ✕ Loose dirt, concrete, or stone
Each bulk item requires one Universal Sticker, which can be purchased at City Hall or participating local grocery and hardware stores.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all regularly scheduled garbage and recycling services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule.
Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed the following Monday, pushing collections back one day for that week. Saturday holidays do not affect the schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
April, Late October - NovemberWest Chicago provides a free leaf collection period. Leaves will be collected at no charge (no stickers required) for one week in April and for five weeks beginning the last week in October. They must be in paper bags.
Winter
December - MarchDuring heavy DuPage County snowfalls, keep your carts slightly recessed in your driveway rather than in the street to prevent them from interfering with city snowplows.
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberThe standard yard waste program requires universal stickers. Additionally, the City runs a separate Brush Collection Program requiring a small monthly fee for specialized pickup of larger woody debris.
Local Tips & Community Info
Mandatory Groot Industries Refuse Program
Homeowners in West Chicago rely on a structured, mandatory refuse program managed exclusively by Groot Industries. Every single-family and two-unit dwelling is required to participate in this streamlined collection system. The municipality equips each household with standardized carts designed for regular weekly disposal. To guarantee seamless operations, you should position your containers near the curb early on your assigned collection morning. A critical aspect of this local contract is that any standard household garbage that does not fit completely inside your provided cart with the lid closed requires a prepaid Universal Sticker. This pay-as-you-throw approach encourages recycling and minimizes excessive landfill waste.
Landscape Material and Organic Debris Rules
When it comes to organic landscape materials, the city enforces a strict bag-and-bundle policy rather than allowing loose cans. From spring through autumn, residents must place grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs inside brown kraft paper bags. Notably, every single yard waste bag must have a Groot Universal Sticker visibly affixed to it—personal plastic or metal cans are strictly prohibited for organic debris. If you are pruning trees, the resulting branches cannot exceed three inches in diameter. These limbs must be tied into manageable bundles, and each bundle also requires its own prepaid sticker. For those with extensive gardens, Groot offers an optional, annual yard waste cart subscription to bypass the sticker requirement. You can call 847-429-7370 to inquire about this seasonal upgrade.
Throwing Away Furniture and Bulky Junk
If you are upgrading your living room or cleaning out the basement, oversized items that weigh more than 50 pounds demand special preparation. Sofas, mattresses, heavy dressers, and large dining chairs will not be collected unless they are properly ticketed. In West Chicago, a single Universal Sticker covers the disposal of one standard bulky item. Furthermore, up to five rolled carpets can be grouped together under a single sticker, provided the rolls are cut to a maximum of four feet in length and are no wider than eighteen inches in diameter. Even small amounts of bundled construction debris can be disposed of curbside, provided the bundles stay under the fifty-pound weight limit and display a paid sticker.
Acquiring Universal Stickers and Navigating Holidays
Because the sticker system is so integral to West Chicago’s sanitation infrastructure, the city ensures these labels are highly accessible. Residents can purchase Universal Stickers at several convenient neighborhood locations, including the local Murphy Ace Hardware on Route 59, the Jewel-Osco on Roosevelt Road, BP Gas Station, and directly at the City Hall building. Additionally, it is important to remember that national holidays—such as Independence Day, Christmas, or New Year's Day—will alter your standard schedule. If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all subsequent neighborhood collections will be pushed back exactly one day for the remainder of that calendar week.
Drop-off Facilities
Groot DuKane Transfer Station (E-Waste Drop-off)
1995 Powis Rd., West Chicago, IL 60185
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Groot Universal Stickers in West Chicago?
You can purchase stickers at various local merchants, including City Hall, Murphy Ace Hardware, Jewel-Osco, La India, and the BP Gas Station on Neltnor Boulevard.
Can I use my own plastic garbage can for yard waste?
No, the city strictly prohibits the use of personal cans for yard waste. All landscape debris must be placed in kraft paper bags or bundled with twine, and each bag or bundle requires one Universal Sticker.
How much does it cost to throw away a mattress or couch?
You must attach exactly one Universal Sticker to each bulky item, such as a mattress, couch, or heavy dresser, for Groot to collect it on your normal trash day.