Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wheaton
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.
Blue or Grey LRS Cart Bin (Trash)
Place carts out between 7:00 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the day of collection. Extra trash bags (max 33 gallons/50 lbs) require one universal sticker each.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Treated wood (small pieces)
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue LRS Cart with Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loosely in the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Clean and rinse all food containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Office paper and newspaper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags (film)
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Use a 35-gallon container or biodegradable kraft bag. Max weight 50 lbs. Requires 1 sticker per bag/container. Brush stacks under 4ft also require a sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy
- ✓Meat, poultry, bones, and seafood
- ✓Food-soiled paper towels and paper plates
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Requires Stickers)
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb between 7:00 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the day of your normal collection, alongside your carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpet rolls (max 4 feet long, 18 inches diameter, 1 sticker per roll)
- ✓ Toilets (tank and bowl separated, 5 stickers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil)
- ✕ Unbundled loose construction debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Items excessively heavy without prior LRS coordination
Bulk disposal costs are covered by purchasing the universal stickers (e.g., 5 stickers for a toilet, 1 sticker for a roll of carpet).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickups for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active organics season, yard waste collections are delayed on the exact same schedule as refuse and recycling.
If a holiday such as Independence Day falls on a weekend, the weekday collection schedule generally remains completely unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Leaves Out of the Street
Never rake or blow your fall leaves into the street or near storm sewer grates. This can severely block drainage systems and cause neighborhood flooding. Always bag them in biodegradable bags with a sticker, or mulch them directly into your lawn.
Separate Toilet Components
If you are trying to dispose of a toilet as a bulk item, LRS will reject it if it is left intact. You must physically separate the tank from the bowl and attach five universal stickers to one of the pieces.
Do Not Bag Recyclables
Plastic garbage bags are the enemy of automated recycling facilities. Never place your clean cardboard, glass, or cans inside a plastic bag before throwing them in the recycling cart. Leave them loose so the sorting machines don't jam.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Fall
April - DecemberWheaton's yard waste and organics composting program runs from the first full week of April through the second full week of December. During the winter months, no food scraps or yard waste will be collected at the curb.
Winter
December - JanuaryLRS provides a free, two-week live Christmas tree collection period immediately following the holidays. Trees must be placed at the curb with no plastic bags, lights, or ornaments. No sticker is required during this free period.
Fall
October - NovemberWhile leaf pickup is part of the standard yard waste program (requiring bags and stickers), the City strongly encourages 'leaf mulching' with a lawnmower to fertilize your lawn and reduce the volume of bags placed at the curb.
About Wheaton Waste Management
Wheaton's RFID Pay-As-You-Throw Advantage
The City of Wheaton operates a highly efficient Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system in partnership with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) [1.2.4]. Every standard refuse and recycling cart is equipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip. When the LRS trucks empty your cart, the automated mechanical arm wirelessly scans the chip. This innovative model ensures residents are only billed for the weeks they actually place their carts at the curb, financially incentivizing households to reduce waste and maximize recycling efforts.
Navigating the Universal Sticker System
For waste that exceeds the capacity of the standard LRS carts, Wheaton utilizes a universal sticker program. Rather than purchasing different stickers for different materials, residents use one standard "garbage/organics" sticker for everything from extra 33-gallon refuse bags and yard waste bags to electronic waste and bulk items. These stickers can be conveniently purchased at Wheaton City Hall, local Jewel locations, Pete's Fresh Market, and various Ace Hardware stores.
Comprehensive Organics and Food Scrap Composting
During the active yard waste season (April through mid-December), Wheaton residents can easily compost household food scraps right at the curb. The city allows organic materials—including meat, poultry, seafood shells, cheese, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper products like plates and napkins—to be mixed directly into 35-gallon yard waste containers or biodegradable paper bags. Each bag or container requires one universal waste sticker and must not exceed 50 pounds.
Strict Preparation Rules for Bulk Items and DIY Debris
Wheaton has very specific guidelines for large bulk items. For example, to dispose of an old toilet, residents must separate the heavy porcelain bowl from the tank and apply exactly five universal waste stickers to one of the pieces (LRS will take both pieces). Carpet disposal requires the material to be tightly rolled into bundles no longer than four feet and under 18 inches in diameter, with one sticker per roll. Minor DIY construction debris is collected for a $24 pickup charge plus $17 per cubic yard, provided it is properly containerized.
Special Handling for White Goods and E-Waste
Large appliances (white goods) like refrigerators, air conditioners, and humidifiers contain hazardous materials such as CFCs and mercury switches. These cannot be compacted in a standard garbage truck and are instead collected by a specialized LRS truck at the end of your normal service day. Electronic waste, such as old televisions and computers, also requires special handling and a designated number of universal waste stickers depending on the item's size and weight.
Drop-off Facilities
Wheaton Public Works Storage Yard
820 W. Liberty Drive, Wheaton, IL 60187
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) garbage billing work in Wheaton?
Every LRS refuse and recycling cart has a built-in RFID chip. When you roll your cart to the curb and the LRS truck empties it, the truck's mechanical arm scans the chip. You are only billed for the specific weeks your cart is scanned, saving you money if you produce less trash.
Where can I buy garbage and yard waste stickers in Wheaton?
The universal LRS stickers (used for extra garbage, bulk items, and yard waste) can be purchased at Wheaton City Hall, local Ace Hardware stores, Jewel-Osco, Pete's Fresh Market, and 7-Eleven.
Can I put food scraps in my yard waste bags in Wheaton?
Yes! From April through mid-December, Wheaton encourages you to mix food scraps like meat, dairy, bones, fruits, and soiled paper plates directly into your yard waste containers or biodegradable paper bags. Just ensure each 35-gallon container/bag has one sticker and weighs less than 50 pounds.
What happens if I forget to bring my trash cans in from the curb?
City of Wheaton ordinances require that all empty refuse carts, recycling bins, and any uncollected bulk items be completely removed from the curb by 7:00 p.m. on the evening of your scheduled collection day.