Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wheeling
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services are contracted through Waste Management and billed quarterly, while water and sewer utilities are billed separately by the Village every two months.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly (Refuse via WM) / Bi-monthly (Village Water & Sewer)
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Wheeling Direct Pay), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Seniors 62 years and older who own and reside in their home can apply through the Village and Waste Management for a 25% discount on curbside solid waste service.
WM Issued 96-Gallon Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed inside the designated WM cart with the lid completely closed. Mixed refuse or loose refuse in separate boxes will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Coated cardboard and pizza boxes
WM Issued 64-Gallon Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely into the cart; do not bag your recyclables. Materials must be empty and rinsed of food debris.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓PET #1 and HDPE #2 plastic bottles
- ✓Plastics #3-#7
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Glass food and beverage containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Microwaveable trays
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Coat hangers
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Use biodegradable paper bags or unlined 33-gallon cans marked with a 12-inch red 'X'. Max weight is 45 lbs. Branches must be tied in bundles (max 4 ft long, 2 ft diameter, 45 lbs) using biodegradable string.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Short branches
- ✓Vegetative plants
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week
Placement
Place your single bulk item at the curb next to your refuse carts by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Carpet rolls must be tied, under 4 feet long, and weigh less than 45 lbs each.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Bicycles
- ✓ Lawn care equipment (no gas/fluids)
- ✓ Empty grills (no propane/charcoal)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances / White Goods
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Car parts
Appliances and household construction debris (like drywall or roofing materials) are not included in the free bulk pickup. These require a special collection quote or a dumpster rental directly through Waste Management.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no service delays.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active collection season (April through November), yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling.
Minor holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, and Veterans Day do not disrupt Waste Management's standard collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberWeekly yard waste collections begin on April 1st and run through November 30th. Waste Management occasionally extends this deadline to early December depending on weather conditions.
Spring
MayThe Village of Wheeling and SWANCC host a highly anticipated Residential Document Destruction and Electronics Recycling Event on a Saturday in early May at the Public Works facility.
Winter
JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Waste Management provides curbside Holiday Tree Collections. To ensure pickup, all ornaments, lights, and stands must be removed, and the tree cannot be wrapped in a plastic disposal bag.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Services in Wheeling
The Village of Wheeling contracts with Waste Management (WM) to provide comprehensive residential garbage collection. Every household is supplied with a heavy-duty 96-gallon cart specifically for household refuse. On your designated collection day, you must wheel this container to the street with the wheels resting against the curb. To avoid any missed collections, carts need to be placed out no later than 6:00 a.m. WM drivers operate automated trucks, so it is strictly required to leave a minimum of three feet of clearance around the bin, keeping it far away from parked vehicles, trees, and mailboxes. Additionally, all garbage inside the 96-gallon cart must be securely bagged to prevent litter from blowing into neighborhood streets.
Curbside Recycling Protocols
Wheeling strongly encourages environmental responsibility through its curbside recycling program. Your dedicated recycling bin is meant for clean, dry, and loose materials. Acceptable items include flattened cardboard, paper products, tin cans, and rigid plastic containers. Do not place recyclables inside plastic grocery bags, as these can severely damage the sorting equipment at the processing facility. Other prohibited items include tanglers like hoses or wire, household hazardous waste, medical waste, and electronic equipment. If your recycling cart contains unapproved items, WM drivers will likely tag the bin and leave it unemptied until the contamination is removed.
Seasonal Yard Waste Collection
Managing your landscaping debris in Wheeling requires following seasonal protocols. During the active growing months, Waste Management collects organic materials like grass clippings, leaves, and garden waste. Residents should place yard refuse in biodegradable Kraft paper bags or in designated rigid containers clearly marked for yard waste. If you are trimming trees, small branches and brush must be securely tied with biodegradable twine. These bundles generally cannot exceed four feet in length or weigh more than 50 pounds to ensure the sanitation team can safely lift them into the hopper.
Scheduling Bulk Item Disposal
Discarding large items that simply will not fit into your standard 96-gallon cart requires special handling. While routine weekly service covers normal household trash, oversized objects such as couches, tables, or broken appliances may require an advance request. Wheeling residents need to contact Waste Management directly through their My WM portal or by phone to arrange for a bulk waste pickup. Bear in mind that certain heavy construction materials, like cinder blocks, drywall, or roofing shingles, are generally not accepted through standard bulk collection and will require a specialized private dumpster or hauling service.
Missed Pickups and Holiday Delays
If you properly followed the 6:00 a.m. set-out rule and your cart was skipped, Waste Management allows you to report a missed pickup via your online account. However, you must submit this request within three days of your scheduled service date to qualify for a recovery route. Regarding the annual calendar, WM observes standard national holidays. If a recognized holiday falls on a Monday through Friday, all neighborhood routes for the rest of the week will be pushed back exactly one day. For example, a Thursday holiday means Thursday neighborhoods will be serviced on Friday, and Friday routes move to Saturday.
Drop-off Facilities
Wheeling Public Works Facility
77 W. Hintz Road, Wheeling, IL 60090
Materials Accepted
SWANCC Glenview Transfer Station
3 Providence Way, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does my garbage need to be at the curb in Wheeling?
Your Waste Management trash and recycling carts must be placed at the street with wheels against the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Can I put plastic bags in my recycling bin?
No. Plastic grocery bags and film are strictly prohibited in the curbside recycling program because they tangle the processing machinery. Recyclables should remain loose in the bin.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Wheeling?
You can report a missed pickup online through the My WM dashboard, but it must be reported within three days of the missed service to qualify for a recovery truck.