Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wilmette
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected on the same day as your weekly trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard waste and compost are collected on the same day as your trash pickup from April through November.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse and recycling fees are billed directly by the Village of Wilmette on your quarterly water, sewer, and refuse utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Typically Blue or Black LRS Cart (96-gallon standard) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be securely contained within the cart. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on your service day, but no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before. Carts must be removed by 6:00 PM the day following collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Food waste (if not composting)
- ✓Soiled paper products
Typically Blue or Green LRS Cart Bin (Recycling)
All standard recyclables must be placed loosely into the cart. Do not bag recyclables in standard garbage or grocery bags. Rinse all food and beverage containers before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Hard-to-recycle plastics (ONLY if in sealed Hefty ReNew orange bags)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam (unless in Hefty ReNew bag)
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Tanglers (wires, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Active April through November. Carts require stickers per collection (3 stickers for a 96-gal cart, 1 sticker for a 35-gal cart). Alternatively, use BPI-certified paper lawn bags. Bundled brush must use biodegradable twine. Food scraps are strictly prohibited in paper bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and small branches
- ✓Approved food scraps (in carts only)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Request (Prescheduled)
Placement
Do not place bulky items or appliances at the curb without scheduling and receiving direct confirmation from LRS.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture (couches, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ White goods and large appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (via specific online request)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste (outside of the September event)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Items over 50 pounds (without specialized arrangement)
Bulk item pickup typically requires prepayment. Fees vary based on the item type and size. Contact LRS customer service at 844-633-3577 for exact quotes and scheduling.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday on or before your service day, collections will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active season, yard waste and organics collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse.
Collections take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. If a holiday occurs on a Wednesday, only Thursday and Friday routes will experience a one-day delay.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
Mid-October - Early DecemberDuring the 8-week loose leaf collection program, temporary 'No-Parking' signs are posted. Ensure you do not park on the street during your designated collection days until both the leaf vacuum truck and the subsequent street sweeper have made their final passes.
Winter
December - MarchStandard yard waste collection pauses, but residents can enroll in the LRS 'winter gap' organics collection program. For a monthly fee of $30, participants can continue curbside composting of food scraps throughout the snowy season on a bi-weekly basis.
Late Summer
SeptemberLRS provides an annual, no-charge at-home collection of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) throughout the month of September. Residents must register online or call LRS in advance to have chemicals, paints, and specific batteries picked up from their porches.
Local Tips & Community Info
Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) Partnership
Wilmette residents benefit from a robust, highly structured waste management program operated by Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS). Depending on your property's specific layout and neighborhood density, your home may receive traditional curbside service or dedicated alleyway collection. Regardless of your pickup location, all household refuse must be securely contained within village-approved carts and set out no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day to ensure you do not miss the automated trucks.
Managing Your LRS Carts and Alley Rules
Proper cart maintenance is crucial for keeping pests away from residential areas. Always keep your garbage securely bagged before tossing it into the refuse cart, and ensure the lid rests entirely closed. Because LRS trucks utilize automated mechanical arms for lifting, it is a strict requirement that whether your cart sits at the street curb or tucked in the alley, it needs at least three feet of spatial clearance from fences, garages, and utility poles.
The Organics and Composting Initiative
A standout feature of Wilmette’s environmental efforts is the curbside organics program, designed to drastically reduce landfill usage. Residents are actively encouraged to combine food scraps—like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and meat bones—directly with their landscape waste. You can either subscribe to a dedicated organics cart for the season or utilize standard kraft bags adorned with a village sticker to responsibly compost your kitchen waste right from home.
Navigating Yard Waste Season
The landscape waste collection season officially kicks off in early April and wraps up in late November. If you do not opt for the annual LRS yard waste cart subscription, you must physically affix a Wilmette yard waste sticker to every 30-gallon biodegradable paper bag or bundled brush pile you generate. These official stickers are widely available for purchase at local grocery stores, hardware shops, and the finance desk at Village Hall.
Dealing with Bulk Items and Appliances
Getting rid of a single large item, such as an old desk, a rolled carpet, or a mattress, is completely included in your standard weekly service at no extra cost, provided the item weighs less than 50 pounds. However, heavy appliances and 'white goods'—including refrigerators, dishwashers, and stoves—are strictly prohibited from regular neighborhood routes. These items require a special scheduled collection directly through LRS and will incur a separate disposal fee.
Adjustments for Federal Holidays
LRS honors six major federal holidays throughout the calendar year: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. When one of these recognized holidays interrupts the standard workweek, all subsequent pickups for that week will slide back by exactly one day. For instance, if a holiday lands on a Wednesday, Wednesday routes will move to Thursday, and standard Friday routes will be completed on Saturday morning.
Drop-off Facilities
Wilmette Village Hall
1200 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091
Materials Accepted
Chalet Nursery & Garden Shop
3132 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a sticker for my yard waste bags?
Yes, unless you pay for the annual LRS yard waste cart subscription, every single kraft paper bag or bundled brush pile requires an official Wilmette yard waste sticker to be collected.
Can I throw food scraps into my yard waste bags?
Absolutely. Wilmette's waste program encourages co-mingling organics, meaning you can place approved kitchen scraps (like vegetables, fruits, and bones) right into your yard waste bags or your designated LRS organics cart.
What time do I need to put my carts out for collection?
All refuse, recycling, and yard waste containers must be placed at the curb or in your designated alleyway spot no later than 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.