Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wilmette
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.
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
!Contamination Tips
Properly Utilize the Hefty ReNew Program
Regular plastic grocery bags and flexible film wrappers contaminate the single-stream recycling sorting facility. Unless you are sealing these items inside the specialized orange Hefty ReNew bags, never put plastic bags or film into your recycling cart.
Keep Food Scraps Out of Paper Yard Bags
While the Village of Wilmette strongly encourages food scrap composting, these organic food materials can only be placed inside rigid LRS organics carts. Never place food scraps into brown paper yard waste bags, as animals and pests will easily tear them apart.
Clean Carts with Vinegar
To prevent odors and pests without introducing harsh chemicals into the municipal waste stream, LRS recommends periodically cleaning your garbage and organics carts by filling them with hot water and a capful of white vinegar or a grease-cutting dish soap.
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.
About Wilmette Waste Management
Customized Residential Waste Collection with LRS in Wilmette
The Village of Wilmette partners with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) for comprehensive refuse, recycling, and organics services. Most single-family homes are assigned designated service days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday. Residents can choose between standard 96-gallon wheeled carts or smaller 35-gallon options, provided they are placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day. Under local ordinance, carts cannot be placed out before 6:00 PM the evening prior and must be retrieved by 6:00 PM the day after service.
Managing Single-Stream Recycling and the Hefty ReNew Program
Wilmette utilizes a single-stream recycling system where residents can combine clean paper, flattened cardboard, glass, and rigid plastics in their designated recycling carts. Critically, loose plastic bags are strictly banned from the recycling bin because they jam sorting facility equipment. However, Wilmette participates in the Hefty ReNew Program, which allows hard-to-recycle plastics (like foam and flexible film) to be collected at the curb, provided they are securely tied inside specific, specialized orange Hefty ReNew bags.
Comprehensive Yard Waste and Winter Gap Composting
The standard yard waste season in Wilmette runs from early April through late November, requiring residents to affix prepaid stickers to their carts or utilize BPI-certified brown paper lawn bags. Wilmette stands out by offering a unique 'winter gap' composting subscription from December through March. This paid monthly service allows environmentally conscious households to continue composting food scraps year-round without interruption, bridging the gap when regular seasonal yard waste collection pauses.
The Annual Fall Curbside Leaf Collection Program
Managing heavy autumn foliage is heavily structured through Wilmette's specialized 8-week leaf collection program, running from mid-October to early December. Crews make five scheduled passes per zone. Residents are instructed to rake leaves to the parkway—not directly into the street—no earlier than two days before their designated two-day collection window. This strict timing prevents the clogging of neighborhood storm drains during fall rains.
Handling Electronic Waste and Household Hazardous Materials
Electronic items like televisions, monitors, and computers are banned from Illinois landfills, but Wilmette makes disposal accessible through an LRS curbside e-waste request system. Furthermore, LRS hosts an annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) home collection event every September. By registering online or calling in advance, residents can safely dispose of toxic chemicals, old paints, pesticides, and rechargeable batteries right from their doorsteps.
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
How many yard waste stickers do I need for my LRS organics cart in Wilmette?
The number of stickers depends on the size of your cart. A large 96-gallon organics cart requires three (3) yard waste stickers per collection, while a smaller 35-gallon cart requires only one (1) sticker per collection during the active April through November season.
What is the Hefty ReNew Program and how do I participate?
The Hefty ReNew Program allows Wilmette residents to recycle hard-to-recycle plastics, such as foam containers and plastic film wrappers, by placing them in specialized orange bags. Once full and tied securely, these orange bags can be placed directly into your normal LRS single-stream recycling cart.
Can I put food scraps in paper yard waste bags?
No. While Wilmette strongly supports composting both yard waste and food scraps, food scraps must be placed exclusively inside an LRS rigid organics cart. Food scraps are strictly prohibited in BPI-certified brown paper lawn bags because they attract animals that will tear the bags apart.
What are the rules for parking during the fall leaf collection?
During the 8-week fall leaf collection program, temporary 'No-Parking' signs will be posted on your street for your designated two-day collection window. You must not park on the street during this time; doing so before both the leaf vacuum and the street sweeper have made their final passes puts you at risk of receiving a parking ticket.