Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Woodstock
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your trash service.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is picked up on your regular collection day from the first full week in April through the last full week in November.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage and recycling services are billed quarterly and conveniently bundled together with your city water and sewer utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Direct Debit), In-Person, Drop Box, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A senior discount is available for qualifying senior residents, offering a significantly reduced monthly garbage rate.
City-issued MDC Tote Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the 95-gallon or 35-gallon MDC tote with the lid closed. Place at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before and no later than 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and scraps
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers and plastics
- ✓Number 6 PS (Polystyrene/Styrofoam)
City-issued 65-gallon MDC Tote Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely in the 65-gallon tote without bagging them in plastic. Excess recycling can be placed in a personal container clearly marked 'RECYCLING' placed next to the MDC tote.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard (cut to 3x3 ft)
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum cans and steel tins
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs (PETE #1, HDPE #2, PVC #3, LDPE #4, PP #5)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕#6 Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
- ✕Packing peanuts
- ✕Window glass and plastic utensils
- ✕Motor oil bottles
Yard Waste Bin
Requires either an annual 95-gallon subscription tote OR a city yard waste sticker on each biodegradable paper bag/32-gallon can. Branches must be bundled and tied. Max weight for bags/personal cans is 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Brush and garden debris
- ✓Cut-up tree branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free item per week
Placement
Place the bulk item at the curb next to your MDC tote by 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, tables, and dressers
- ✓ Chairs and small non-freon appliances
- ✓ Mattresses (King, Queen, or Pillow-top must be folded and tied or cut in half)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials and liquid paints
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ White goods (large appliances like refrigerators require a separate scheduled fee)
The first bulk item each week is free. Any additional bulk items set out on the same day require five (5) valid Woodstock garbage stickers attached to each extra item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during its active April through November season.
MDC does not alter the collection schedule for holidays that fall on a weekend, nor for holidays like MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, or Veterans Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberStandard yard waste collection runs weekly from the first full week of April through the last full week of November. All bags or personal cans must have a yard waste sticker unless you pay for the annual subscription tote.
Late Fall
November - DecemberThe Woodstock Public Works department offers a special collection for bagged leaves only. You do not need a sticker for these specific leaf bags, but you must call Public Works at 815-338-6118 to schedule the pickup before mid-December.
Winter
November - FebruaryThe city partners with Elgin Recycling to offer free drop-off recycling for unwanted holiday string lights and extension cords at City Hall and the Public Works building during regular business hours.
Local Tips & Community Info
Garbage Collection Guidelines with MDC
The City of Woodstock partners with MDC Environmental Services to handle all residential trash and recycling needs. To make sure your household refuse is collected without a hitch, place your bins at the edge of the street no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. However, local city ordinances dictate that you cannot set them out earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night prior to collection. Once MDC empties your containers, please bring them back to your house or garage promptly. If your collection day falls on a major holiday, schedules will typically be pushed back one day for the remainder of the week.
Unlimited Single-Stream Recycling Program
Woodstock strongly encourages its residents to reduce their environmental footprint through an unlimited recycling initiative. Each home is provided with a 65-gallon recycling tote maintained by MDC. You do not have to sort your materials; simply toss them in! If you consistently generate extra recyclables, you are welcome to use older totes for the overflow. Just remember to remove all lids before recycling, as they cannot be processed and must be thrown in the regular garbage. Problematic items such as plastic utensils, motor oil, packing peanuts, and window glass are strictly prohibited in the blue recycling bin.
Tackling Yard Waste and Bundled Brush
Managing your landscaping debris in Woodstock is a straightforward process. You can pack grass clippings and leaves into standard biodegradable yard waste bags, provided they weigh no more than 50 pounds. Alternatively, you may use your own personal garbage can (maximum 33 gallons) clearly designated for landscape waste. If you need to dispose of tree branches or thick brush, they must be securely tied into manageable bundles. Make sure these bundles do not exceed four feet in length and are no wider than a standard 30-gallon trash can, ensuring safe lifting for the sanitation crew.
Navigating Bulk Item Disposal Regulations
Every household in Woodstock is entitled to the disposal of one free bulk item per week on their regular garbage day. This convenient perk covers typical household furniture like a single mattress, a broken dresser, or a couch. However, if you need to throw away more than one large item at a time, each additional piece requires exactly five prepaid MDC refuse stickers. Keep in mind that items purchased as a set count individually; for example, throwing out a dining room table and four chairs counts as five separate bulk items and will require the appropriate sticker count.
Drop-off Facilities
Habitat for Humanity Woodstock ReStore
133 S. Eastwood Dr., Woodstock, IL 60098
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I opt out of the municipal recycling program in Woodstock?
Yes, you can choose to opt out by contacting the City, and MDC will retrieve your tote. However, because recycling is bundled into your standard service rate, choosing to opt out will not reduce your monthly refuse bill.
Who do I call if my 65-gallon recycling tote is damaged?
If your recycling tote is broken, missing a wheel, or defective, you should call MDC Environmental Services directly at 815-568-7274 to request a repair or a complete replacement.
How many bulk items can I throw away for free each week?
Woodstock households are permitted to place one free bulk item at the curb every week. Any extra large items placed out at the same time will require five prepaid refuse stickers each.