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leaf and yard waste collection in illinois

Leaf & Brush Collection Programs in Northeastern Illinois

An important part of keeping your lawn and property looking its very best is by regular maintenance and grass cutting. But what to do with all the lawn and yard waste? Some eco-friendly ways to handle waste is by mulching your grass clippings and composting waste. For many of us, however, there are too many leaves, branches, and clippings to handle on our own. Fortunately, many communities in northeastern Illinois provide leaf and brush collection. Below you will find details about these programs for your community.

Yard Waste Programs by Community

Lake County

Antioch | Bannockburn | Barrington | Buffalo Grove | Fox River Grove | Hawthorn Woods | Highland Park | Kildeer | Lake Zurich

McHenry County

Cary | Crystal Lake | Fox River Grove | McHenry | Richmond

Kane & DuPage Counties

Addison | Elgin | St. Charles | Wayne

Cook County

Arlington Heights | Barrington | Buffalo Grove | Elgin | Glenview | Mount Prospect | Palatine | Streamwood

Antioch, IL

Residents in Antioch have access to several opportunities to dispose of their leaves and yard waste. Landscape waste – including grass clippings, weeds, brush, and small branches – is picked up weekly on Thursdays from April 1 to November 30. Waste must be in biodegradable paper bags, which are available at Ace Hardware in town. These bags have a weight limit of 50 lbs. You can also bundle branches by tying them together with twine; just make sure these bundles are less than 4 feet long and 2 feet in diameter. No stickers are necessary for bags or bundles.

Leaves are picked up the first four weeks in November. Be sure to rake your piles to within 5 feet of the road. Christmas trees will be picked up the 1st and 2nd Thursdays in January.

Barrington, IL

For residents in the village of Barrington, compostable yard waste, such as grass clippings, weeds, brush, and small branches is collected March 15 to December 15 each year. The Village provide one 95-gallon toter for your yard waste, which they will collect on your normally scheduled trash collection day. You can also use a biodegradable Kraft yard waste bag, which is available at Ace Hardware of Barrington. If you have small branches (shorter than 5 feet) you need to dispose of, you can bundle them with twine or string and leave next to the toter. For more information about Barrington’s yard waste collection program, visit the Village website or call Public Works at 847-304-3400.

 

Arlington Heights, IL

For homeowners in Arlington Heights, regular yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, and small brush) is picked up weekly on the following schedule: yard waste collection for residents north of Oakton is on Mondays; south of Oakton is on Tuesdays. Waste must be in biodegradable Kraft paper bags, with a weight limit of 50 lbs.

Groot, the private company that handles waste collection in Arlington Heights, has several plans available to meet your yard waste needs. Landscape Waste Subscription Program is $135 for the season, and allows you to put out 3 bags or bundles of waste per week without stickers between March and October and 10 bags without stickers from October to December. With the pay-per-bag program, you can put out as much yard waste as you want; you just need to place the waste in biodegradable yard waste bags with affixed yard stickers, which can be purchased at Village Hall, Neradt Hardware, and Sherwin Hardware and Zimmermann Hardware.

Branches can be bundled together and tied with twine. Bundles must be less than 5 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter. Individual limbs must be less than 6 inches in diameter. Logs greater than 6 inches in diameter can be thrown away in regular trash, with a one-cubic-yard limit per week. A special Christmas tree collection takes place in January. Garlands and wreaths can be thrown away in regular trash.

Visit the village website for more information about yard waste collection in Arlington Heights.

Crystal Lake, IL

In Crystal Lake, regular yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, twigs, and brush) is picked up weekly on the same day as your regular trash collection. Put your waste into biodegradable paper bags, which can be purchased at Ziegler’s Ace Hardware. You can also use an unlined rigid trash can for your yard waste; just make sure to mark it with a large X on the side. For your convenience, MDC Environmental also has 96-gallon yard waste toters available for lease at a nominal charge.

Crystal Lake’s annual brush pickup takes place each spring in May. To ensure your brush gets picked up, place it in stacks at the curb – cut end facing the street – by May 1. Branches must be under 6 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. No grass clippings or yard waste will be picked up at this time. A fall leaf pickup takes place from October through December each year. Leaves must be placed in biodegradable Kraft paper bags (available at Ziegler’s Ace Hardware) and placed at the curb before your scheduled collection day. Visit the city’s website to find out when your leaves are scheduled to be collected.

You can also drop off brush at the city’s wastewater treatment facility on Coventry Lane and Dartmoor Drive. Branches must be under 6 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. You’ll need proof that you reside in Crystal Lake, such as a driver’s license or vehicle sticker. At this facility you can also pick up wood chips for free. The city’s website has more information about Crystal Lake’s brush drop off and wood chip program.

Any questions about yard waste collection can be directed to the Crystal Lake Street Division: 815-356-3700 ext. 4019.

 

McHenry, IL

Residents in the city of McHenry have access to several opportunities for disposing of their home’s yard waste. Regular yard waste – like grass clippings, weeds, brush, and small branches – can be disposed by placing in biodegradable paper yard waste bags. Stickers are required on these bags, which can be purchased at City Hall and Bjorkman’s Ace Hardware.

A special leaf collection program runs each Fall from October to December. The same day as your regular trash collection day, the leaf collection will vacuum up leaf piles near the curb. Make sure to rake your leaves to within 4 feet of the curb, and be sure not to park in the street during collection days. For more information, call Public Works at 815-363-2186

Brush pickup is scheduled for September and October each year. Place branches and brush in a neat stack near the curb, with cut ends facing the street. Branches must be smaller than 5 inches in diameter. Visit the Public Works website to find your home’s scheduled pickup.

McHenry also provides residents with a yard waste dropoff location free of charge. Conveniently located at Knox Park, the dropoff is open on Saturdays in April to December from 7 am until Noon. You can drop off grass clippings, leaves, and small branches; just make sure you have proof of residency (like a driver’s license or city vehicle sticker).

Fox River Grove, IL

Regular yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, leaves, brush, and small branches) is collected in Fox River Grove on your regular trash collection days from April to December. Waste must be placed in biodegradable paper yard waste bags with a sticker on each. Stickers are available at Village Hall, and stickers and bags can both be purchased at Leader Ace Hardware. Yard waste toters can also be leased from Waste Management. Visit the village website for more information about the Fox River Grove yard waste collection program.

 

Wayne, IL

If you live in Wayne Township, you have access to a township program for disposing of your home’s yard waste. Residents can have their brush and branches picked up five times a year at no cost. Branches must be less than 6 inches in diameter and shorter than 5 feet long. Visit the township website for upcoming brush collection dates.

A limited number of Wayne residents can get 3 cubic yards of mulch delivered for free in the spring. Deliveries are made in May and the mulch is deposited in your driveway. Call 630-231-4923 in April to get your name on the list for mulch delivery.

 

Buffalo Grove, IL

Residents of Buffalo Grove can enjoy a regularly-scheduled pickup of your yard’s compostable waste. Regular yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, and brush) is picked up from April 1 through December 15. Pickup is the same day as your regular garbage collection (the Village website can help you find your street’s scheduled collection day). Place your yard waste in brown biodegradable paper bags (available at Zimmermann Hardware) or an unlined rigid trash can marked with a large X on the side. Sticks and branches can be bundled together with twine and placed at the curb; make sure the branches are less than 4 feet long and 3.5 inches in diameter. Bags, trash cans, and bundles all have a 70 lbs. weight limit.

Any questions about yard waste collection can be directed to Village Public Works: visit their website or call them at 847-459-2500.

Richmond, IL

Homeowners in Richmond, IL enjoy several programs to dispose of their home’s yard waste. Grass clippings and leaves can be left in the dumpster behind Village Hall, at Main Street and Hunter Drive.

Leaf vacuuming takes place on select Saturdays in October and November. Rake your leaves close to the street, and be sure not to park on the street on collection days.

Brush pickup is the 3rd Thursday of the month from April to November. Branches must be less than 10 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. Stack the brush in a pile near the curb, with cut ends facing the street. Be sure the stack is ready by 7 am to guarantee pickup. No stumps or other yard waste will be picked up on these days.

 

Streamwood, IL

For residents in Streamwood, regular lawn waste – including grass clippings, leaves, branches, and weeds – will be picked up from April 1 through December 15 during your weekly trash collection. Yard waste must be placed in a biodegradable paper bag (available at Ziegler’s Ace Hardware in Elgin) or in a regular trash can, which must be marked with a yard waste sticker (available at Village Hall for $1). Visit the village website to find your regular collection day schedule.

Branch pickup occurs once a month in April through October. Branches cannot be larger than 8 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. Place the branches in a pile at the curb, with cut sides facing the street. To ensure your branches are picked up, make sure the branches are at the street by 6am on the collection day. For more information on Streamwood branch collection, visit the village website or call Public Works at 630-736-3850.

In January Streamwood has a special Christmas tree collection. Place your tree out at the curb on your normal collection day and it will be recycled. Garland and wreaths can be included in your regular garbage.

Palatine, IL

The village of Palatine provides residents with several opportunities for collecting your home’s yard waste. Regular yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, and small branches) is collected from April to December of each year. Waste must go into biodegradable paper bags, which can be purchased at Palatine Ace Hardware.

Small branches and limbs (no longer than 4 feet) can be bound together with twine and placed at the curb. Make sure you don’t include sod, rocks, dirt, and logs in your yard waste. Christmas trees and decorations can be placed in regular trash. Visit the Village website for more information about Palatine’s yard waste collection program.

Twice each fall Palatine offers a curbside leaf pickup for your convenience. In October and November, trucks will come around and vacuum up piles of leaves in your neighborhood. Rake leaves into piles that are 12 inches from the curb, making sure not to rake them into the gutter. Be sure not to park in the street during leaf collection days, as it makes their job that much harder. Learn more about Palatine’s leaf collection program or find out the scheduled pickup day for your neighborhood.

 

Mount Prospect, IL

In Mount Prospect, regular yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, brush, and small branches) can be put in a 32-gallon unlined trash can or biodegradable paper lawn bag. Both need a sticker, which can be purchased for $2.50 at Village Hall, Public Works, or Neradt Ace Hardware. A subscription service is also available, which includes the lease of a 95-gallon yard waste toter.

Yard waste is picked up April through December, on the same day as your normal garbage collection.  Brush can be bundled together with twine and will be picked up without a sticker. Branches must be less than 5 feet long and 3.5 inches in diameter. Christmas trees will be picked up January 4-15 on regular collection days, with no sticker needed. Wreaths and garland can be thrown away into regular trash.

For more information about yard waste collection in Mt. Prospect, visit the village website or call Public Works at 847-870-5640.

Glenview, IL

Residents in Glenview have access to disposal services for your home’s yard waste. Regular yard waste – including grass clippings, weeds, brush, and small branches – are picked up April 1 to November 30 on the same day as your regular trash collection. Waste must be placed in biodegradable paper yard waste bags with a sticker attached to each. Stickers (each $3.12) and bags are available at Village Hall and Weiss Ace Hardware

A yard waste subscription plan is available for Glenview residents. Costing $152 for the season, this allows you to use the brown waste bags without a sticker. With the subscription program, you can put out an unlimited amount of bags during the month of November; otherwise, there is a 4 bag limit per week. A 95-gallon toter can also be leased for $8 for the season.

Visit the Glenview village website for more information on the yard waste collection services.

 

Elgin, IL

The city of Elgin provides residents with several programs for disposing your home’s yard waste. Regular waste – including leaves, brush, grass clippings, weeds, and small branches – is picked up April to November. Waste must be placed in a biodegradable paper yard waste bag with a purple sticker attached to each bag. Brush and small branches can also be bundled together and placed next the bags. Bundles must be tied with twine, and must be less than 5 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter. The bundle must be less than 45 lbs. and each branch can be no thicker than 2 inches. Yard waste bags do not need a sticker during the months of April, October, and November. Stickers and bags can be purchased at Ziegler’s Ace Hardware. Visit the city’s website to learn more about the yard waste pickup program.

A city program for on-street leaf pickup takes place in October each year. Rake leaves to within 1 foot of the curb, and remove any branches in the pile. Be sure not to park on the street during pickup days. For more information on the leaf collection program, call 311 (from inside Elgin) or 847-931-6001.

Christmas trees can be placed at the curb December 26 until January 16 without a purple sticker. After January 16, you will need a sticker for the tree to be picked up.

Addison, IL

In Addison, regular yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, brush, and small branches) are collected April through November on the same day as your regular trash pickup. You can fill unlined 30-gallon trashcans; be sure to mark these cans with a free yard waste sticker, which can be picked up at Village Hall. You can also use biodegradable paper bags without a sticker; these bags are available at Len’s Ace Hardware. There is no limit to the amount of bags or cans for yard waste, though there is a weight limit of 50 lbs. per bag.

Brush pickup is the first Monday of the month from April to October. Branches must be less than 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter. Logs will also be picked up, but must be cut into 16 inch logs. Stack the wood up in an orderly pile near the curb, with the cut side facing the street.

Visit the village website for more information about yard waste pickup or call them at 630-620-2020.

 

St. Charles, IL

Yard and lawn waste in St. Charles (grass clippings, weeds, small brush and branches) is picked up April through November on your regular garbage pickup day. Waste must be placed in a biodegradable paper bag with a sticker, both of which can be purchased at DG Ace Hardware and St. Charles City Hall. Brush will be picked up if it is bundled together and a sticker is attached. make sure the branches are shorter than 3 feet long and 3 inches in diameter.

Brush pickup – only for residents who pay the utility fee – occurs in April through October. Brush must be at least 3 feet long and less than a foot in diameter. Visit the city’s website to find a brush pickup schedule. To find out if you qualify for this program, call the city at 630-377-4426.

Leaf pickup occurs in October and November of each year, and is limited to certain neighborhoods. Rake your leaves near the curb, but not in the street. Visit the city’s website to see the leaf collection map and schedule.

Free mulch is available from the city; you can pick it up at the wastewater treatment plant on Lincoln Highway, west of Peck Road. Hours for pick up are Monday-Friday, 7 am until 3 pm. Visit the city’s website to learn more about the free mulch program.

Cary, IL

For homeowners in Cary, regular yard waste – like grass clippings, weeds, small branches, and brush – are picked up weekly on the same day Advanced Disposal collects your household trash. There is no limit to the amount of yard waste you can put out each week, but it must be either in biodegradable paper bags or a yard waste toter. The Kraft bags can be picked up at Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, or lease a 95-gallon toter from Advanced Disposal.

Cary’s Public Works also does a leaf collection twice a year – in May and October each year. Visit the Village website to find dates for the upcoming leaf collection.

Lake Zurich, IL

Yard waste in Lake Zurich is collected from April through November on the same day your trash and recycling is picked up. Waste and clippings must be in cans or brown bags and clearly marked as yard waste. You do not need yard waste stickers in Lake Zurich. Waste Management also offers a landscape waste container for rent (60 or 90-gallon toters) for a nominal fee per month.

From mid-October through November, leaf vacuuming is done in Lake Zurich. Have your leaves raked within 5 feet of the curb by Monday morning for vacuuming throughout the week.

For more information on yard waste collection in Lake Zurich, visit the village website.

 

Highland Park, IL

Lakeshore Recycling Services provides Highland Park with yard waste collection services. From April through December 15, homeowners can place their landscaping waste, clippings, and small bound branches into biodegradable paper bags or clearly marked containers. Containers must have stickers affixed to them for pickup.

In addition, Highland Park offers an organic composting service, which allows your lawn waste and food scraps to be composted for future use. To sign up for this mixed organic waste pickup, visit Lakeshore Recycling System’s website.

Kildeer, IL

Yard waste and bundled brush is collected for Kildeer residents from April through November each year. Waste must go in a biodegradable brown paper bag or yard waste can – with a maximum of 32 gallons and 45 lbs. You can sign up for the Yard Waste Seasonal Program for unlimited landscape waste collection during the season. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase collection stickers from Waste Management.

Christmas trees are collected in Kildeer the entire month of January.

 

Bannockburn, IL

For homeowners in Bannockburn, yard waste is collected by Lakeshore Recycling Systems from April through November each year. Pick up is on Wednesdays. You can opt for either a subscription service, which covers up to 10 containers or biodegradable bags of landscaping waste, or choose to purchase stickers for individual bags or cans.

For more information, contact Lakeshore Recycling Systems.

Hawthorn Woods, IL

From April through November, Waste Management provides landscaping and lawn waste pickup for residents of Hawthorn Woods. Waste must be placed in clearly marked containers or biodegradable paper bags, with a paid sticker attached. You can also sign up for the unlimited yard waste pickup program, which does not require stickers. Yard waste stickers can be purchased from Hawthorn Woods Village Hall or from Waste Management.

 

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