Chicago Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your Chicago collection day, blue cart recycling zone, bulk item rules, and everything about trash, recycling, and composting in Chicago — all on this page.
City of Chicago · Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) · Updated March 2026
Find Your Chicago Collection Day
Select your trash pickup day to instantly see your full schedule — garbage, blue cart recycling, bulk rules, and holiday impact for 2026.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Chicago collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the DSS address lookup at chicago.gov, the Recycle Coach app (iOS/Android), or call Chicago 311 (dial 3-1-1, or 312-744-5000). See all contact options ↓
Chicago Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) collects garbage and blue cart recycling from approximately 600,000 households — all single-family homes and buildings with 4 or fewer units within city limits. Garbage is collected weekly; blue cart recycling is collected every other week. Chicago uses a grid-based collection system citywide since 2013, replacing the old ward-based routes.
How Chicago’s Grid Garbage Collection System Works
In 2013, Chicago implemented a citywide Grid Garbage Collection System that replaced the old ward-based routes. Instead of following the boundaries of Chicago’s 50 wards, routes are now organized in a logical grid pattern bordered by main streets. This allows DSS to reduce daily truck deployment from ~360 trucks to ~320 trucks while maintaining coverage for all 600,000 households — saving the City $18 million per year.
📌 What the Grid System Means for You
- Your collection day is based on your address, not your ward. Two neighbors in the same ward or neighborhood can have different collection days under the grid system.
- Garbage is collected weekly, Monday through Friday. No Chicago residential address has a weekend collection day.
- Most Chicago homes have their garbage collected from the alley behind the property. Some addresses use front curb collection. Both follow the same timing rules.
- Your cart should be in the alley or at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. You may set your cart out the evening before.
- All residential garbage is collected in the City-provided 96-gallon black plastic super cart, supplied free of charge to all eligible households.
🛴 Chicago’s 96-Gallon Black Super Cart
Every eligible Chicago household receives a free 96-gallon black super cart for garbage. These heavy-duty carts have tight-fitting lids and are designed to reduce rodent access — a major priority in Chicago. The City credits the widespread use of these carts with the significant decline in rat infestations in residential areas. If your super cart is missing, damaged, or you need a replacement, call Chicago 311.
Chicago Blue Cart Recycling — DSS Zones vs. LRS Zones
Chicago’s blue cart recycling program is one of the most important things to understand correctly: the city is divided into 6 recycling zones, and two different companies handle collection — DSS (the City) and LRS (a private contractor). Both provide the same single-stream recycling service, but they have different holiday schedules, which is a common source of confusion.
Recycling is collected every other week on the same weekday as your garbage. Your address is assigned to one of the 6 zones, which determines both your provider and your biweekly week rotation.
🚚 DSS Zones 2 & 4 — City Collection
Chicago’s iconic blue DSS trucks collect both garbage and recycling in these zones.
Holiday impact: DSS blue cart collection follows the City’s holiday schedule. On certain holidays, DSS crews work a 4-day work week instead of 5, which can affect which recycling routes are served.
Use chicagorecycles.org to see if you’re in a DSS zone.
🚚 LRS Zones 1, 3, 5 & 6 — Private Contractor
LRS (Lakeshore Recycling Systems) handles blue cart recycling collection in these four zones. A different truck from your garbage truck collects your blue cart.
Holiday impact: LRS generally works a normal Monday–Friday week even on holidays when DSS has a reduced schedule. This means LRS recycling customers may see fewer holiday disruptions than DSS recycling customers.
Use chicagorecycles.org to see if you’re in an LRS zone.
Chicago Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
For garbage collection (DSS), Chicago observes only two holidays with no collection: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On those two days, no DSS garbage trucks run. Starting from the holiday, all remaining routes that week shift one day forward, through Saturday if needed.
All other holidays — New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day — are fully normal garbage collection days for DSS. This is one of the most permissive holiday schedules of any major US city.
Recycling holiday schedules vary by zone — DSS recycling zones (2 & 4) may have a 4-day work week on some holidays; LRS zones (1, 3, 5, 6) typically work normal weeks. Always verify your recycling holiday impact at recyclebycity.com/chicago.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Garbage (DSS) | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Normal | Verify by zone |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | DSS: 4-day week / LRS: Normal |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Verify by zone |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Normal | DSS: 4-day week / LRS: Normal |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Normal — Saturday |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Normal | DSS: 4-day week / LRS: Normal |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | Verify by zone |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | No Collection | Verify by zone |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | No Collection | Verify by zone |
What Goes in Chicago’s Blue Cart
Chicago uses single-stream recycling in the blue cart — no sorting required. All recyclables go in together, loose and without bags. Do not crush cans or flatten cartons before recycling, as this makes them harder to sort at the MRF. Do break down cardboard boxes to save space in the cart. Recycling crews are not permitted to enter private property, so the blue cart must be in the alley or at the curb before collection begins.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, paper bags, paperback books, phone books
- Cardboard: corrugated boxes (broken down), cereal boxes, paperboard — must be dry
- Cartons: milk, juice, broth, soup cartons — do not flatten
- Aluminum and steel (tin) cans — do not crush
- Glass: all bottles and jars — rinsed
- Plastic: all rigid plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, containers — rinsed
- Rigid plastic without a neck (tubs, clamshells) also accepted in Chicago
- Empty aerosol cans — one of few cities accepting these in the blue cart
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or plastic film — causes MRF jams; grocery store drop-off only
- Lithium-ion batteries — fire hazard; HCCRF or retail drop-off
- Tanglers: garden hoses, cords, chains, Christmas lights, wire hangers
- Styrofoam / polystyrene → Cook County CHaRM or special events
- TVs and computers → HCCRF at 1150 N. Branch St
- Electronics of any kind → HCCRF or seasonal events
- Food or liquids — rinse all containers
- Yard waste or food scraps
🚩 Residential Recycling Drop-Off Centers
Chicago operates Residential Recycling Drop-Off Centers citywide where residents can bring the same materials accepted in the blue cart, plus a wider range of hard-to-recycle items. You may bring materials in a bag to the center — just remove the bag when depositing, as plastic bags are not accepted. Find your nearest drop-off center at chicagorecycles.org.
Chicago Bulk Item Pickup — 1 Item Per Week, No Appointment
Chicago offers one of the most straightforward bulk item programs in the US: residents can place one bulk item at the curb or alley on every regular garbage collection day, with no appointment needed. There is no annual limit — one item per week, every week, year-round.
For larger cleanouts or more items, call 311 to request a special bulk item pickup. DSS will schedule a return trip, typically within 5–7 business days. The one-item-per-week rule is the weekly no-appointment option; additional items require a 311 request.
📌 Bulk Item Rules
- Place 1 bulk item per week at the curb or alley on your regular garbage day — no appointment or phone call needed.
- Place bulk items at the curb or in the alley without blocking the water meter, overhanging tree branches, or mailboxes.
- Do not place bulk items in the garbage cart — oversized items must be placed separately at the curb or in the alley.
- Remove doors from refrigerators, freezers, and large appliances before placing at the curb — required by law to prevent child entrapment.
- For more than 1 item, call 311 to request a special bulk pickup (5–7 business days).
✅ Accepted as Bulk Items
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, shelving
- Mattresses and box springs
- Large appliances (doors removed; Freon appliances need special call to 311)
- Rugs, carpeting
- Mirrors and windows (wrapped securely)
- Yard debris in bags
- Household items too large for the super cart
🚫 Never at the Curb — Even as Bulk
- TVs and computer monitors → HCCRF at 1150 N. Branch St
- Computers and electronics → HCCRF or seasonal e-waste events
- Tires → tire retailers or seasonal City events
- Construction debris, building materials, bricks, concrete
- Hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, automotive fluids)
- Car parts or engines
Chicago Hazardous Waste & Electronics Disposal
⚡ Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF)
The City of Chicago operates the HCCRF at 1150 N. Branch Street, Chicago 60642 for electronics and household hazardous waste disposal. Open to Chicago residents at no charge.
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | First Saturday of the month, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Accepted: Oil-based paints and stains, solvents, cleaners, pesticides, automotive fluids, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, all types of batteries, computers, printers, monitors, TVs, phones, tablets, and all other electronics.
Not accepted: Latex paint (let dry completely, then trash), business or commercial waste, explosives, radioactive materials, medical waste.
📅 Seasonal Electronics Recycling Events
DSS hosts free electronics recycling events throughout Chicago from April through December. These events are held in various neighborhoods and accept all household electronics including TVs, computers, phones, tablets, and batteries. No appointment needed at most events. Check the schedule at chicagorecycles.org for 2026 event dates and locations.
✈ Cook County CHaRM Center
The Cook County Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is a complement to Chicago’s HCCRF, accepting additional materials including Styrofoam and some items not accepted at HCCRF. Available to all Cook County residents, including Chicagoans. Find current hours and locations at cookcountyil.gov/CHaRMCenter.
Chicago Food Scrap Drop-Off Program — 20 Locations Citywide
Chicago does not currently offer curbside food scrap collection. Instead, DSS operates a Food Scrap Drop-Off program with 20 locations across the city, launched in fall 2023 and expanded since. Over 6,000 households have signed up, and over 300 tons of food scraps have been diverted from landfills.
🌿 How It Works
- Sign up for a nearby drop-off location at chicagorecycles.org. Registration is free and takes about 2 minutes.
- Collect food scraps at home in a sealed container (any sealed container will work — the City recommends repurposing an ice cream container or lidded bucket).
- Bring your sealed container to your assigned drop-off location. You’ll find green drop-off carts at the site. Empty your container into the cart and take your container home.
- Collected food scraps are composted and the resulting compost is distributed to Chicago community gardens and parks.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Chicago
- Confirm your correct collection day. Use the DSS address lookup at chicago.gov, the Recycle Coach app, or call 311 (312-744-5000). Verify you have a 1–4 unit building receiving DSS service.
- Check for a holiday delay. Only Thanksgiving and Christmas cause no garbage collection. All other holidays are normal garbage service days. If it’s a recycling miss, verify whether you’re in a DSS or LRS zone and check your zone’s holiday schedule at recyclebycity.com/chicago.
- Verify cart placement: garbage cart out by 7:00 a.m. in the alley or at the curb; blue cart with lid down, placed in alley or at curb (recycling crews cannot enter private property).
- Report the missed pickup via Chi311 — online at 311.chicago.gov, the Chi311 app (iOS/Android), by calling 311 (312-744-5000), or by contacting your Ward Sanitation Office. Select “Garbage & Recycling” then follow the prompts.
Chicago Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Chicago or Just Moved In?
Use the Recycle Coach app (free, iOS/Android) or enter your address at chicagorecycles.org to find your exact garbage day, blue cart recycling week, and recycling zone (DSS or LRS). Sign up for email reminders. Confirm whether your home is in an alley-service or curb-service area. Your 96-gallon black super cart and blue recycling cart should already be at the property — if missing, call 311. Also sign up for a food scrap drop-off location at chicagorecycles.org for easy weekly composting.
⛄️ Chicago Winter — Snow & Collection
- Chicago averages over 36 inches of snow annually. Major lake-effect and Alberta Clipper storms can delay collection for several days.
- During snowstorms, DSS redirects crews to snow removal. Leave carts in your home during active storms and do not set them out until the alley or street is passable.
- After snow, clear a path to your alley or curb cart so trucks can access it. Buried or inaccessible carts will be skipped.
- Monitor chi311.com and the Chi311 app for service status updates during winter events.
🚫 5 Mistakes Chicago Residents Make
- Putting lithium-ion batteries in the blue cart — fire hazard; take to HCCRF or a retail battery drop-off
- Putting a TV or computer at the curb with bulk items — never accepted curbside; take to HCCRF at 1150 N. Branch St
- Putting recyclables in plastic bags in the blue cart — loose only; bags jam MRF equipment
- Not knowing which recycling zone you’re in (DSS vs. LRS) — matters for holiday schedules
- Missing the blue cart biweekly schedule — always verify your week in Recycle Coach or chicagorecycles.org
Contact Chicago DSS & 311
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Chicago 311 | Dial 3-1-1 inside Chicago, or 312-744-5000 from outside — missed pickups, bulk item requests, cart replacement, all non-emergency city services |
| Chi311 App & Web | 311.chicago.gov · Chi311 app (iOS & Android) — report missed pickups, request special bulk, track service requests |
| Recycle Coach App | Free iOS & Android — personalized collection calendar, recycling week, zone (DSS/LRS), holiday alerts, “What Goes Where” guide with photo recognition |
| Chicago Recycles | chicagorecycles.org — schedule lookup, zone info, What Goes Where tool, food scrap drop-off sign-up, recycling events |
| DSS Main Page | chicago.gov/streets — garbage collection info, holiday schedule, grid system, ward sanitation offices |
| HCCRF | 1150 N. Branch Street, Chicago · Tue & Thu 7 a.m.–12 p.m. · First Saturday monthly 8 a.m.–3 p.m. · Electronics, batteries, HHW, oil-based paint, fluorescent bulbs |
| Cook County CHaRM | cookcountyil.gov/CHaRMCenter — Styrofoam, expanded recycling options for all Cook County residents |
| Reduce Waste Chicago | reducewastechicago.org — additional composting resources, community programs, events |
Frequently Asked Questions — Chicago Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder above and all the information on this page haven’t resolved your question, use the official City of Chicago address lookup or the Recycle Coach app. The Recycle Coach app is the most complete day-to-day tool, showing your exact garbage day, blue cart week, recycling zone, holiday-adjusted dates, and a What Goes Where guide with photo recognition.
🔍 Official Chicago DSS Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule, zone, and service eligibility:
🔍 Open Chicago Recycles 📞 Call 311 — 312-744-5000| Chicago Recycles | chicagorecycles.org — official city site: schedule lookup, recycling zone, What Goes Where, food scrap drop-off, seasonal events. Also links to the Recycle Coach app for personalized reminders. |
| DSS Address Lookup | chicago.gov — Grid Garbage Collection — enter your address to see your collection day. |
| Chicago 311 | Dial 3-1-1 inside Chicago or 312-744-5000 from outside — schedule queries, missed pickup reports, bulk item requests, cart replacement. |
| Chi311 Online | 311.chicago.gov · Chi311 app (iOS & Android) — report service requests, track status, submit missed pickup reports. |
| Holiday Garbage Schedule | chicago.gov — Holiday Garbage Schedule — official non-collection dates for garbage (DSS). |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Chicago
Looking for waste collection information in another Midwest city? Here are the five closest cities we’ve already covered:
