Waste Management Services in Chicago, IL

Find trusted dumpster rental, junk removal, septic pumping, and specialty services in Chicago. Compare verified providers and get free quotes.

24+
Services Available
2,746,388
Population
Cook
County

Waste Management Services in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation provides municipal waste collection for 2.7+ million residents across 77 community areas. The city generates approximately 5.2 million tons of MSW annually with expanding blue cart recycling and a growing organics diversion program.

Residential Service

Included in property taxes

Free weekly collection for residents - trash and recycling. Yard waste seasonal (April-Nov). Funded through city budget.

Dumpster Rental

$425-$625

20-yard, 7-day rental

Providers

3

Licensed haulers serving Chicago

Waste Haulers Serving Chicago

Compare licensed waste management providers offering residential, commercial, and specialty services in Chicago:

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation

municipal
  • Residential collection
  • Blue cart recycling
  • Yard waste
  • Bulky items

Waste Management

national
  • Commercial collection
  • Dumpster rental
  • Industrial services

Lakeshore Recycling Systems

regional
  • Commercial collection
  • Recycling
  • Organics
  • Construction debris

Chicago Waste Management Costs

Understand typical pricing for waste services in Chicago. Costs vary by provider, service level, and property type.

Residential Services

Monthly trash & recycling pickupIncluded in property taxes

Free weekly collection for residents - trash and recycling. Yard waste seasonal (April-Nov). Funded through city budget.

Commercial Services

Monthly commercial collection$160-$850/month

Private haulers. Rates vary by service level, bin size, frequency. Competitive market - get multiple quotes.

Dumpster Rental

20-yard dumpster (7 days)$425-$625
30-yard dumpster (7 days)$550-$800

7-day rental. Chicago premium for permits, traffic, disposal costs. Winter weather can impact delivery/pickup.

Chicago Waste Regulations & Requirements

Dumpster Permits

Dumpster permits required from Chicago Dept of Transportation for public way placement. Fees vary by location and size. Private property placement no permit but must meet setback requirements.

Recycling Requirements

Blue cart recycling program citywide. Voluntary but widely adopted. Single-stream system. City provides 64-gallon blue carts free to residents who request them.

Special Regulations

  • Alley collection in most areas - carts placed in alley
  • Grid collection system - weekly schedule by ward
  • No collection on major holidays - makeup days scheduled
  • Bundled yard waste accepted April-November (4 bundles or 4 bags max)
  • Heavy snow can delay collection - check city alerts

Recycling in Chicago

Chicago Blue Cart recycling program offers free single-stream recycling. Residents request 64-gallon carts from the city. Weekly collection on same day as trash. Expanding organics pilot program in select neighborhoods.

Accepted Materials

  • Paper, cardboard, newspaper, magazines, mail
  • Plastic bottles & containers (#1-7)
  • Glass bottles & jars
  • Metal cans, aluminum foil
  • Cartons & juice boxes

Not Accepted

  • Plastic bags
  • Styrofoam
  • Food waste (except pilot areas)
  • Electronics
  • Textiles
  • Hazardous materials

Special Waste Programs in Chicago

Take advantage of these specialized collection and disposal programs available to Chicago residents:

Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility

Permanent facility accepting HHW and electronics. Free for Chicago residents with ID. Accepts paint, chemicals, batteries, e-waste, fluorescent bulbs.

1150 N North Branch St | Open Tues, Thurs, Fri 7am-noon, Sat 8am-3pm | (312) 744-7672

Large Item Pickup

Free pickup of furniture, appliances, electronics. Call 311 to schedule. Items set out curbside/alley on scheduled date.

Call 311 or use CHI 311 app

What Makes Chicago Waste Management Unique

  • Alley collection system unique among major US cities
  • Grid collection schedule by ward - highly organized routes
  • Free blue cart recycling expanding citywide
  • Winter snow operations impact waste collection timing
  • Dense urban environment with mix of single-family, multi-unit, high-rises

Contact Chicago Waste Services

Get help with waste collection, recycling questions, or service requests:

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation

Hours: 24/7 via 311

Ready to Set Up Waste Service in Chicago?

Compare quotes from verified providers and get the best rates for your property.

Get Free Quotes