Waste Management Services in Chicago, IL
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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
Free weekly collection for residents - trash and recycling. Yard waste seasonal (April-Nov). Funded through city budget.
Dumpster Rental
20-yard, 7-day rental
Providers
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
Free weekly collection for residents - trash and recycling. Yard waste seasonal (April-Nov). Funded through city budget.
Commercial Services
Private haulers. Rates vary by service level, bin size, frequency. Competitive market - get multiple quotes.
Dumpster Rental
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
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