Elmhurst Refuse and Recycling Guide
The City of Elmhurst, in partnership with Allied Waste Services, is pleased to provide this complete reference guide for your curbside recycling and waste program. This guide is designed to provide you with a quick and easy reference to Elmhurst's recycling, household waste and yard waste program.
Important Information:
If you are missed on your regular collection day, please do not call that day. Call the Public Works Department at 530-3020 the next day after your scheduled pick-up between 8:30 am and 11:00 am. If your pickup day is Friday, call Allied Waste Services Saturday Morning before 11:00 am at (708)345-7050.
General Provisions:
Garbage, Recyclables and Yard Waste are picked up on the same day of the week. Pick up days in the City of Elmhurst are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If you are unsure what day pick up is provided on your block, please call the Public Works Department. Please be sure your waste and recyclables are placed at the curb by 6:00 am on your pickup day.
Holiday Schedule:
When one of the following holidays falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, pick up will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Memorial Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Special Pick Ups:
For construction materials, such as shingles, drywall and other construction debris, please contact Allied Waste Services the day prior to your regular pick up day to arrange for a quote or for pick up. You can reach Allied Waste Services at (708) 345-7050.
Yard Waste and Brush Collection
Yard waste is collected from April 1st to November 30th. Yard waste consists of grass clippings, twigs, leaves, plant material, etc. Cans or bags of yard waste must have a yard waste sticker attached or they will not be collected. Cans need to be clearly marked "Yard Waste Only". Yard waste stickers are available at local merchants or at City Hall. Stickers cost $2.25 each. The cost of the sticker covers the cost of collection and processing of yard waste. Please use only bio-degradable PAPER bags for yard waste. PLASTIC BAGS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED!
Vegetable plants are yard waste; rocks and sod are refuse. Bales of hay, cornstalks and pumpkins are refuse and should not be placed in yardwaste cans or bags.
- Yard waste will be collected at curbside only.
- Maximum weight of yard waste bags is 50 lbs.
- Brush must be bundled.
Note: Two (2) free bundles of brush will be picked up each week (NO STICKER REQUIRED). Bundles must weigh less that 50 lbs. and be no longer than 4' in length. No single branch should have a diameter in excess of 4".
Household Waste:
Each resident may place out 1 - 33 gallon bag or can of household waste each week, plus an unlimited amount of recyclable material all for a monthly fee. Additional cans or bags of household waste, plus all yard waste must have a sticker attached to the bag or container. Bags or containers must not exceed 60 pounds. Note: 45 gallon cans will no longer be accepted. Each resident also has the option (at an increased monthly rate) to utilize a 96 gallon toter. This monthly rate allows for an unlimited amount of recyclable materials. The City of Elmhurst is proud of its community recycling efforts. Please continue to do your part in keeping this program a success.
Large Household Items:
Furniture, TV's, Microwaves, Mattresses, Carpets (cut into 8' sections, rolled up and tied), etc. are considered Large Household Items.
Cost: One refuse sticker for one (1) item on any week. More than one (1) item set out on any particular week will cost two (2) refuse stickers for each additional item.
Affixing Stickers: Affix refuse stickers to the item where they can be clearly seen from the street. Be sure to include the proper number of stickers to ensure pick up.
White Goods:
White goods consist of Washers, Dryers, Water Heaters, Refrigerators, Freezers, Room Air Conditioners, etc.
Cost: Two (2) refuse stickers for each item. Any additional items set out in the same week will also be two (2) refuse stickers each. The City suggest that when you have new white goods delivered to your home, ask the retailer to take the old ones.
Solid Waste and Yard Waste Sticker Vendors
- Convenient - York and Fremont
- Villa Park Hardware - Villa Park
- Dominicks - Elmhurst
- Dominicks - Bensenville, York & Grand
- Elmhurst Ace Hardware - Elmhurst
- Elmhurst City Hall - Collector's Office
- Jewel Food Stores - both North & South Elmhurst Stores
- Jewel Food Stores - St. Charles Rd, Villa Park
- Ledonne's True Value Hardware - Berkeley
- Mel's Ace Hardware - Elmhurst
- Nucara on Vallette Pharmacy - Elmhurst
New Solid Waste Contract
Effective April 1, 2008 the City of Elmhurst along with Allied Waste Services, offers the standard Elmhurst based program as well as an alternate program for those who generate larger volumes of refuse.
Under the base program, residents are allowed one 33-gallon container of household refuse per week for a monthly fee of $12.44. Each additional can or bag of refuse requires a sticker at a cost of $2.00 each.
The price of a yard waste sticker is $2.25 each.
The alternate program will allow residents to utilize a 96-gallon toter for a monthly rate of $17.98. This is NOT mandatory, but is an alternative being offered to Elmhurst residents.
If you choose the 96-gallon toter (to be provided and delivered by Allied Waste Services) please complete, sign and return the following form:
Mail to:
City of Elmhurst
Dept. of Public Works
209 N. York St.
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Or you may fax this form to (630)530-6403
Recycling Collection Guidelines
General Provisions
- There is no limit to the number of recycling containers you may set out for collection
- Stickers are not required on recycling containers
- Please write your address on your recycling container(s) to help in the recovery if lost or stolen.
- Recycling containers should be left for the new homeowner in the event that you should move.
Preparation of Materials
- Non-paper materials may be commingled inside your blue recycling container.
- Do not place recyclable materials in plastic grocery bags.
- All recyclable materials should be rinsed free of food with caps/lids removed.
- Paper items DO NOT NEED TO be separated from non-paper items.
- Flatten all corrugated cardboard boxes, paperboard, and wet strength carrier stock and remove any non-paper packing material.
- Cut or fold corrugated cardboard into 3' x 3' pieces, to fit into truck compartments. Bundle or bag corrugated cardboard, paperboard and wet strength carrier stock
Replacement recycling containers are available at City Hall. Otherwise, you may use 18-20 gallon round containers available at local retailers as long as they are clearly marked "recyclables"
Paper Materials
Newspaper
- All newspaper inserts acceptable
Magazines and Catalogs
- Glossy and non-glossy accepted
Telephone Directories
Kraft Brown Paper Bags
Corrugated Cardboard
Paperboard (Chipboard)
- Cereal Boxes
- Clothing Boxes
- Pasta Boxes
- Tissue Boxes
Wet Strength Carrier Stock
- Frozen food packages
- Carriers for beer and soda
Junk Mail
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Greeting Cards
- Advertisements
- Post Cards
- Window envelops
Mixed Paper
- Stationery
- Notebook paper
- Post-it-notes
- Computer paper
- Typing paper
- Bond envelops
Non Paper Materials
PET (#1) Plastic Bottles
- 2-liter soda bottles
- Plastic beverage containers
Other PET (#1) Plastic Containers
- Plastic plates and trays
- Other #1 non-bottle shaped containers
- Plastic flower pots
HDPE (#2) Plastic Bottles
- Laundry detergent
- Milk and water bottles
- Shampoo and personal care bottles
No motor oil, anti-freeze, pool chemical, or other hazardous waste containers
Other HDPE (#2) Plastic Containers
- Margarine tubs
- Plastic cups
- Other #2 non-bottle shaped containers
- Baby wipe containers
Plastic 6-pack & 12-pack Rings
(#3) PVC bottles
- Health and beauty products
(#4) LDPE Bottles & Containers
- Margarine tubs
(#5) PP Plastic Bottles & Containers
- Yogurt cups
- Syrup and ketchup bottles
Polystyrene (#6) Plastic Containers - Clear and Foam
- Plastic deli containers
- Cottage cheese containers
- Yogurt cups
(#7) Plastic Narrow Neck Grocery
- Gable top containers (Juice and milk cartons)
NO Styrofoam packaging or packing peanuts
Metal Items:
Aluminum Cans
Aluminum Foil
Steel or Tin Cans
Aerosol Cans
Aluminum Baking Trays/Pie Plates
Empty Paint Cans
Glass Items
Bottles and Jars Only
Brown, Green, and Clear Glass
NO mirrors or window glass accepted
Aseptic Packaging
Gable Top Milk Cartons
Juice Boxes
Examples of UNACCEPTABLE Recycling Items:
- Plastic bags and wrap
- Styrofoam containers and packing peanuts
- Motor oil, anti-freeze, pool chemical containers
- Pesticide and herbicide containers
- Window glass and mirrors
- Food-contaminated paper or cardboard
- Diapers
- Tissue Paper
- Automobile parts
- Carpeting, roofing and siding materials
- Toys
- Buckets and gasoline cans
- Hoses and pipes
- Clothes hangers
Please rinse bottles and jars. Please remove lids and tops.