Chicago Garbage & Recycling Pickup 2026: Holiday Schedule, Blue Cart & Bulk Items
Which holidays stop garbage and recycling pickup, how the Blue Cart schedule works, and where bulk items, yard waste, Christmas trees, electronics and household chemicals go. All from official City of Chicago sources, in one page.
Veterans Day: no garbage
No garbage pickup citywide. No recycling in zones 2 and 4. Zones 1, 3, 5 and 6 keep their recycling service.
Thanksgiving: no pickup
No garbage or recycling anywhere in the city. Keep carts accessible all week, since service days may vary.
Is there pickup on this holiday?
Pick the holiday and your Blue Cart recycling zone.
Your zone is on the City’s Blue Cart recycling map.
Based on the City of Chicago 2026 holiday garbage schedule, for homes with 1–4 units served by Streets and Sanitation.
Chicago trash pickup: quick facts
Who gets City garbage pickup in Chicago?
The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) collects garbage from about 600,000 households in single-family homes and buildings with four units or fewer. Buildings with five or more units must hire a private hauler.
| Your home | Garbage | Recycling |
|---|---|---|
| House or building with 1–4 units | City DSS · $9.50 per unit a month | City Blue Cart · DSS or its contractor, by zone |
| Building with 5 or more units | Private hauler | Private hauler (required to accept common recyclables) |
Chicago garbage and recycling schedule
Chicago uses a grid collection system: routes follow main streets and natural boundaries, and crews collect garbage weekly, Monday to Friday.
| Cart | How often | How to set it out |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage (black cart) | Every week, Monday–Friday | In the free 96-gallon cart, lid closed |
| Recycling (blue cart) | Every other week (your A or B week) | Loose, never bagged · alley service: out your whole highlighted week · curb service: out on garbage day of that week |
| Yard waste | On request through 311 | Bagged, in the alley or at the curb, separate from both carts |
Chicago holiday garbage schedule 2026
Chicago has two holiday lists. On the holidays below, there’s no garbage service anywhere in the city. Recycling depends on your zone.
| Holiday | Date | Garbage | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | None | None, all zones |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | None | None in zones 2 & 4 |
| Pulaski Day | Mon, Mar 2 | None | None in zones 2 & 4 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | None | None, all zones |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | None | None in zones 2 & 4 |
| Independence Day (observed) | Fri, Jul 3 | None | None in zones 2 & 4 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | None | None, all zones |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12 | None | None in zones 2 & 4 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | None | None in zones 2 & 4 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | None | None, all zones |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | None | None, all zones |
What goes in the Chicago blue cart
Put recyclables in loose, never in a bag. Break down cardboard boxes to save space, but don’t crush cans or cartons: that makes them harder to sort.
| Yes | Never in the blue cart |
|---|---|
| Cardboard boxes (flattened) and paper · plastic bottles, jugs and containers · aluminum and steel cans · glass bottles and jars · food and drink cartons | Plastic bags and film · hoses and other “tanglers” · aerosol cans · lithium-ion batteries · yard waste |
Leaves and yard waste
Yard waste never goes in the black or blue cart. Bag it separately and call 311 to request a yard waste pickup. DSS sends dedicated trucks and the bags are composted.
| Yard waste | Not yard waste |
|---|---|
| Leaves, grass clippings, branches, brush, shrub clippings, garden waste | Dirt, rocks, gravel |
Christmas tree recycling in Chicago
Chicago doesn’t pick up trees at the curb. Instead, DSS and the Chicago Park District run a drop-off program every January.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Last season | January 3–17, 2026, at 27 park locations citywide · 23,500 trees recycled |
| Hours | 6 a.m.–11 p.m., inside the tree corral |
| Prepare it | Remove tinsel, lights, ornaments, the stand and any plastic bag |
| Free mulch | Available at six sites, including Lincoln Park (Cannon Dr.), Margate Park and Warren Park |
Furniture and other bulk items
There’s no extra charge for bulk items on City garbage service. Crews take furniture and other large items with your regular pickup.
- Wait for your pickup daySet the item next to your garbage cart the night before or the morning of your collection day.
- Don’t block the alleyLeave room for cars and the truck to get through.
- Take out what can’t goElectronics, chemicals and tires need a drop-off site (see below).
- Not picked up?Call 311 or contact your ward’s sanitation office.
Household chemicals and electronics
All Chicago residents can bring household chemicals and old electronics to the City’s Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF).
How much Chicago garbage service costs
The garbage fee is $9.50 per dwelling unit per month, on the same City utility bill as water and sewer. Recycling, yard waste and bulk items cost nothing extra.
| Building | Per month | Metered bill (every 2 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family home | $9.50 | $19.00 |
| 2 units | $19.00 | $38.00 |
| 3 units | $28.50 | $57.00 |
| 4 units | $38.00 | $76.00 |
Non-metered accounts are billed every six months ($57 per unit). Eligible seniors pay half: $4.75 per unit a month. Billing questions: Utility Billing & Customer Service, 312-744-4426.
Missed pickup
- Holiday or snow week?Service days can vary. Keep carts accessible through the week.
- Check your recycling weekBlue carts are collected every other week. Check whether it’s your A or B week.
- Check accessCarts blocked by parked cars or behind a gate can’t be serviced.
- Report itCall 311 or submit a missed pickup request online. Missing or damaged carts are replaced through 311 too.
5 mistakes Chicago residents make
- Bagging recyclingEverything goes in the blue cart loose.
- Crushing cans and cartonsFlatten boxes, but leave cans and cartons whole.
- Leaves in the black cartBag yard waste separately and request a pickup through 311.
- Latex paint at the chemical facilityIt’s not accepted. Dry it out and put it in the garbage.
- Missing the zone ruleOn some holidays only zones 2 and 4 lose recycling. Know your zone.
Who to contact
| For | Contact |
|---|---|
| Missed pickup, carts, yard waste, bulk items | 311 · online service request |
| Recycling questions | DSSRecycling@cityofchicago.org |
| Food scraps and tree recycling | dsscomposting@cityofchicago.org · 312-744-2413 |
| Garbage fee on your bill | Utility Billing & Customer Service · 312-744-4426 |
Chicago trash pickup: frequently asked questions
Is there garbage pickup on Veterans Day?
No. There’s no garbage collection citywide on Wednesday, November 11, and no recycling in zones 2 and 4.
Is there garbage pickup on Thanksgiving?
No garbage or recycling anywhere in the city on Thursday, November 26. Keep carts accessible all week.
Is there pickup on Christmas 2026?
No. Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, has no garbage or recycling service in any zone.
How often is recycling collected?
Every other week. Garbage is weekly, Monday to Friday.
How do I find my recycling zone?
On the City’s Blue Cart recycling map, linked from the Residential Recycling page.
How do I get rid of a couch?
Put it next to your garbage cart in the alley on your regular pickup day. There’s no extra charge.
How much is the garbage fee?
$9.50 per dwelling unit per month, on your City utility bill. Eligible seniors pay $4.75.
Where do old TVs and computers go?
To the HCCRF at 1150 N. North Branch St., Tuesday morning, Thursday afternoon or the first Saturday of the month.
Does Chicago pick up Christmas trees?
No curbside pickup. Drop trees at a City tree recycling corral in early January. The 2026 program ran January 3–17 at 27 parks.
How we verify this page
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