Special Pick-Ups and Bulk Collection

Special Pick-Ups

The City of Evanston charges a fee for special pick-ups, which are defined as trash exceeding the capacity of your garbage cart plus one additional bag.

Special pick-ups are required after a move-out or move-in, a major clean-up effort, or if you have a large piece of furniture to be disposed.

What is the cost of a special pick-up?

For special pick-ups, a fee of $100 is charged for the first three cubic yards of trash. For each additional (1) cubic yard of trash, a fee of $25 will be charged. The charge will be placed on your water bill for payment at a later date.

How do I request a special pick-up?

Please call/text the Public Works Agency at 847-448-4311 to request a special pick-up. Sanitation crews will perform the special pick-up and a fee will be assessed. For convenience, you may dial 311 directly while in Evanston.

Remember that the City is not equipped to collect and does not collect construction debris or hazardous materials. A private disposal firm can be hired to collect these materials.

2025 Bulk Trash Collection

The City offers the free removal of up to six cubic yards of bulk garbage twice each year. See below for the schedule and guidelines.

Spring Schedule:

If your normal trash collection day is:	Your bulk trash collection day is:
Monday	Friday, April 4
Tuesday	Friday, April 11
Wednesday	Friday, April 18
Thursday	Friday, April 25

Fall Schedule:

If your normal trash collection day is:	Your bulk trash collection day is:
Monday	Friday, August 22
Tuesday	Friday, August 29
Wednesday	Friday, September 12
Thursday	Friday, September 19

All trash must be out by 7 a.m.; City crews will not return for late set outs. If crews are unable to complete routes on Friday, collection will continue on Saturday.

Bulk trash must meet the following guidelines:

Municipal solid waste cannot be allowed to accumulate or remain in the street, alley or other public place. Bulk trash cannot be placed out until the weekend, prior to a residences scheduled bulk pickup day.
Be less than six cubic yards per household. Six cubic yards is roughly equivalent to a love seat and chair, or one mattress and box spring, or 25 medium garbage bags. Quantities that exceed six cubic yards will be tagged for a special pick-up and a fee will be assessed.
.Be placed out in an orderly fashion, i.e., bagged, contained or bundled, with no loose garbage. Crews cannot go on private property. Absolutely no hazardous materials will be collected, including batteries, gas, oil, asbestos, pesticides, medical wastes, paint, etc.
Glass should be broken up, boxed, taped and labeled as glass.
Bulk trash must be placed on the alley line or parkway. Crews will not remove items from private property.
Absolutely no construction material will be collected.
No tires or appliances will be collected. Please call 311 or 847-448-4311 to arrange for the free removal of these items.
Crews will only remove bulk items; no garbage carts will be emptied.
Electronics are not permitted: It is illegal in Illinois to dispose of electronics in the trash.

I live in a condo. Can I participate?

Condo buildings and residents that receive a bill from the City for refuse collection services are eligible to participate in bulk trash pickup according to the residential schedule above based on their location (view map). Condos that receive a monthly bill from the franchise waste service provider are not able to participate in the City’s bulk pickup program. Condo residents can find out if they're eligible by contacting their building management or by calling/texting 847-448-4311.

Sign Up for Bulk Trash Reminders

Residents in the City's Condo and Residential waste program can receive reminders of bulk pickup day collections through the Recycle Coach tool. Download the free Recycle Coach app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit the City’s webpage to get started.

Return to the Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste Services main page.

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