Residential Refuse & Yard Waste Service Transition

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Beginning in early 2026, the City will introduce major improvements to its residential waste management services.

These updates will affect residential and condominium refuse, food and yard waste, and special pickup services. The changes are designed to make waste services more convenient, expand service options, and support the City’s long-term sustainability and waste-reduction goals.

In July 2025, the City Council approved these program updates and awarded a service agreement to LRS for refuse and yard waste collection. New rate structures were subsequently finalized by the City Council in November 2025 and will take effect in May 2026.

This page will be your central source for information about the transition, including updates, reminders, and helpful resources. Please check back regularly for the latest details.

Brochure that residents can expect to see in their mailboxes in early February. Click on the image to view the brochure in PDF format.

Residential Program (Single-Family Homes and Properties with Fewer Than Five Units)

Refuse (Trash) Service

The City is introducing a new 35-gallon refuse cart option for households that generate smaller volumes of waste. The monthly rate for this cart size will be $11.93. The 65-gallon cart rate will increase from $11.93 to $14 on April 1 to maintain incentives for reducing landfill waste, while the 95-gallon cart rate will remain unchanged. Residents looking to downsize their trash container should contact 311 to facilitate that request. The City's Public Works team will work to swap out any requests for trash service. The requested changes will be applied during March and April 2026, with the billing adjustments reflected in subsequent statements.

Food and Yard Waste Service

The Food and Yard Waste program is transitioning to a year-round service. Households not already using a cart will receive a 35-gallon cart by the end of March, unless they notify the City through the LRS portal that they do not wish to participate (residents must opt out by February 21, 2026).

Accepted materials have expanded to include fruits and vegetables, meat and bones, eggshells, grains, coffee grounds and filters, paper towels, and similar materials.

Schedule: Weekly collection will occur from April through November, and during December through March, collection will occur every other week. Winter collections will alternate between “A” weeks, which include Monday and Tuesday routes, and “B” weeks, which include Wednesday and Thursday routes. Residents are encouraged to use the Recycle Coach app to receive service reminders reflecting the new schedule.

Service Fees: Food and Yard Waste cart service fees will now appear on the water bill as a year-round charge of $7 per month, billed in increments of $14 per cycle. Households that opt out of the service will not incur any charges. The cost of service remains the same whether your household uses a 35-gallon or a 95-gallon cart. For households that do not currently have the service and are not choosing to opt out, you can request the larger 95-gallon cart instead of the standard 35-gallon cart via the LRS portal (linked above).

Yard Waste Stickers: Beginning in 2026, LRS will replace the City as the distributor of yard waste stickers, which will be available at local retailers and community centers. Previously issued City stickers will be accepted until November 1, 2026. New stickers will be priced at $2.50 per sticker.

Locations that will be selling stickers are as follows:

Jewel-Osco
Valli Produce
Lemoi Hardware
City Hall (Collector’s Office)
Levy Center
Ecology Center

Carts: The City will no longer charge households for the initial purchase of refuse or Food and Yard Waste carts. An additional $11.93 monthly fee will apply for each additional cart assigned to a property. Households will be permitted one free service adjustment per year, with a $90 fee applied for additional requests within the same calendar year.

Special Pickup and Bulk Waste

The City Council approved a multi-year pilot program to expand special bulk waste pickup services. A $1 per unit per month fee will be applied to all residential accounts, allowing residents to schedule additional pickups through the 311 Center. Each pickup is limited to 3 cubic yards (about the size of a couch or twin mattress), with an annual limit of 12 cubic yards per unit. This new pilot program will replace the previous pre-scheduled spring and fall bulk trash pickup days. Additional program details are available on the City’s website.

Timeline for Changes

February 1 - 21 - To opt out or make changes to your service, please use the LRS Portal or contact the City's 311 Center.
March 25-31 - Expect delivery of your food and yard waste carts this week if your household does not currently have service and did not opt out.
April 1 - Service changes go into effect
May 1 - Rate changes go into effect on the City’s water bill

Tools & Resources

Recycle Coach App. Download to set collection reminders, check schedules, and look up accepted materials for refuse, recycling, and yard waste.
City Waste & Recycling Webpage
Contact the City’s 311 Center if you have more questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information has been sent out about this?

What are the new rates?

Monthly Rates will go into effect on your May Water Bill
35 gal Refuse/Recycling Service: $11.93 per month ($23.86 on water bill)
65 gal Refuse/Recycling Service: $14.00 per month ($28.00 on water bill)
95 gal Refuse/Recycling Service: $26.95 per month ($53.90 on water bill)
Food and Yard Waste Cart (35 or 95 gal): $7.00 per month ($14.00 on water bill)
Special Pickup Minimum Fee: $1.00 per unit per month
Yard Waste Stickers: $2.50 per Sticker
City will also no longer charge upfront costs to purchase or start service for any carts; obtaining a cart is built into the monthly rate structure

If I want to opt out of the food and yard waste service, how do I accomplish that?

LRS has established an online portal, available here, which residents can use to opt out of the service. Households that choose to opt out will not receive a food and yard waste cart delivered to them in late March. Nor will any charges be associated with their bill.
When accessing the portal, households will need to register an account in the portal as well as supply some kind of evidence that they reside at the household they register for (mail, bill, statement, etc.) Once on the site, navigate to “My Services" and select Change Service, found in the middle of the page, and select the "Opt-Out" option

What if I missed the window to opt out of the service?

If I want to make changes to other parts of my service (refuse/recycling)?

To change the size of your refuse or recycling carts, or to add extra carts to your service, please contact the City’s 311. The Recycling and Environmental Maintenance Division will process your request and make the necessary changes, as well as remove the old carts from the property. Note deliver of these carts may not coincide with the delivery of food and yard waste carts from the vendor.

I am unsure if I should opt out of the food and yard waste service. How might I know what option is best for me?

The Food and Yard Waste Cart Service May Be Right For You If:
- You generate yard waste and are looking for an easy disposal method.
- You want to avoid the hassle of purchasing and filling stickered bags (a 95-gallon cart holds approximately the equivalent of three 30-gallon yard waste bags per week).
- You want an easy way to compost your household's food waste.
Reasons You May Choose to Opt-Out:
- You already use a landscaping service, and the added cost for only composting food scraps is not worth it.
- You are a small household and do not generate much waste.
- You already compost in your backyard.
- You currently share a cart with neighbors; ensure you coordinate who will opt out.
- You do not want to incur the additional cost for the service.

I am apprehensive of putting food scraps in my yard cart. Are there some suggestions for capturing food scraps in ways that may limit food and odors?

Prep the Night Before: Put your food scraps into the cart the night before your scheduled service.
Use a Kitchen Bin: Collect food scraps in a countertop bin. Lining the bottom with a paper towel can help keep it clean.
Minimize Odors: To reduce odors and mess between services, consider storing food scraps in the freezer.
Control Odors in the Cart: Layer food scraps with yard waste in the cart to help manage smells.
Keep it Clean: Remember to regularly rinse all containers, cartons, and collection bins.

I’m a condo customer (>5 units and have +75% Owner Occupancy). Which of these changes may impact our accounts?

Refuse (Trash) & Recycling Services
- Refuse and recycling services for condominium properties will remain unchanged. These properties will continue to receive twice-weekly refuse collection and weekly recycling service. Rates for 2026 are expected to remain the same.
Food and Yard Waste Service
- Condo properties can opt in to Food and Yard Waste services, which follows the same expanded list of compostable materials and the year-round schedule: weekly collection from April to November, and bi-weekly collection (alternating "A" and "B" weeks based on residential zone) from December to March. The residential collection zone map is on the City's website. Schedules and reminders are available via the free Recycle Coach app. Service fees, at the same residential rates, will be added to the water bill. Condominiums can enroll or modify this sign-up-only service anytime by contacting 311.
Special Pickup and Bulk Waste
- The special pickup pilot program also applies to condominium properties. A $ 1-per-unit monthly fee allows residents to schedule bulk waste pickups through 311. Properties with 6-20 units are permitted six yards per pickup, with a total of 30 yards per year. Properties with 21 or more units are permitted six yards per pickup, with a total of 75 yards per year.