Residential Services
Village of Wilmette Garbage, Recycling & Organics Collection Program
Effective January 1st, 2024, LRS will provide garbage, recycling, organics services for Village of Wilmette residents. LRS is a privately-owned company headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois with locations throughout Illinois and the Midwest. We are proud to be a partner in your community!
Service days
Your collection day will remain the same with LRS, as our teams will be in the community on a 4-day a week schedule. Please see this link on your village website to confirm your service day.
Important Service Transition Information
The new service with LRS will start on January 2nd, 2024 (Holiday Schedule Week). However, LRS will start delivering carts in mid-December of 2023. These carts will be left curbside, as no one will need to be home to receive them. Deliveries will take place all throughout the month of December. Please note that different style carts are delivered at different times and you may not receive all of your carts on the dame day or at the same time. Residents may place the LRS carts out for collection on your first service day with LRS.
The current hauler (WM) will continue to provide collection through the end of 2023. After they collect your materials, a separate truck will pick up your carts, so please leave those carts at the curb or alley, until they are collected. Do not bring any WM containers in after your last service. Please leave them out until they are removed.
CART SIZE SELECTIONS & NEW CART DELIVERIES
- Default cart sizes will be 96-gallon for garbage and 64-gallon for recycling.
- Please select your cart size and enroll in additional services such as back-door or twice weekly pickup by November 17, 2023.
- Access the web portal by clicking here.
- LRS Customer Service can be reached at 844.633.3577 for enrollment assistance.
YOUR HOME WILL RECEIVE A 96-GALLON GARBAGE CART AND A 64-GALLON RECYCLING CART IF A SELECTION IS NOT MADE BY NOVEMBER 17, 2023.
- December 4 – December 22, 2023 – Initial LRS cart deliveries will take place in the Village. Residents do not need to be home to receive their carts. Please be aware that garbage, recycling and organics carts may be delivered on different days. Cart deliveries will be based on cart size, so you may receive your cart on a different day or different time than your neighbor.
- Monday, December 11 – Saturday, December 30, 2023 – New cart deliveries will continue and WM will begin the process of removing old carts. Please leave old carts (including yard waste) out for removal once you receive your new LRS carts. The old carts may be labeled Veolia, Advanced Disposal, or Waste Management. Cart removals may not be completed on the same day as new carts are delivered.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: Through the end of the year, WM will service LRS carts.
- January 1, 2024 – New Year’s Day holiday, service delayed by one day.
- January 2, 2024 – First day of service with LRS. Waste and recycling carts will be serviced on the same day, however the time of collection may differ.
LRS CUSTOMER SERVICE
Please contact the LRS Customer Experience Department for all garbage, recycling, and organics questions, along with cart exchange requests, collection misses, extra pick-ups, and all general service inquiries.
Phone: 844.633.3577
Email: Service@LRSrecycles.com
You can also submit a support request in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
LRS and Village of Wilmette Brochure
Collection Days for Garbage, Recycling, Organics in the Village of Wilmette is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
- All items need to be placed out by 7:00AM
- Service days will remain the same from your previous hauler
- Contact LRS customer service for questions regarding collection day or time
All garbage will be collected starting at 7AM on the service day, garbage is collected weekly. Service times are subject to change. LRS provides service for the Village between 7AM and 6PM on your service day. LRS provides wheeled carts with a flip-top lid and handlebar to throw your garbage in. Standard sized garbage carts are 96-gallon in size. Smaller carts, and additional carts (available to rent for $3/month) are available by contacting the LRS customer service department or by submitting a request in the upper right-hand section of this page
Garbage collection is unlimited as loose bags can also be placed out next to your cart, at 50 lbs max per bag.
Residents may also enroll in back-door collection for an additional fee, billed directly by LRS.
LRS provides one cart for recycling at no charge for each household. Carts are available in 35, 64 or 96-gallon size (standard recycling cart given to each home will be the 64-gallon if no other selection is made). Additional rental carts are available upon request to LRS customer service. Contact LRS Customer Service for more information or with questions on recycling.
- Recyclables are collected on the same day of the week as the garbage and organics
- Each home will automatically receive a 64-gallon cart for recyclables if no other selection is made
- You are to use the LRS issued cart first for recycled materials
- Plastic bags with recycling material will not be accepted
- There is no limit to the amount of acceptable recyclable items that can be placed out for collection, provided they are properly prepared and contained
- LRS suggests using a cardboard box as a makeshift bin and placing all broken down materials in the ‘bin’ if needed. Please MARK the additional box or container used as RECYCLE so the driver can clearly see it
- Additional recycling carts are available to rent for $3/month and residents may also select a different size cart
Accepted Recyclables
Paper
- Remove metal caps and rings, notebook spirals, three-ring binders, and industrial size staples
- Envelopes with cellophane windows can be accepted
- Newspaper and inserts
- Magazines, catalogs, and phone books
- Office paper, notebooks, computer print outs, hanging file folders, pastel colored sticky notes (no fluorescent), glossy brochures, index cards, greeting cards, stationery, fax paper, manila folders and envelopes
- Junk mail
- Chipboard/paperboard – cereal, cracker, tissue, shoe, gift, and 6/12-pack boxes, paper towel tubes, and egg cartons
- Cardboard boxes must be flattened and cut
- Brown paper grocery bags
- Paperback books (no hardcover books)
Steel/Tin Cans
- Empty and rinse, labels may be left on
- Food cans and lids
- Metal paint cans and lids (must be empty and dry, some dried paint residue is fine)
- Metal lids are recyclable
Cartons
- Empty, rinse, do not crush or flatten, leave caps and tabs on
- Food and drink cartons
- Milk, soup, and juice
Aluminum Cans and Foil
- Empty, rinse, do not crush or flatten
- Aluminum cans
- Aluminum foil (ball clean foil to 2 inches or larger, no flat foil or small balled up foil)
- Pie plates & trays
Glass Bottles and Jars
- Empty, rinse, labels are fine to leave on
- All glass colors are accepted
Plastic Containers
- Leave plastic screw top caps on empty bottles and jars
- Empty and rinse; labels may be left on
- Bottles include: Water, soda, juice, laundry detergent, soap/shampoo, health and beauty products and cleaners
- Tubs include: coffee, tofu, cottage cheese, yogurt, margarine tubs, fruit or lettuce
- Jugs include: milk and juice
- Jars include: mayo, peanut butter
- Plastic number types accepted
Organic materials are collected seasonally beginning on April 1 through November 30 on the same service day as your garbage and recycling. Organics will only be collected in the same area of your standard curb or alley access (this is not offered as a back door service). Please read below for program guidelines and information about optional “winter gap” composting services.
What is Considered Yard Waste?
Yard waste, also known as landscape waste, consists of organic waste materials accumulated as the result of cultivation and maintenance of gardens, lawns, shrubbery, trees, and vines.
Unacceptable materials include sod, dirt, whole bushes, root balls artificial Christmas trees, artificial wreath greenery, artificial garland
What are Considered Compostable Food Scraps?
Food scrap composting creates a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves soil health and function and reduces greenhouse gas emissions in landfills caused by rotting food. The following materials are accepted: bread, cereal, coffee grounds, dairy, eggshells, eggs, fish, fruits, grain, meat, pasta, shells, and vegetables.
Subscription Winter Every Other Week Compost Services
LRS is introducing “winter gap” food scrap composting collected every other week from December 1 – March 31. The fee is $30 per month and residents can enroll by contacting LRS customer service or visiting the LRS Cart Portal. Resident must have an organics cart to participate in this program. Wilmette yard waste stickers are not required from December 1 – March 31 for residents enrolled in this program.
Sticker Yard Waste Services
Wilmette Yard Waste Stickers: 1 Yard Waste Sticker is required per yard waste bag/bundle and 35-gallon organics cart; 3 Stickers are required per 96-gallon organics cart. See more information in the “Wilmette Residential Yard Waste Sticker” tab.
Guidelines: Use minimum 2-ply biodegradable (BPI certified) landscape wastepaper bags. Bags not to exceed 50 lbs when full. Tie brush bundles with biodegradable string or twine. Bundles must be under 50 lbs and not exceed 4’ long, 2’ wide; individual limbs must not exceed 3” diameter. All food scraps must be containerized in an LRS organics cart; yard waste may be included with food scraps.
Holiday Trees
For the first 2 weeks of January, LRS will collect live trees on your regular collection day at no additional charge. Collected trees are taken to a nearby compost facility and turned into mulch. Mulching trees is far more earth-friendly than sending them to landfills. By foregoing the landfill, your tree won’t be rotting away releasing greenhouse gas emissions or taking up landfill space. Please read below for program guidelines:
- The tree must be real, not artificial, not in any plastic bags and free of tinsel, lights, ornaments and not frozen to the ground.
- Curbside customers must place trees curbside; alley customers must place trees in the alley.
- Flocked trees, trees with shiners, tinsel, light bulbs, glitter, wire, or plastic or in plastic bags will not be included in this special collection.
- Snow and ice may delay pickup.
The Village provides leaf collection services from the third week in October to the first week in December, weather permitting.
Leaf Collection Guidelines
Please remember to rake your loose leaves to the curb by 7 a.m. on the first day of a two-day collection window. You will only receive collection on one of the two scheduled days. Please avoid raking leaves onto the street until two days prior to your scheduled collection day to prevent the clogging of storm drains.
Street parking is prohibited on scheduled leaf collection days to allow heavy equipment to safely access leaf piles. Wilmette Police will be actively ticketing vehicles parked in posted “no parking” zones. Because of the time needed to thoroughly sweep the street, the street sweepers may be several hours behind the leaf collection trucks. Cars will be cited for parking on the street prior to the completion of street sweeping.
Occasionally, leaf collection crews may be in your area ahead of schedule. When this occurs, we will always return on one of your scheduled collection days, so please be mindful of posted parking restrictions.
If your curbside waste collection coincides with leaf collection, please place refuse, recycling and yard waste/compost carts on the parkway, within three feet of the curb.
Residents who live on residential side streets are asked to rake leaves to the curb. Residents who live on arterial streets (Lake Avenue, Wilmette Avenue, Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road, Ridge Road, Skokie Boulevard and Hibbard Road) should place leaves on the parkway behind the curb due to heavy traffic.
In order to be collected, leaves must be in a loose condition, not in bags or containers. Only leaves may be placed in the street – branches, tree stumps, shrubs, and other types of yard waste are prohibited.
In the event of inclement winter weather, resulting in suspended and/or delayed collection, residents will receive advance notification of any schedule changes or extended dates via E-News.
If you have any questions regarding the leaf collection program, contact the Engineering & Public Works Department at 847-853-7500 or pubworks@wilmette.com.
Wilmette Yard Waste Stickers are required on all yard waste bags/bundles and organics carts from April 1 – November 30. One (1) Yard Waste Sticker is required per yard waste bag/bundle and 35-gallon organics cart; three (3) Yard Waste Stickers are required per 96-gallon organics cart. The stickers are available for purchase at the following locations:
Wilmette Village Hall
1200 Wilmette Avenue
Chalet Nursery & Garden Shop
3132 Lake Avenue
Millen Hardware
1219 Wilmette Avenue
Jewel Food Store
1517 Sheridan Rd.
(Plaza del Lago)
Jewel Food Store
411 Green Bay Rd.
If a household item is too large to fit in a cart, then it is considered a bulk item. LRS will gladly accept bulk items each week! Please place the bulk item next to your trash cart on your regularly scheduled collection day. If enrolled in back-door service: the item(s) needs to be placed in the standard service area of your block.
If the item is heavier than 100 lbs., please contact LRS to schedule the collection with our customer experience team so they can provide adequate equipment to handle the item safely.
Examples of a bulk or large items exceeding the capacity of the LRS garbage cart include the following: bed frame, box spring (bed), bicycle, chair, love seat/sofa, one part of sectional couch, mattress, frame, or wall picture. These are only some examples as there are many items that may be considered bulk items.
MATTRESSES: For health and safety reasons, mattresses should be wrapped in plastic to be collected. Plastic mattress wrap can be found online or at local grocery stores, hardware stores, storage and moving outlets. If using loose plastic, it must be completely taped and secured on all corners with no exposure to the mattress.
TOILETS: The tank and bowl must be separated to be collected for the safety of our drivers.
GLASS ITEMS: Storm doors, patio doors and windows must be covered/wrapped in cardboard and taped, to prevent damage from weather and for the safety of our drivers.
CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS AND CARPET ROLLS: 1 cubic yard is collected for free each week; carpet rolls need to be less than 50 lbs each. If over 1 yard is set out, please contact LRS at 844.633.3577 or email Service@LRSrecycles.com with a picture of your item(s) to inquire on a special collection.
Please call LRS if you are unsure if an item requires additional labor or equipment at 844.633.3577 or send a request with a photo of the item(s) by e-mail to Service@LRSrecycles.com
Some appliances require special handling as they may contain harmful chemicals, or they need to be recycled at a special location.
Examples of Appliances or White Goods:
Air Conditioner | Clothes Dryer | Cook Top and Cooking Plate | Cooker or Bakers Oven | Dishwasher | Drying Cabinet | Freezer | Kitchen Stove or Oven Range | Microwave Oven | Refrigerator or Refrigeration Equipment | Washing Machine | Water Heater
Scheduling Removal of Appliances & White Goods
All appliances/white goods must be prescheduled by contacting customer service.
Please contact us at Service@LRSrecycles.com or call 844.633.3577 to schedule.
ANNUAL E-WASTE COLLECTION AND DROP OFF
Residents will have the opportunity to participate in a free once-a-year curbside collection of electronic waste items. Collection dates will be announced at the beginning of the year, and registration through the LRS portal is required for participation. Residents may also continue to drop off items at Public Works (711 Laramie).
Examples Include…
Cable Receivers | Cellular Phones | Computers | Digital Converter Boxes
Digital Video Disc Recorders & Players | Electronic Keyboards | Electronic Mices
Fax Machines | Portable Digital Music Players | Printers | Satellite Receivers | Scanners Small Scale Servers | TVs & Monitors | Videocassette Recorders | Video Game Consoles |
According to the EPA, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) are products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances. All HHW items are banned from Illinois landfills. LRS is pleased to provide a free once-per-year at-home collection of HHW items. Collection dates will be announced at the beginning of the year, and registration through the LRS portal is required for participation. LRS encourages residents to take advantage of the drop-off facilities and additional options provided by the Illinois EPA. Please visit SWANCC.org for more information.
Examples of HHW:
- Oil Based Paints, Flammable Oils
- Oil, Lead, Urethane, Chromium Based Paints, Shellac, Water or Driveway Sealer, Oil-Based Stain, Varnish
- Pesticides / Herbicides / Fertilizers
- Poison, Lawn Chemicals, Weed Killer
- Aerosols
- Spray-Paint, Hairspray, WD-40, Air Fresheners, Spray Adhesives, Oven Cleaner, Insecticide Bug Spray
- Automotive Chemicals / Fluids
- Antifreeze, Brake or Transmission Fluid, Gasoline, Diesel, Motor Oil
- Household Cleaners (Acidic/Caustic)
- Bleach, Ammonia, Muriatic Acids, Pool Cleaners, Drain Cleaners, Solvents, Paint Stripper or Thinner
- Bulbs / Batteries
- Fluorescent bulbs, CFL, NiCad, Lithium, Lead Acid, – Automotive, Marine and Sump Pump Batteries
Contact LRS at 844.633.3577 or send an e-mail with a photo of the item(s) to Service@LRSrecycles.com for items you are unsure of. Items requiring additional labor and/or equipment to manage are considered a Special Garbage Collection. Examples of Special Garbage Collection items include a sleeper sofa, piano, a large amount of construction debris item(s), TV console and entertainment center. LRS will provide a cost estimate if we are able to provide the service. LRS does not guarantee collection of every item.
DIY Construction
Home remodeling waste over 1 cubic yard requires special pickups. Examples include but are not limited to drywall, plywood, paneling, lumber, doors, windows, cabinets, porcelain fixtures, sod, fencing, concrete, and rocks. Please call to schedule service and receive instructions on how to best prepare these items for collection.
Dumpster Services
LRS has expanded our temporary services division to create an easier customer experience. These temporary services include portable restroom rental and dumpster roll-offs of all sizes to contain your construction debris.
Holiday service will be provided one day later than regular collection if the holiday falls Sunday through Friday. If the holiday falls on a Saturday, service will not be affected.
New Year’s Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
Memorial Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Residents are billed for standard garbage service through the Village of Wilmette. For questions regarding standard service charges, please contact the Village at 847-251-2700 or ar@wilmette.com.
LRS bills for additional containers, special services, and winter compost subscription. For questions regarding additional or special services, please contact LRS at 844-633-3577 or Service@LRSrecycles.com
For more information, questions and to arrange for services, please call LRS Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at 844.633.3577 or email Service@LRSrecycles.com
Improperly prepared materials placed for collection will not be collected.
How do I clean my cart?
Fill the cart with hot water and a capful of vinegar or grease-cutting dish soap. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and rinse. Once the cart has been thoroughly rinsed, set the cart out with the lid open in the sun to dry.
What if I need my cart replaced?
Carts that are broken due to damage incurred during the collection are reported by the driver for replacement at no charge. Residents are encouraged to contact LRS if they notice damage to the cart during the collection process to request a replacement cart.
If damage occurs to the cart due to other reasons, please contact LRS to request a replacement cart.
Is this considered garbage?
Latex paint
Latex paint is considered regular garbage, but it must be completely dried, with the lid off so the driver is able to see inside the can. Dry latex paint by leaving lid off or open and/or mix kitty litter until the paint is completely absorbed. Do not place out for collection until the paint is completely dry.
Alkaline batteries
Alkaline batteries are considered regular garbage and should be thrown into the garbage. It is always recommended that tape be used on each end of the battery and placed into a plastic sandwich bag when disposing of them.
How do I report a missed pickup?
If your waste or recycling is not collected on the service day by 7pm, please contact LRS by calling 844.633.3577 or email Service@LRSrecycles.com Please include your address and what service was missed.
You can also reach out by submitting a support request in the top right-hand section of this webpage.
Commercial Service Information
Beginning January 1, 2024. LRS will become the exclusive solid waste and recycling provider for all commercial businesses and multi-family service locations in the Village. (Click here for more information.) The change from WM to LRS starts in mid-December and is expected to be completed prior to December 29. Specific dates for your cart and service switchover will be dictated by your anticipated last day of service.
Reminders
- Container sizes, quantity, and service frequency and dates will stay the same
- LRS will provide new containers in coordination with your old container removal
- Service pricing can be found on the Village’s commercial franchise webpage
- The first invoice with information on billing and payments will be sent in January
Businesses are also offered the opportunity to receive composting collection (seasonally or year-round). Composting food scraps creates a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves soil health and function, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions in landfills caused by rotting food.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 RATE SHEET.
Recycling & Organics Guide
