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Elmwood Park Residential Refuse, Recycling and Yard-Waste Collection Program
LRS provides Elmwood Park residents with services for refuse (garbage), recycling and yard waste. LRS offers many other services for Elmwood Park residents including electronic waste drop off location, organic food scrap compost service, portable restrooms and large, open top construction style containers. We are proud to be a partner in your community!
For more information on the required scheduling collection for specific items or material types, please click on one of the tabs below.
Monday-Thursday is the service day(s) in Elmwood Park. Please see the map to confirm service day. All garbage, recycling and yard waste will be collected between the times of 6AM and 6PM on your collection day. Service times are subject to change.
There is no limit to the amount of garbage bags we will collect either placed loose next to your LRS cart or in 35 gallon or smaller personal containers – all 50 lbs or less in weight per bag or can full. Garbage must be inside of can with lid closed.
Please note: garbage mixed with yard waste, leaves or organic material will not be collected, as this material is not permitted in State of Illinois Landfill
As has been the case in the past, residents are encouraged to co-mingle acceptable recyclable items in their recycling carts. All food-based recyclables should be rinsed. Plastic bags are not recyclable, and should not be placed in recycling carts.
There is no limit to the amount of recyclables that residents can put out each week for collection. As is the case with waste items, recyclable items must be under 50lbs. LRS may reach out to residents who regularly generate more recyclables than will fit in their carts to recommend a larger or second container.
- Recyclable items must be clean
- NO used paper plates or pizza boxes, or fluorescent paper (they contaminate the paper stream with food, dye, or plastic coating) If pizza box top is clean you can tear it off and recycle it
- NO paper towels, tissues, or napkins, which are not recyclable because the fibers are too small to reuse (please compost them with kitchen food scraps if possible)
- NO shredded paper – Loose shredded paper causes major sorting problems in the recycling facilities
- NO frozen food boxes, which are made of a hybrid of paper and plastic, and are not wanted by paper mills
- NO paper cups, which are made of a hybrid of paper and plastic rendering them unrecyclable
Paper
- Remove metal cops 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 ok 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
Yard waste collection takes place on a seasonal basis, starting April 15th, and ending on December 1st.
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.
Guidelines
Residents can elect to use paper bags, brown craft bags or personal cans (35 gallons or smaller) with all options 50lbs or less in weight, per. Please place brush, limbs, branches or trimmings in bundled or twined stacks no larger than 4’ in length and 18” in diameter, at your collection point.
Christmas Trees
Every January, LRS will annually collect your non-artificial Christmas trees as organic material – free of any tinsel, ornaments or lights. Trees can be left loose (never in bags) in the area where you have regular service for trash and recycling. Due to snow and ice, trees may not always be picked up on your service day as our drivers and trucks will be in the Village all month for pickups, at no additional charge.
Bulk items (that do not fit into your refuse cart) are collected loose, on your regular day of service. If an item exceeds 50lbs, residents may need to call LRS to schedule a special pickup. If a “bulk” item is considered hazardous, unacceptable for landfills or deemed unacceptable to take as garbage, the item(s) will not be taken.
Mattresses and box/bed springs are required to be in a plastic mattress cover and taped securely shut. Plastic mattress covers may be purchased at retail outlets such as Walmart, Lowes, Menards, Home Depot and storage unit facilities. Packaging wrap or trash bags cut up and taped around to cover a mattress or box spring are also acceptable options.
Please call LRS to see if such items can be scheduled for a special pickup.
Electronic waste (E-Waste) are items that are banned from the landfill (cannot go in your normal trash). The items below are not included in your curbside collection and need to be taken to a FREE drop-off location. Elmwood Park will have a secure location for residents to drop materials off located at their public works:
7330 Fullerton Elmwood Park
Examples of E-Waste
Computers | Computer Monitors | Televisions | Printers | Keyboards | Fax Machines | VCR’S | Portable Digital Music Players | DVD Player | Video Game Consoles | Computer Mouse | Scanners | Digital Converter Boxes | Cable Receivers | Satellite Receivers | DVD Recorders | Small-Scale Servers
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 the landfill and will not be collected with curbside collection. LRS encourages residents to take advantage of the drop-off facilities and additional options provided by Swalco.
Please contact SWALCO at 847.336.9340 or visit swalco.org for assistance with disposal of any hazardous material(s)
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
- HOUSHOLD 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
“White Goods” are appliances that contain CFC, HCFC, PCBs, mercury switches or other hazardous components (refrigerators, air conditioners, humidifiers etc). These items will be taken but will need to be free of the above referenced material and required to be prescheduled to LRS customer service.
Contact LRS at 844.NEED.LRS (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 Refuse Collection. Examples of Special Refuse Collection items include a sleeper sofa, 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 includes, but is not limited to drywall, plywood, paneling, lumber, doors, windows, cabinets, porcelain fixtures, sod, fencing, concrete, or rocks will require special pickups. Residents will need to schedule service for these items and call to receive instructions on how to best prepare them for collection. Estimates will be provided, and items will be charged by the yard.
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.
Contact us today to discover all the ways Lakeshore can make your waste removal even easier, no matter the project.
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 Years Day Independence Day Christmas Day
Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Labor Day
Residents are billed for refuse services through your water bill. Please reach out to the Village at 708.452.3900 with any questions or cart-related requests.
For more information, questions and to arrange for services, please call LRS Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or Saturday 7a.m. – Noon at 844-633-3577 or email Service@LRSrecycles.com.
IMPROPERLY PREPARED MATERIALS placed for collection will not be collected. LRS will place a tag noting the reason items were left behind.
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, recycling, or yard waste services are not collected on the service day by 6 pm, please contact LRS by either calling 844.633.3577 or e-mailing 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.
