Chicago Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Chicago recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
Accepted items
- Paper: newspaper, magazines, office paper, catalogs, and junk mail
- Cardboard: clean flattened shipping boxes, cereal boxes, and food boxes
- Plastics: clean bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars (empty and rinsed, caps on)
- Glass: beverage bottles and food jars (clear, green, and brown)
- Metal: aluminum beverage cans, steel/tin food cans, and clean foil
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and plastic film (never bag recyclables; place loose in blue cart)
- Styrofoam food containers, cups, and packing peanuts
- Food scraps, liquids, and dirty paper containers
- Tanglers: garden hoses, holiday lights, electrical cords, and chains
- Clothing, textiles, footwear, and bedding
- Batteries, electronics, and mercury items
Can you recycle these items in Chicago?
Can you recycle cardboard in Chicago?
AcceptedFlatten boxes to save space in the Blue Cart.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Chicago?
Accepted with conditionsClean cardboard tops accepted; greasy bottoms belong in trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Chicago?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse beverage bottles and food containers.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Chicago?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Chicago?
Accepted with conditionsRinse rigid containers; PVC pipe is prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Chicago?
Accepted with conditionsRigid containers accepted; plastic film and grocery bags are strictly prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Chicago?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse clean yogurt cups and food tubs.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Chicago?
Not acceptedStyrofoam and polystyrene items are strictly prohibited in the Blue Cart.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Chicago?
Accepted with conditionsRinse other rigid recyclable plastics.
Can you recycle glass in Chicago?
AcceptedGlass bottles and jars only; rinse clean.
Can you recycle aluminum in Chicago?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse aluminum drink cans and tin food cans.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Chicago?
Not acceptedShredded paper jams sorting facility conveyor belts; place in trash or compost.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) · municipal dpw
Phone: 312-744-4611
121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 1107Chicago, IL 60602
These collection rules cover Zone Residential Grid Routes (Monday through Friday by Address).
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Chicago, IL?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out by 7:00 a.m.. These rules apply to Zone Residential Grid Routes (Monday through Friday by Address).
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Chicago?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Residential Grid Routes (Monday through Friday by Address).
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Chicago?
Arrange with ward superintendent or submit request via CHI311 for bulk pick-up before placing large items in alley or curb. The listed limit is 2 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 312-744-4611 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Residential Grid Routes (Monday through Friday by Address).
What items are accepted for recycling in Chicago?
The listed accepted materials are Paper: newspaper, magazines, office paper, catalogs, and junk mail, Cardboard: clean flattened shipping boxes, cereal boxes, and food boxes, Plastics: clean bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars (empty and rinsed, caps on), Glass: beverage bottles and food jars (clear, green, and brown), Metal: aluminum beverage cans, steel/tin food cans, and clean foil. Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and plastic film (never bag recyclables; place loose in blue cart), Styrofoam food containers, cups, and packing peanuts, Food scraps, liquids, and dirty paper containers, Tanglers: garden hoses, holiday lights, electrical cords, and chains, Clothing, textiles, footwear, and bedding, Batteries, electronics, and mercury items. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Residential Grid Routes (Monday through Friday by Address).