Chicago trash & bulky-item rules

For City-served properties, eligible oversized household items should be placed beside regular garbage containers on the normal collection day rather than treated as a separate appointment-based pickup.

Collection arrangements can differ for unusual items, large loads, or properties outside the City-served 1–4 unit system. Confirm those cases with Chicago 311 or the ward Streets & Sanitation office before set-out.

The guide therefore uses the central citywide sanitation page as the safer baseline and keeps the ward page listed below so residents can see the conflict themselves.

City residential garbage service generally applies to single-family homes and small residential buildings with four units or fewer. Larger apartment and condominium buildings use private waste haulers and should follow the building’s contracted bulky-item rules rather than placing furniture next to City carts.

Large items must be placed without blocking the alley, sidewalk, neighboring property or vehicle access. The fact that an item is large does not allow it to obstruct the public way.

For an eligible City-served property, ordinary furniture and mattresses can generally be placed neatly next to the garbage containers for the normal collection day. A resident with a very large volume should contact 311 or the ward sanitation office before filling the alley with material.

Mattresses with a known bed-bug infestation require extra care under Chicago sanitation/health rules. Residents should use sealed preparation and clearly identify infested material rather than leaving exposed bedding for crews.

Computers and covered electronics should not be treated like ordinary garbage. Chicago operates the Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch Street.

Current public hours are Tuesday 7 a.m.–noon, Thursday 2 p.m.–7 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month 8 a.m.–3 p.m. The facility accepts computers and related equipment along with many household chemicals, oil-based paint, solvents and fluorescent bulbs. Latex paint is not accepted through this facility and follows separate City disposal guidance.

Large appliances, tires, auto parts and construction debris should not be assumed to follow the same rule as a couch. These categories can involve refrigerant, recycling or contractor-waste requirements. For an unusual appliance or renovation load, contact Chicago 311 or use the City’s current recycling/disposal resources before set-out.

Contractor-generated construction material belongs with the contractor or an appropriate private disposal route, not beside household garbage carts.

If you live in a City-served one-to-four-unit property and have ordinary large household furniture, place it neatly beside the garbage containers for the normal pickup day. If your building has more than four units, ask the property manager or private hauler. Use the North Branch facility for computers and accepted household chemicals.

Chicago’s public guidance is not perfectly uniform. The City Department of Streets & Sanitation and CHI311 are the citywide authorities; the current 44th Ward page says there is no separate bulk-pickup service and instructs residents to place large items beside regular garbage. Confirm unusual loads with 311 or the ward office.

• Chicago Department of Streets & SanitationCitywide sanitation authority; use with 311 for address- and ward-specific large-item instructions.
• Chicago 44th Ward Streets & SanitationCurrent City-served garbage guidance and statement that separate bulk pickup is no longer provided.
• Chicago 44th Ward New Resident GuideLarge items beside garbage containers, 1–4 unit City-service eligibility and private-hauler distinction.
• Household Chemicals & Computer RecyclingNorth Branch facility, computers/chemicals and current public hours.
• Latex Paint DisposalSeparate guidance because latex paint is not accepted at the North Branch facility.
• CHI311Official City service channel for current address-specific sanitation questions and requests.