Unincorporated Downers Grove Township
Unincorporated Downers Grove Township Refuse, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection
Refuse Collection Programs
Option One (Primary Option) - Unlimited Collection of Refuse, Recycling & Yard Waste:
Residents will be provided with one (1) 95 gallon refuse cart and one (1) 65 gallon recycling cart at no charge. This includes the weekly collection of one (1) appliance and one (1) bulk item. Unlimited yard waste will be collected in bags/bundles. The monthly rate includes free carts and no monthly fuel or environmental surcharges. Contact Groot to receive a 10% senior discount for residents 60 years and older.
*Every resident will be automatically set up for Option One unless Groot receives written notification otherwise to cancel or change service to a different option.
Option Two - Fixed/Limited Volume of Refuse:
Residents will be provided with one (1) 95 gallon OR (1) 65 gallon refuse cart and one (1) 65 gallon recycling cart at no charge. Any additional refuse outside of the cart and each bag/bundle of yard waste requires a pre-paid refuse sticker. This includes the weekly collection of one (1) bulk item. Appliances are an additional fee of $45.00 per item and requires a call in to Groot for special pickup. Contact Groot to receive a 10% senior discount for residents 60 years and older. Yard waste must only be in yard waste bags or bundles with sticker on each bag or bundle.
Option Three - Sticker Program:
Refuse in cans or bags not exceeding 33 gallons are required to have a refuse sticker attached to each can or bag. One (1) 65 gallon recycling cart will be provided. Bulk items require five (5) refuse stickers for each item. A monthly minimum charge will apply for the use of this program. No senior discount is available for this option.
Option Four - (4) 95 Gallon Refuse Carts OR Two Yard Refuse Container:
Residents will be provided with the choice of (4) 95 gallon refuse carts OR a two (2) yard refuse container will be provided at no charge for weekly collection. One (1) 65 gallon recycling cart will be provided at no charge. Appliances are an additional fee of $45.00 per item and bulk items will be $20.00 per item. A yard waste sticker is required for each bag or bundle set out for collection. No senior discount is available for this option.
Service Days
Please click on map here.
Senior Citizen Discount
Single family households where the head of the household is age 60 or older, are eligible for a discount collection rate (see program options). Please contact Groot for application instructions. This discount does not apply to landscape waste stickers, bulk items, construction debris or appliances. The discount will begin the next billing cycle following completion and approval of the application.
Rates
Quarterly bills will be sent to residences prior to each billing period. Payment is due the first day of the second month of the three-month billing period. To pay bills on-line, register at /bill-pay.
Recycling Collection
Unlimited recycling is included with the refuse program and is collected on your primary day of service. Recyclables must be placed in the Groot provided 65 gallon cart on your regular day of collection. Materials do not need to be separated.
Click here for a list of Recyclable Materials.
Refuse/Yard Waste Stickers:
Residents can purchase refuse/landscape waste stickers and apply the stickers to bags or bundles of refuse & landscape waste. Residents with the primary option do not require stickers. Below is a listing of locations selling stickers:
- Jewel | 1148 Ogden Avenue | Downers Grove
- Jewel | 6215 Main Street | Downers Grove
- Jewel | 2317 75th Street | Woodridge
Grass clippings, leaves, twigs, garden debris, weeds, fruits, seeds, stalks, vines are acceptable landscape items. Landscape does not include wood timbers, plastic edging, plant pots or trays, fertilizer or landscape material bags, landscape fabric, root sections, sand, gravel, sod, bark, wood chips, firewood, rocks, dirt or animal waste.
Bulk Items/Oversized Items
Groot will take one large item per week at no additional cost for the Unlimited and Limited programs. The remaining programs require an extra fee. Bulk items include: boxes, barrels, crates, furniture, mattresses/box spring and similar items that do not fit into a proper container and can be safely collected/lifted by one driver without assistance. Exceptions include items which are banned from direct disposal into a landfill. (Examples: appliances, tires, car batteries, televisions and electronic waste). For Bulk Items in excess of 75 lbs., residents should call Groot to schedule a pick-up in advance.
Oversized and overweight items are any single large or extra heavy item that requires Groot to schedule a special pick-up. An example of an oversized item is a piano or any item that requires two or more people to safely lift. There will be an additional cost for oversized items. Please call Groot at 888-485-0900 to schedule a pickup.
Construction/Demolition Debris
All material must be cut to no more than 4 feet in length and no larger than 2 feet in diameter per bundle. For the safety of the collector, all debris must be bagged or bundled and free of nails and sharp objects not exceeding 50 pounds. Carpet must be cut up in four foot lengths not exceeding 60 pounds per roll. Each cubic yard will be $30.00.
White Goods/Appliances
Groot will collect refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, washers, dryers, dishwashers, hot water tanks, dehumidifiers, and other white goods once per week. Residents must call Groot at 888-485-0900 to schedule collection of white goods. Items should not be placed at the curb until the evening before the scheduled collection.
Yard Waste Collection
Groot will collect yard waste starting April 1st through November 30th, Grass clippings, leaves, twigs, garden debris, weeds, fruits, seeds, stalks, vines, bark and wood chips may be placed at the curb on the regularly scheduled pick up day. All landscape waste must be placed at the curb in only biodegradable paper bags sold specifically for the collection and disposal of landscape waste. Bags left at the curb shall not exceed 50 pounds. All bundled brush and material too bulky to be placed in a bag shall be bundled with biodegradable natural fiber twine and shall not exceed 4 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter per bundle, with each bundle not to exceed 50 pounds. Yard waste does not include wood timbers, plastic edging, plant pots or trays, fertilizer or landscape material bags, landscape fabric, root sections, sand, gravel, sod, firewood or animal waste.
Christmas Trees:
Christmas trees will continue to be collected by the Township Highway Department during the first two (2) weeks in January. Landscape stickers are not necessary for Christmas trees. Trees must be free of all lights, ornaments and tinsel. Plastic bags also must be removed from trees.
Observed Holidays
- New Year's Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
*If the holiday falls on a Saturday, pick up will stay the same.
*If the holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday will
be an off day with service delayed one day for the remainder of the week.
*If the holiday falls on a weekday,
service will be delayed until the next day.
Solid Waste Items Not Collected:
Illinois law prohibits the disposal of certain waste in landfills. In addition, other items should be disposed of by other methods. Please observe these regulations, or your trash will not be collected. Please visit www.swancc.org for more information on how to dispose of these items. The following items are banned from landfills:
- Automobile Tires
- Automobile Batteries
- Explosive, Toxic, Hazardous & Volatile Waste
- Flammable Waste
- Gasoline, Motor Oil, Anti-Freeze
- Large Automobile Parts & Wheels
- Acids & Poisons
- CFL Bulbs, Florescent Bulbs
- Electronic Waste
- Swimming Pool Chemicals
Electronic Waste Collection - "e-waste":
Certain electronic items are prohibited from being disposed of in Illinois landfills. Groot will collect, at the curb, up to six electronic items for $30.00. Please contact Groot at 888-485-0900 to schedule a collection.
The Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act prohibits any person from allowing or to cause mixing of any of the items listed with municipal waste that is intended for disposal at a landfill. All items collected will be recycled and rendered inoperable. Due to the sensitive nature of some electronic items (computer hard drives or storage devices), we prefer to pick up items from the front, side, or top of drive locations. Customers also have the option to bring their items directly to drop-off sites throughout the area, most of which are for no charge. Please visit the where and how page of our site and click on your county and then your town to search for area drop–off locations.
| Computers & monitors | Video game consoles |
| Electronic Mice | Printers |
| Scanners | Televisions |
| Digital converter boxes | Electronic keyboards |
| Cable receivers | Fax machines |
| Small scale servers | Satellite receivers |
| Video cassette recorders | Digital video disc players |
| Digital video disc recorders | Portable digital music players |
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