Yard Waste, Brush, and Leaves

Stickered yard waste is collected from April through November 30 on your regularly scheduled refuse day. Yard waste toters are also available for monthly rental. See pricing information.

For additional information about Yard Waste Collection, please contact the Public Works office at (630) 377-4405. 

Free Bagged Yard Waste Collection Dates

Free bagged yard collection will take place the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April, on your regular refuse day.

Types of Yard Waste Collected

Yard waste consists of twigs, trimmings, leaves, etc. and should be placed in a generic Kraft paper yard waste bag with a refuse/yard waste sticker affixed to the bag. The following items are considered one disposal unit and require a prepaid disposal sticker:

• Generic Kraft paper bag, limited to 50 pounds of yard waste.
• Bundles of brush or branches, tied with twine and with a refuse sticker affixed, no longer than 3 feet in length or weighing over 50 pounds. Branches cannot exceed 3 inches in diameter.
• Holiday trees.
• Yard waste mixed with normal waste or placed in plastic bags will not be picked up.

Waste stickers can be purchased at the following locations:

DG Ace Hardware (Waste Stickers Only)
2650 E. Main Street

Meijer Foods (Waste Stickers Only)
855 S. Randall Rd.

Ace Hardware (Waste Stickers & Blue Bags)
617 W State St. (Geneva)

Jewel Foods (Waste Stickers & Blue Bags)
652 Kirk Rd.

St. Charles Hardware (Waste Stickers & Blue Bags)
3619 E. Main Street

Jewel Foods (Waste Stickers & Blue Bags)
2073 Prairie St.

City Hall (Waste Stickers & Blue Bags)
2 E. Main Street

Jewel Foods (Waste Stickers Only)
375 Randall Rd. (South Elgin)

2024 Brush Collection Schedule

The Brush Pick Up program includes the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. Only residents that pay an additional monthly fee on their utility bill are eligible. Review your City utility bill to see if this fee is included, check My Neighborhood or call Utility Billing at (630) 377-4426 for verification.

East Side

• April 15
• May 20
• June 17
• July 15
• Aug 19
• Sept 16
• Oct 21
• Nov 18

West Side

• April 22
• May 27
• June 24
• July 22
• Aug 26
• Sept 23
• Oct 28
• Nov 25

Brush (branches at least 3 feet long & less than 12 inches in diameter) should be put out before 7 a.m. on Monday of the scheduled pick up week. *** Please note, it can take the entire week for pick up to be completed.

Do not tie bundles of brush with rope or wire and do not pile higher than 4 feet.

Branches must be put on the parkway, in front of your house or along the frontage where refuse/recycling is collected

Don't park in front of the piles; crews will be unable to pick up the brush

Tree trunks/stumps: If you take down a whole tree, please be aware that the maximum size that the crew has the ability to pick up is 12” in diameter by 12’ long. Anything larger or longer would need to be cut up or split before pick-up.

Leaf Collection Program

Leaf collection begins on the east side of the river on October 30, 2024, and the west side of the river on November 5, 2024. The City’s contractor, Kramer Tree Specialists, will complete three collection cycles of the City with an anticipated completion date of December 5. The progress map, which will be updated daily when the City's contractor is working in St. Charles details what neighborhoods have been picked up to date and what work remains for the month.

Lakeshore Recycling Systems will provide free bagged leaf collection from December 2 through December 27 (one day delay due to Christmas Holiday) for any remaining leaves on your regular refuse collection day.

Pick up is unavailable for the following subdivisions/areas:

• Cumberland Green
• Whittington Course, Royal Fox private streets, Dunham Place Commons, Delnor Townhomes, Delnor Glen Drive
• Townes of Fox Chase
• Walnut Hill Townhomes
• Viewpointe
• Willowgate
• Wildrose Springs Townhomes, Auburn Court, Benham Court, Oak Crest
• Brownstones

Leaf Collection Reminders

• Please have leaves on the parkway by 6:30 a.m. on the beginning day of pick up for your area
• It may take three to four days for leaves to be collected in your specific area, dependent on the volume of leaves and weather.
• A smaller truck will collect the leaves in the cul-de-sacs.
• Leaf piles will not be picked up if obstructed by parked vehicles or other obstacles. The piles will be picked up on your next scheduled pick up when the obstruction is removed.
• Please keep a distance of approximately 10’ between leaf piles and permanent structures, e.g., fire hydrants, trees, streetlight poles, etc.
• Rake leaves in a row parallel to the street at least 1’ back from the curb and off the sidewalk.
• Inclement weather or a large volume of leaves could alter the leaf pickup schedule.
• Pushing leaves into the street is a violation of Ordinance 12.04.170, punishable by a fine up to $500.00 for each offense.
• Leaf piles will not kill grass although they may cause it to discolor.
• Avoid raking foreign materials into leaf piles as these could damage equipment or cause injury to personnel.
• This program is funded by a portion of the fee collected on the utility bills of eligible homeowners. Check your utility bill or call Utility Billing at 630-377-4426 with questions about your eligibility for this program.

Be sure to check back here for updates, call Public Works at 630-377-4405 or Kramer Tree Specialists at 630-293-5444 or email pw@stcharlesil.gov.

Weekly Leaf Collection Update