Submitted by the City of Evanston
The City of Evanston will begin weekly food and yard waste collections for the 2023 season on Monday, April 3. Collections will occur on residents’ regular refuse and recycling collection days through Thursday, December 7.
Food scraps can ride along with grass clippings and leaves in food and yard waste carts or can be picked up by Collective Resource Compost, the city’s exclusive food scrap hauler, as part of the city’s expanded composting program. A list of acceptable and unacceptable items is available at cityofevanston.org/waste.
Residents have several options for food and yard waste collection:
- Purchase and fill a 95-gallon food and yard waste cart. To order a cart, complete the online order form at cityofevanston.org/waste. A cart costs $82.50 plus a $35 annual fee. Yard waste fees are assessed annually and appear on residents’ water, sewer and sanitation bills.
- Place only yard waste (no food waste) in paper yard waste bags and affix each bag with a City of Evanston yard waste sticker. Stickers are available for purchase for $2 each at the Levy Senior Center, Morton Civic Center and other locations.
- Sign up for year-round food scrap composting through the city’s exclusive food scrap hauler, Collective Resource Compost, by visiting collectiveresource.us.
Food scraps that can be placed in food and yard waste carts include baked goods, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish/seafood, dairy products, egg shells, bones, and coffee grounds and filters. Placing food scraps in a paper bag will keep the cart cleaner. A list of unacceptable items, such as animal waste, soil, gum and other items, is available at cityofevanston.org/waste or by calling/texting 847-448-4311.
New! Off-season collection pilot
The city has partnered with Groot Industries to offer an off-season food and yard waste collection schedule pilot program for the 2023-2024 winter season, with the goal of testing the feasibility of winter collection and the disposal of food and yard waste year-round. Off-season collections will take place December through March.
Groot will collect weekly from households that sign up. This offering is optional and will not require additional containers beyond the already provided 95-gallon yard cart. Pricing will be determined by the number of participants, but is estimated to be between $9 and $20 per month, not to exceed $80. Sign up and learn more at cityofevanston.org/yardwastepilot.
Tree trimming bundles
Tree trimming bundles are collected separately from food and yard waste and must be less than three feet in total diameter, with individual branches being less than four feet long and less than four inches in diameter. Each bundle must be affixed with a City of Evanston yard waste sticker.
Leaf blowers
After April 1, 2023, the use of gasoline- and propane-powered leaf blowers will be prohibited year-round. Only electric-powered leaf blowers will be allowed for use in Evanston and will be limited to the following hours:
- Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
Electric-powered leaf blowers can be used year-round, with the exception of City holidays.
As a reminder, raking or blowing yard waste or leaves into the streets is illegal and can cause flooding. Violators are subject to fines. Seasonal restrictions do not apply to electric-powered leaf blowers.
For more information about food and yard waste pick-up, visit cityofevanston.org/waste or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may also dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.