Show All Answers

1. How does Lakeshore know how often to charge my account?

The garbage and recycling carts each include a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that allows the garbage/recycling/yard waste trucks to wirelessly "scan" your carts each time they are picked up and emptied into a Lakeshore Recycling Systems truck. The chips are tied to your account, which allows you to pay for just the weeks you set out garbage and recycling.

2. What types of items require a sticker in order to be collected?

The City’s program only uses stickers for yard waste/leaves/organics, bulk items, excess garbage that won’t fit in your garbage cart, e-waste, and bulk items. All of these types of items use the same kind of sticker. There is no limit to the number of excess garbage bags that will be collected. Garbage mixed with yard waste/organics will not be collected.

3. What about large pieces of garbage? Can I put these out at the curb?

Yes.

• Bulk items are things that are too large to fit into your plastic cart. Each bulk item requires 5 garbage/organic stickers attached to it. Carpet rolls must be no longer than 4 feet in length and 18 inches in diameter and require 2 garbage/organic stickers attached to each roll for collection. To dispose of your toilet, please separate the bowl from the tank and place the 5 required stickers on one of the pieces. Lakeshore will remove both pieces. Note that all bulk waste must weigh no more than 50 pounds.
• White goods, or appliances containing CFC, HCFC, PCBs, mercury switches or other hazardous components (refrigerators, air conditioners, humidifiers, etc.), require 10 garbage/organic stickers to be collected. All white goods will be collected by a separate truck at the end of the day.
• Do-it-yourself construction or demolition debris will require 5 garbage/organic stickers per stack or 35-gallon container. Stacks must weigh less than 50 pounds, be no more than 4 feet in length and up to 18 inches in diameter. 35-gallon containers cannot weigh more than 50 pounds.
• Household hazardous waste (HHW) products are flammable, toxic, corrosive or reactive, and can pose a harmful threat or damage to the environment when disposed of improperly. Items such as paint, pesticides, poisons, cleaning solvents, tainted gasoline, used oil and other automotive fluids are considered to be hazardous waste and should not be included with your regular garbage for disposal. For more information regarding disposal, visit the County of DuPage’s website.

4. Can I still use old stickers from previous garbage haulers?

No. Lakeshore will not accept stickers from previous garbage haulers. 

5. How does the food scrap/organics program work?

The City’s garbage and recycling program offers the ability to recycle food scraps in with your yard waste from the first full week of April through the second full week in December. Each container or biodegradable bag can be a maximum of 35 gallons in size and 50 pounds in weight and must have one garbage/yard waste sticker attached in order to be collected. Grass clippings, brush, leaves, plant material and weeds are considered yard waste. Food scraps include fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, breads, grains, pasta, cereal, meat, poultry and seafood. Yard waste or food scraps stacked on top of a container will not be collected.

6. Will Lakeshore Recycling Systems pick up Christmas trees?

Yes. Christmas trees will be recycled during the first two weeks after the holiday at no charge. During this free two-week collection period, make sure trees are free of all decorations and are not in plastic bags. After the two-week collection period, you will need to attach 1 garbage/organic sticker to a Christmas tree to have it collected.

7. How do I pay for garbage/recycling service?

The City uses a Pay-As-You-Throw program through Lakeshore Recycling Systems. Lakeshore offers online payment options at www.lrsrecycles.com or call 773-685-8811.

8. Where can I buy stickers for yard waste, organics, electronics or bulk items?

• Wheaton City Hall: 303 W Wesley Street (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• 7-Eleven: 625 W Roosevelt Road
• Buikema's Ace Hardware: 1705 N Main Street & 90 E Loop Road
• Carlson True Value Hardware: 125 E Front Street
• DuPage Pantry Plus: 238 N Gables Boulevard
• Jewel-Osco: 599 Roosevelt Road, 2031 N Main Street & 30 Danada Square West
• Len's Ace Hardware - 485 Roosevelt Road
• Mariano’s: 625 S Main Street
• Valli Produce: 155 North Avenue
• Whole Foods: 89 Danada Square West