Guide
What we take, and what we can't
We take almost anything that is not hazardous. Here is the honest breakdown, including the short list of things we cannot legally haul and where those go instead.
What we take
Furniture and household: couches, sectionals, mattresses, box springs, dressers, tables, and anything else that will not fit in your cart.
Appliances: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and water heaters. Anything with refrigerant is routed to a facility certified to recover it.
Electronics: televisions, computers, monitors, and printers, which Illinois bars from landfills, so they go to a registered recycler.
Outdoor and structural: hot tubs, above-ground pools, sheds, decks, fences, and playsets, which we dismantle and haul in one visit.
Yard and construction: brush, storm debris, dirt, rock, concrete, and renovation debris including drywall, flooring, and scrap metal.
Whole spaces: full garage, basement, attic, estate, foreclosure, and rental-turnover cleanouts.
What we can't take
Some things are hazardous and no legitimate hauler can put them in a truck: liquid paint, motor oil, gasoline and other fuels, pesticides and lawn chemicals, pool chemicals, propane tanks, and asbestos.
This is not us being picky. These require specialized handling and it is illegal to dispose of them with regular waste.
Where the things we can't take go
Lake County residents can bring paint, chemicals, fuel, and similar household hazardous waste to SWALCO's household chemical waste collection. Cook and McHenry counties run their own programs.
Tell us what you have when you call. We will separate the hazardous items out, point you to the right drop-off, and haul everything else so the job is not held up.
Common questions
What We Take and What We Don't: quick answers
Still have a question? Give us a call, we pick up.
- Not liquid paint, no hauler legally can. Dried-out latex paint is sometimes accepted as regular trash, but wet paint and all chemicals go to household hazardous waste collection. We will point you to the nearest drop-off.
