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1. What is once-weekly refuse collection?

The once-weekly refuse collection program is weekly refuse collection for all Village of Skokie residents living in single-family homes and housing with four or fewer units. Each single-family household is provided with a 95-gallon refuse container for storage of up to 200 pounds of household refuse.

The following items are not allowed:  

• E-waste including specific electronics such as computers, monitors, tablets, televisions, printers, DVD players, receivers, and video game consoles.  
• Household hazardous waste such as pesticides, cleaning products, antifreeze, used motor oil, and more.
• Grass clippings, yard debris, shrubbery trimmings or other outdoor plant waste.
• Construction waste from contractors or large do-it-yourself projects.  Residents can dispose of construction material at SWANCC’s Glenview Transfer Station for a fee.

2. When will the switch to once-weekly refuse pickup occur?

As announced in the spring edition of NewSkokie, residential refuse collection transitioned to once-weekly on May 1, 2023.

3. What day will be my refuse collection?

Single-family homes and multi-family housing up to four units will receive refuse service on the same day as their existing recycling service day. View 2023 refuse/recycling service map.

4. Does once-weekly refuse collection apply to commercial customers?

No. Residential service for buildings that have five or more units as well as commercial service will remain the same.

5. Why is the Village switching to once-weekly refuse collection?

Optimizing refuse service provides multiple benefits that support the Village of Skokie’s Environmental Sustainability Plan. After a study conducted by Village staff showed that a majority of residents did not need a second pickup, the Sustainability Environmental Advisory Commission held public listening sessions in November 2021 and then recommended the change. After two public meetings and soliciting input from residents, the Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve this plan in November 2022.

6. What are the benefits of transitioning to once-weekly refuse collection?

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Cutting down on damage to Village streets
• Decreasing fuel consumption
• Lessening noise pollution in residential areas
• Encouraging residents to consider whether an item can be recycled or composted instead of placed in the trash to possibly reduce the volume of waste that goes into a landfill
• Stabilizing future solid waste rates 

7. Why should I recycle when only a small amount is recycled when it gets to the sorting plant?

This is a common myth. While recycling efficacy did go down due to COVID, the state-of-the-art recycling plant run by Lakeshore Recycling Systems currently manages to recycle over 70 percent of what it takes in. Through further public education and technological advances, that rate will continue to grow.

8. Will this increase environmental health concerns such as unpleasant odors and pest nuisances?

The Village of Skokie has a robust rodent management program that includes resident and business education, property inspections and treatment when rat activity is observed. In addition, the Village offers both compost pickup by paid subscription and free compost drop-off sites throughout the community. Removing compostable materials from the refuse toter and placing them in a sealed five-gallon bucket reduces odor and makes the trash less attractive to rodents and other pests. 

To further minimize the potential for odors and pests, residents should:

• Place trash in sealed bags prior to place into refuse toter.
• Keep the refuse toter lid closed
• Place the refuse toter in a shaded area during warmer months
• Double-bag diapers, pet waste or other items with strong odors prior to placing them in the refuse toter
• Practice good “toter hygiene” by rinsing out your toter as soon as possible if a bag rips or leaks
• If you notice holes in your toter or damage to your toter lid, residents can request a new toter online by selecting “Request a new Recycling/Refuse Cart or Lid” or by calling Public Works at 847-933-8427.  

9. What if I have more trash than fits in the toter?

If you find that you have additional bags of trash during a given week, you can place sealed trash bags on top of your toter on collection day, not before. Do not place bags on the ground.

10. Can I request a second toter?

As one of the actions under the Waste Management section of the Environmental Sustainability Plan, the transition to once-weekly refuse collection is intended to encourage residents to reduce the amount of material that is being sent to the landfills by recycling and composting. That being said, we do recognize that there will be some households that truly need a second toter.

Following an initial sixty day once-per-week service start up period, residents can request a second toter online by selecting “Request a new Recycling/Refuse Cart or Lid” or by calling Public Works at 847-933-8427. Properties will be evaluated for a second toter on a case-by-case basis.

11. How can I reduce the amount of refuse from my household?

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 25 percent of residential refuse is made up of compostable materials and that 30 to 40 percent is recyclable. Make sure that you are disposing of items appropriately:

• Compost your food scraps
• Recycle right
• Recycle clothing and other textiles
• Refer to the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County’s A-Z Reuse/Recycle directory for resources on recycling or donating specialty items
• Most importantly, practice source reduction. Stop waste before it is generated by using reusable water bottles and shopping bags, checking out books at the library instead of purchasing, borrowing items from friends and neighbors – there are many ways to reduce waste.

12. Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

Skokie Public Works 
Phone: 847/933-8427
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

13. Will the Village’s quarterly refuse fee change with the onset of once-weekly refuse collection?

Skokie’s neighboring suburban communities already have once-weekly service and Skokie’s refuse fee of $9.25 per month is much lower than theirs which range from $17 to $30 per month. In fact, our current fee covers less than 1/3 of the expense of the program. So, while the refuse fee will remain unchanged, transitioning to once-weekly collection will help minimize rate increases in the long-term.

In addition, a study done by Public Works showed that 85% of single-family households did not need/use the second refuse pickup so instead the Village of Skokie is adding composting services through the new drop-off composting sites and by sponsoring a 15% discount for anyone that signs up for a new annual curbside composting service through Collective Resource.