Evanston, IL Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage options
- cart, Kraft bag, or bundle
- Bundle limit
- 4 ft long, cloth-tied only
- Weight cap
- 50 lbs per bag/cart
- Large branches
- resident removes at own cost
Summary
Evanston residents may set out yard waste in City roll-out carts, 30-gallon Kraft paper bags, or tied bundles: branches must be under 4 inches thick, bundles no more than 4 feet long and 3 feet across, tied with cloth only.
(D)Yard Waste may be stored in:1.Roll out carts purchased from the City and owned by the property owner;2.Thirty (30) gallon or less biodegradable paper bags designated for yard waste; or3.Yard waste consisting of brush or tree branches may be tied in bundles which must be no more than four (4) feet in length and tied with cloth ties. Tree branches less than four (4) inches in diameter are considered yard waste and will be collected by City crews; larger branches must be removed at the expense of the resident. The diameter of the bundles must not exceed three (3) feet. Bundles tied with plastic, wire, or rope will not be accepted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Evanston City Code § 8-4-3(D) lets property owners store yard waste, grass clippings, leaves, tree prunings, brush, in a City-purchased roll-out cart, in 30-gallon-or-less biodegradable Kraft paper bags, or as tied bundles of brush and branches. Bundles can't exceed four feet in length or three feet in diameter and must be tied with cloth, not plastic, wire, or rope; bagged or carted yard waste is capped at 50 pounds. Branches under four inches in diameter count as yard waste and are collected by City crews, larger branches must be removed at the resident's own expense.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 4's storage rules is fined $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second, and $250 for a third or later offense, under Evanston City Code § 8-4-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bundle tree branches for yard waste pickup in Evanston?
What bags can I use for yard waste in Evanston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
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