# Where do I go to dump garbage in Chicago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420 "2017-09-27T14:19:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/1 "2017-09-27T14:19:17Z")
I am moving and have a few items too big for a dumpster that I need to throw out (and charity will not accept…I checked). Think large furniture. I want to be responsible about disposing of this stuff but for the life of me I can’t find where to take it in Chicago. I can find people who will do it for me for a fee but not where I take it on my own. Any help is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/2 "2017-09-27T14:26:41Z")
[Des Plaines](http://www.swancc.org/transfer-station/residential-waste-disposal) ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/3 "2017-09-27T14:29:33Z")
If you have city-provided garbage collection (that is, you don’t live in a large apartment building), you would be surprised at what they will take. [Chicago Garbage Collectors: Will They Really Take that?](https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-garbage-collectors-will-they-really-take-that/0854c743-8e29-485a-ae2c-27b9514b2bce) ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/4 "2017-09-27T14:40:08Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > If you have city-provided garbage collection (that is, you don’t live in a large apartment building), you would be surprised at what they will take. > > [Chicago Garbage Collectors: Will They Really Take that?](https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-garbage-collectors-will-they-really-take-that/0854c743-8e29-485a-ae2c-27b9514b2bce) This. As the article notes, if you want to be really nice, call 311 and give them a heads up. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/5 "2017-09-27T15:15:05Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > If you have city-provided garbage collection (that is, you don’t live in a large apartment building), you would be surprised at what they will take. It is an apartment building (typical courtyard building…maybe 50 units) with dumpsters in an alley. Can I still plop a futon frame and mattress there (and a few other items)? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/6 "2017-09-27T15:21:37Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It is an apartment building (typical courtyard building…maybe 50 units) with dumpsters in an alley. Can I still plop a futon frame and mattress there (and a few other items)? Of course you can. If it’s in giveaway shape, you can also list it on freecycle. If it’s in giveaway shape, leave it in the alley right after a garbage pickup so people have a chance to see it and then come get it. Have you really not seen alleys with furniture near the dumpsters all the time? Maybe because I live by Loyola, I see it all the time. Large apartment buildings have private garbage/recycling and already have extra pickups in their contracts and the fees built into their budget. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/7 "2017-09-27T15:32:45Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Have you really not seen alleys with furniture near the dumpsters all the time? Sure but I always assumed it was against the law but not enforced (e.g. you cannot dispose of electronics in the dumpster). I was trying to be a good citizen about it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dope)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/8 "2017-09-27T15:37:56Z")
leave it in an ally a hobo will sleep on it ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/9 "2017-09-27T15:46:48Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > If you have city-provided garbage collection (that is, you don’t live in a large apartment building), you would be surprised at what they will take. > > [Chicago Garbage Collectors: Will They Really Take that?](https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-garbage-collectors-will-they-really-take-that/0854c743-8e29-485a-ae2c-27b9514b2bce) Can confirm. I have the garbage men pick up a recliner, a couch, and a mattress just by leaving them in the alley. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/10 "2017-09-27T16:30:39Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It is an apartment building (typical courtyard building…maybe 50 units) with dumpsters in an alley. Can I still plop a futon frame and mattress there (and a few other items)? Man, I was going to suggest finding an apartment building with a dumpster and leave it there, but you already have that! Set it by the dumpster. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/11 "2017-09-27T17:35:42Z")
The city of Chicago will pick up anything and everything. We cleaned my brother’s house after he died and put it all on the curb, including 4 suitcases of wire hangers. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/12 "2017-09-27T21:31:05Z")
> [@The\_Dope](#): > > leave it in an ally Insert a futon frame in an ally and they won’t be your ally much longer. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/13 "2017-09-28T01:56:31Z")
Post a notice on Craigslist, at the very least any metal or recyclables will disappear quickly P.S. use a “disposable” e-mail if posting on Craigslist ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-go-to-dump-garbage-in-chicago/797420/14 "2017-09-28T21:55:12Z")
I’ve disposed of furniture by just calling the Alderman’s office. They connected me to Streets and San, I told them what and when I would be putting out, and they said they’d take it. They did. I think they appreciated the heads up.