Refuse & Recycling

Weekly garbage service for single family residential areas is provided by the Village’s contracted waste hauler, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS). Refuse and recyclables are collected on Thursdays and Fridays . Plastic refuse bags and durable metal or plastic cans with handles are acceptable containers for refuse. To sign up for refuse and recycling service, please contact Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) at 847-381-9300.

**On October 1st, 2021 Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) purchased GFL Environmental, previously Prairieland Disposal, Inc.. All service days, employees, call centers, equipment, website, etc. will stay the same. The original contract with the Village of Wauconda and Prairieland Disposal will also remain the same, guaranteeing services and pricing for the life of the contract. Residents may see blue trucks in addition to the green Prairieland trucks.**

Prairieland Disposal One pass Trucks (LRS)


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General Service Guidelines
  • All waste materials should be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM the day of your service collection. 
  • Refuse and recycling should be placed by the driveway and toters should be spread 3 feet apart from each other and from other stationary objects (mailboxes, basketball hoops, vehicles, etc.) 
  • Cardboard must be broken down and placed in toter; do not jam into the container. 
  • Recyclables should be loose, not in plastic shopping bags. 
  • For special pick up of bulk items, contact Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) at 847-381-9300. Additional disposal fee may apply. 
  • Residents may drop off the following items for free at the Wauconda facility at 1250 N Old Rand Road: Shoes tied together, Christmas lights, wine corks, food scrap, electronic waste, batteries (see website for detail), and wrapped glass vases ten (10) inch max. 
  • On September 1 of each year, the service charges will increase by 3.5%. See Schedule of Prices.
Important Dates
  • Yard Waste is included with each plan at no additional cost! Residents are allowed up to fifteen (15) bags of Yard Waste per week, from April 1st through the second full week in December. 
  • Bundled brush and tree trimmings are included from April 1st through the second full week in December. Visit the Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) website to see the guidelines. 
  • Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will conduct weekly Leaf Vacuuming service from mid-October through mid-December (exact dates TBD).
  • Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will conduct the Christmas tree collection service the first two weeks following the Christmas holiday.  Visit the Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) website to see the guidelines. 
  • Holiday Schedule - If a holiday falls on a weekday and your pickup falls on or after that day, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
    • Observed Holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

COMPOST & YARD WASTE COLLECTIONYard waste will run annually from April 1st through the second full week of December.

Resident Owned Containers & Biodegradable Yard Waste Bags
  • Yard Waste is collected in biodegradable Kraft paper bags or resident-owned rigid containers clearly marked “Yard Waste” not exceeding 33-gallons or 50 lbs
  • Yard waste in plastic bags WILL NOT be collected.
  • Up to 15 bags of yard was is included in your service (no stickers are needed)
Yard Waste Container
  • Residents may also rent a 95-gallon toter for yard waste collection, supplied by LRS for $3.00 per month. No competitors’ cans will be accepted since they are not compatible with our equipment.
Biodegradable Yard Waste Bag
  • Yard waste is collected in biodegradable Kraft paper bags.
  • Yard waste placed in plastic bags WILL NOT be collected.
Brush Bundles or Twigs
  • Any brush or branches outside of the container must be cut down to 4 feet in length and bundled (use twine or string – no metal twine or wire) no great than 2 feet in diameter and not weighing more than 50 lbs.
  • Unbundled brush WILL NOT be collected.
  • Please note that sod, dirt, rock, whole trees, limbs greater than 2 inches in diameter and stumps are not part of the weekly yard waste program.
Christmas Tree Collection
  • Christmas trees will be collected the first two weeks of January at no additional charge from all residential households.
  • All decorations, stands, etc. must be removed from trees in order to be collected. Do not place trees in plastic bags. Trees in plastic bags will not be collected. Trees longer than 6 ft. must be cut in half.
Larger Bulk Items
  • Weekly bulk item is include in this service, 50 lbs and under, no construction debris.
  • For special bulk item pick-up please contact LRS to schedule pick-up and arrange payment.



SWALCOSWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) provides solid waste management programs to Lake County. These programs are aimed at reducing our reliance on landfills through source reduction, recycling and energy recovery.

In general, SWALCO programs help residents dispose of problem wastes, such as household chemical waste (HCW), electronic equipment, and yard waste. Recycling programs are targeted at both commercial and residential markets in order to divert as much solid waste as possible from reaching landfills.

SWALCO Electronics Recycling Drop Off Locations

For Disposal GuidelinesView our SWALCO Disposal Guide (PDF).