Donate and recycle first — dispose last. Where to take furniture, appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal, and renovation debris around Chicago.
Chicago has no city dump for haulers — everything routes through private transfer stations, C&D recyclers, donation nonprofits, and scrap yards. Good news: Illinois doesn't tax junk-removal service. These are general guidelines about where to go and what they take, not exact prices — and several big-branded stations only take account/credit loads, so call ahead. Divert to donation and scrap first.
Chicago has strong furniture-reuse nonprofits with free pickup — use them before the scale.
Anyone who removes refuse, C&D, or "other wastes" for a fee needs a Private Scavenger business license (MCC 4-6-130) from BACP, and each truck carries a "Chicago Private Scavenger" plate. Get it before you haul for hire.
E-waste (since 2012), whole tires, white goods with intact refrigerant, yard waste, and lead-acid batteries are all banned from IL landfills — they must be diverted.
Illinois doesn't tax sales of services, so your junk-removal charge isn't subject to IL or Chicago sales tax — a real edge you can lean on.
EPA Section 608 requires refrigerant recovery before disposal; the final disposer must document it. Venting is illegal.
Chicago requires contractors to recycle at least half of recyclable construction debris and report it — route mixed C&D to a licensed recycler (GreenWay, Tri-State) and keep the affidavit.
For informational purposes only. These are general guidelines to help you plan a run — not an official disposal guide or legal advice. Hours, accepted materials, fees, and rules change often and vary by load, so always confirm directly with the facility and follow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.