Guidelines · 6 min read

What Can and Can't Go in a Dumpster in Illinois

Most of what comes out of a house or a job site can go in a roll-off. The exceptions are the things Illinois landfill bans or the disposal sites will not accept — and each of them has somewhere to go instead.

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What Can and Can't Go in a Dumpster in Illinois

Yes — load it

  • Household junk and furniture: sofas, tables, boxes, general debris.
  • Construction and renovation debris: wood, drywall, tile, flooring and cabinets.
  • Roofing: shingles and related debris — heavy, so mind the weight allowance.
  • Small appliances without refrigerant.
  • Concrete, dirt and brick — only in a 10 or 15 yard, because of the weight.
  • Yard waste and branches — in a load of their own; see the landfill ban.

Illinois EPA's own list of general construction and demolition debris includes soil, rock, plaster, drywall, non-hazardous painted or treated wood, plumbing fixtures, electrical wiring, non-asbestos insulation, bricks, roofing shingles and concrete — all things landfills accept.

What Illinois landfill bans keep out

Illinois EPA lists the items that cannot go to a landfill in an ordinary load. These are the reasons behind most of the no list:

ItemBanned from landfills sinceWhat Illinois EPA says
Landscape (yard) wasteJuly 1, 1990Mulch, compost, or a permitted compost facility or community collection
Lead-acid vehicle batteriesSeptember 1, 1990Retailers must take the old battery when you buy a new one
Used tiresJuly 1, 1994Tire retailers must accept as many used tires as you buy new
White goods with components still inJuly 1, 1994Fridges, freezers, ranges, water heaters, A/C units and similar — mercury switches, refrigerant and PCBs out first; a scrap yard is the suggested route
Motor oilJuly 1, 1996Not in a landfill
Covered electronicsJanuary 1, 2026TVs, computers, tablets, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards and mice, DVD players, game consoles and more — for households and businesses alike

What our boxes keep out too

On top of the state bans, we do not accept paint, solvents or oils, hazardous chemicals, gas cylinders or propane tanks, medical waste, or asbestos. We found no Illinois EPA page stating a general landfill rule on liquids, so we simply keep them out of the box. If you are unsure about something, call (630) 864-6143 and we will guide you — it is far cheaper than finding out at the gate.

Illinois EPA also says the person who generates the waste "can be held responsible for the garbage if it is illegally disposed," even after hiring a hauler. Its advice: "Contract with a licensed and reputable waste hauler" and "Always ask for a receipt." Several towns around Naperville license haulers — we hold ours for your town.

No — and where it goes instead

ItemWhere it goes
Oil-based paint, automotive fluids, pool chemicals, mercury, batteriesNaperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 156 Fort Hill Dr — Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., free, open to all Illinois residents, no business waste. DuPage and Kane counties send their residents there too.
Latex paintNot hazardous: Naperville says harden it with cat litter or sawdust and put it in the trash with the lid off. Leftover paint can also go to PaintCare drop-off sites — Illinois EPA counts over 300.
TiresBack to a tire retailer, which must accept as many as you buy. Moving more than 20 at a time takes an Illinois EPA transporter registration.
Car and lead-acid batteriesThe retailer when you buy a new one, or a salvage yard or recycling center
Fridges, freezers, A/C units, water heatersA scrap yard once components are removed, or your town hauler — Groot takes one appliance a week in Naperville if you call first
TVs, computers and other electronicsNaperville Environmental Collection Campus electronics drop-off, weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; West Chicago runs a free Saturday drop-off at 1995 Powis Road; Kane County's Fabyan Parkway Recycling Center in Geneva takes them weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with fees for TVs and monitors
Gas cylinders and propane tanksNot in the box — call us before you load and we tell you what we know
Asbestos-containing materialA licensed contractor, or small bagged amounts to the Naperville HHW facility — see below

The asbestos rule in Illinois

Illinois EPA enforces the federal asbestos rules. For a regulated demolition or renovation, the owner or operator mails a notification form with a $150 fee 10 working days before work starts. Privately owned homes and apartment buildings of four or fewer units are exempt, but Illinois EPA still says asbestos should come out before demolition and some renovation, ideally by a licensed contractor; do-it-yourself removals should be wetted, sealed in leak-proof bags and boxed for a permitted landfill. The Naperville HHW facility accepts asbestos materials that fit a 55-gallon drum, weigh 50 pounds or less and are triple-bagged. Asbestos never goes in a roll-off.

Heavy loads, and the loads that need a word first

Concrete, dirt and tile are fine — in a 10 or 15 yard, because they fill the weight allowance long before the box looks full. Clean concrete, brick and soil kept apart from everything else can go to a cheaper fill site. Yard waste is fine too, but not mixed with household trash: it cannot go to an Illinois landfill, so it needs its own load. Sod is the odd one out — Naperville's code says it is not landscape waste. If you are not sure about something, call before you load it.

Talk to a real person

Ready to book a container in Naperville?

Call (630) 864-6143 with the address and what is going in. A flat price and a delivery window before you hang up.

Call (630) 864-6143

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From this guide

Frequently asked questions

Can I put roofing shingles in a dumpster?

Yes. Shingles are standard roll-off material and on Illinois EPA's list of general construction debris. They are heavy, so they go in a 10 or 20 yard with an eye on the weight allowance.

Can I put an old TV or computer in a dumpster in Illinois?

No. Since January 1, 2026 TVs, computers, monitors, printers and other covered electronics are banned from Illinois landfills, for households and businesses alike. Use an electronics drop-off instead.

What about tires and car batteries?

Neither goes in. Tire retailers must accept as many used tires as you buy, and battery retailers take the old one when you buy a new one.

Can I put yard waste in with my junk?

Ask first. Landscape waste has been banned from Illinois landfills since 1990, so it needs a separate load. Tell us what is going in and we plan the boxes.

Keep reading

More guides from the yard

The rest of the series, same approach — official sources, no filler.

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