Illinois
Compost drop-off
Lake Forest compost drop-off
Hours, sticker price, who can use it, item fees, hazardous waste options, and holiday notes for Lake Forest Compost and Recycling Center.
Not a household-trash drop-off. This page covers only the specifically listed recycling, compost, hazardous or specialty materials. Check the accepted materials before loading your vehicle.
Last verified from official sources: 2026-11-07
Who can use it
Lake Forest residents displaying a CURRENT city vehicle sticker permanently attached to windshield. Driver license alone is NOT accepted. No commercial contractors.
Hours
- March 15-November 30: Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed weekdays.
- December 1-March 14: Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Sunday-Friday.
Sticker or permit
Required: Yes
Price: Current city vehicle sticker required; price not printed here.
Where to buy: Contact City of Lake Forest for current vehicle-sticker purchase process.
Notes: Must be permanently displayed on windshield. Driver license is not acceptable substitute.
Per-item fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Facility access | Current Lake Forest vehicle sticker required; sticker price not stated on facility page |
| Processed compost removal | Up to four 32-gallon containers or equivalent per day |
Hazardous waste
Not a general household hazardous waste drop-off. Consult the county program for those materials.
Holiday closures
Closed observed New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Holiday schedule last verified 2026-11-07 from official sources .
Other notes
- One trip per day, maximum two cubic yards unless Public Works grants prior approval. Vehicles larger than a standard pickup or over two-cubic-yard payload are prohibited.
- Yard waste: brush, leaves and grass in designated area, clean and free of metal/concrete/stone/plastic. No plastic bags or planting trays; no trunks/branches/stumps over SIX INCHES diameter. No animal manure or food scraps.
- Also has separate electronics, battery, textile/shoe and selected junk-bin streams. Batteries must be properly bagged/taped per attendant guidance. Do not use ordinary yard-waste piles for electronics, batteries or junk.
- Electronics examples include computers, printers, DVD/VCR equipment and TVs. Junk bins are NOT general garbage; ordinary household trash and organic waste are prohibited there. Call before demolition, chemicals or unusual bulky items.
- No hazardous waste, including oil-based paint or CFC-bearing appliances, at the center. The page mentions a separate$90 curbside CFC-appliance service, NOT a center drop-off fee or permission to leave refrigerators.
- No scavenging; deposited material becomes city property. Remove processed compost only within the published four-container daily limit.
Nearby Illinois towns
Sources
Every fee and hour above was taken from these official pages or PDFs on 2026-11-07. If something conflicts, trust the town.