311
arrange large items with your ward superintendent before set-out
4 units
or fewer: city garbage service and large-item collection
Free
electronics and chemical drop-off at the city's HCCRF facility
Every route for a grill in Chicago, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Chicago guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Chicago, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Chicago Streets and Sanitation large-item collection: grills
Free, arrange via 311 firstA grill is a metal large item for 311. The propane tank cannot go out with it: the HCCRF accepts propane tanks, or swap it at a cylinder exchange.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes and buildings with 4 or fewer units that get city garbage service (the black cart). Buildings with 5 or more units use a private hauler; ask your building manager.
How to schedule: Chicago has no scheduled bulk program. The sanitation code says to arrange with your ward's Streets and Sanitation superintendent, through 311 (dial 3-1-1 or 312-744-5000, or 311.chicago.gov), before putting out any large item or extra load. Crews then collect it with your regular garbage route, from the alley or the curb depending on how your block is served.
Limits: No published item limit, but the code prohibits piling large quantities in the alley. One or two items next to the cart on garbage day is routine; a cleanout should be arranged with the ward office first.
Set-out: Place items next to your black cart, in the alley or at the curb, the night before or the morning of your garbage day. Keep the alley passable; obstructing it is a code violation. Remove doors or lids from refrigerators and freezers before setting them out.
Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF): grills
FreePropane tanks and small fire extinguishers are accepted at the HCCRF.
Where: 1150 N. North Branch St, Chicago, IL 60642 (Goose Island)
How it works: Free for Chicago residents, no businesses. Open Tuesdays 7 a.m. to noon, Thursdays 2 to 7 p.m., and the first Saturday of the month 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. An attendant unloads your car. No latex paint; let it dry and put it in the trash.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Chicago: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering grills, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Chicago: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation provides free Bulky Item Pick Up through 311 for residents in 1-4 unit buildings, one of the more straightforward city bulk programs. Combined with the city’s electronics and hazardous waste facility, donation pickup, and Cook County’s CHaRM Center, Chicago residents have several options. This page walks through every one.
The Chicago rule for grills: A grill is a metal large item for 311. The propane tank cannot go out with it: the HCCRF accepts propane tanks, or swap it at a cylinder exchange.
Program basics: No published item limit, but the code prohibits piling large quantities in the alley. One or two items next to the cart on garbage day is routine; a cleanout should be arranged with the ward office first. Place items next to your black cart, in the alley or at the curb, the night before or the morning of your garbage day. Keep the alley passable; obstructing it is a code violation. Remove doors or lids from refrigerators and freezers before setting them out.
What the city will not take: Electronics (banned from Illinois landfills), household chemicals and paint, tires and auto parts, construction and demolition debris, and anything from a building with 5 or more units or a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Chicago: Sanitation Code (residential garbage and bulk pick-up guidance), City of Chicago: Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, 44th Ward Streets and Sanitation service page (bulk and yard waste practice). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Chicago. Chicago’s Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF) accepts household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil) and computer equipment year-round, free for Chicago residents. The Cook County CHaRM Center in South Holland is another option for hard-to-recycle items. Several retailers offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications.
Why grills are different from ordinary bulk. The propane tank is the entire problem. Even an 'empty' 20-pound tank holds residual gas under pressure and can rupture in a compactor. Trash and bulk crews are trained to refuse grills with tanks attached, and a tank left on the grill is the main reason grills get skipped.
Three mistakes that get grills left at the curb:
Paid options are mostly for built-in grills and heavy ceramic kamado cookers.
Self-haul to a scrap yard or transfer station
Free to $20A cart grill fits in an SUV with the lid off and legs folded. Scrap yards take it free; transfer stations charge a small bulky fee. Take the tank to a separate drop-off.
Ceramic kamado grills have no scrap value and go to a transfer station; the steel bands and cart are scrap.
LoadUp paid grill pickup
$80+For households in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city service), residents who need same-week service, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Chicago with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal. Typically 20-30% below national competitors.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your grill. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book grill pickup in Chicago with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Chicago proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Chicago junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national grill disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Chicago: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Chicago pick up grills for free?
The grill can go out through 311. The tank goes to the HCCRF or a cylinder exchange, never to the alley.
How much does paid grill removal cost in Chicago?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single grill pickup in Chicago starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city service), residents who need same-week service, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Chicago with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal. Typically 20-30% below national competitors.
Can I put a gas grill out with bulk trash?
Yes in most cities, once the propane tank is removed. Some cities also ask for the grill to be clean of grease. Check your city’s rule in the directory below.
What do I do with the propane tank?
Take it to a tank exchange cage (trade for a full one), a propane dealer or hardware store that accepts old tanks, or a household hazardous waste facility. Never put it in the trash or at the curb, even if it feels empty.
Will a scrap yard take a grill?
Yes, free, and stainless grills often pay. The tank must be off; most yards refuse tanks unless the valve has been removed, and many refuse them entirely.
Can I donate a used grill?
Working gas grills that are cleaned are accepted by some ReStores and move instantly on free listings in spring and summer. Thrift stores generally do not accept grills. Include the regulator and hose, not the tank.
Is this Chicago page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Chicago guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
