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Cardboard Recycling in Chicago, IL

Chicago Blue Cart households (single-family homes and buildings of up to four units) put flattened cardboard loose in the Blue Cart. Anyone can also use the city's recycling drop-off centers on N. Ravenswood and S. Clark Street, open daily during daylight hours.

See all 4 options
Stacked brown cardboard boxes
Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash (opens in new tab)

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

4 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Chicago

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

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  1. CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · ChicagoNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
    How it works

    Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.

    Book a pickup →

  2. City of Chicago Blue Cart RecyclingCity service · ChicagoChicago residentsCost not listed
    How it works

    The Department of Streets and Sanitation and the city's recycling contractor collect Blue Cart recycling every other week from single-family homes and buildings of four or fewer units.

    Cost & rules
    • Before you go: Break down boxes; put recyclables in loose, never in plastic bags.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

  3. City of Chicago Residential Recycling Drop-off CentersCity service · ChicagoCost not listed
    How it works

    City-run drop-off centers at 6441 N. Ravenswood (Far North Side) and 1758 S. Clark Street (Near South) take the same materials as the Blue Cart, open 7 days a week during daylight hours.

    Cost & rules
    • Before you go: No plastic bags or other soft plastics.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

  4. Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM Center)Drop-off · outside Chicago · 15800 State St., South HollandCook County residentsFree
    Where

    15800 State St.
    South Holland, IL 60473

    Hours

    Tue 8 a.m.-noon; Thu 1-5 p.m.; 2nd and 4th Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May close in bad weather.

    Cost & rules

    Cardboard

    AcceptedFree (documented)

    Full details & sourcesOfficial site (opens in new tab)

Before you go

  1. Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
  2. Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
  3. Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.
More about cardboard

Illinois rules

Where this information comes from (10)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • Chicago Recycles home (opens in new tab) · City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation
    • The Blue Cart program provides bi-weekly recycling to single-family homes and multi-unit buildings with four or fewer units. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • What Goes Where | Chicago Recycles (opens in new tab) · City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation
    • Break down cardboard boxes before placing them in the Blue Cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Private haulers serving residential buildings of 5+ units must accept common recyclables including cardboard. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Residential Recycling | Chicago Recycles (opens in new tab) · City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation
    • Recyclables go in loose; no plastic bags. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The city lists drop-off centers at 6441 N. Ravenswood (Far North Side) and 1758 S. Clark Street (Near South). Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The drop-off centers take the same materials as the Blue Cart, including cardboard, and are open 7 days a week during daylight hours. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Illinois EPA: Household Hazardous Wastes (opens in new tab) · Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
    • Illinois EPA says state and federal law allow household hazardous waste to go out with residential garbage, but taking it to an HHW collection is more protective. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (opens in new tab) · Cook County
    • The CHaRM Center is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents; commercial and industrial waste is not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Paper and cardboard accepted include moving boxes, food boxes and shipping boxes. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) Services (opens in new tab) · South Suburban College
    • Drop-off is free to residential customers only; proof of residency may be required. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

How we check our information