Residents are encouraged to dispose of leaves according to the yard waste guidelines provided by Waste Management. Yard waste must be placed in either brown paper yard waste bags or clearly labeled 32-gallon containers. “YARD WASTE ONLY” labels are available for free at Joliet City Hall and local Jewel-Osco stores. Please note that the last week for yard waste pickup is the week of December 1-5, 2025.  Yard waste is picked up weekly on the same day as garbage and recycling.

It is important to remember that pushing leaves into the street is both hazardous and subject to fines within city limits. Leaves in the street and on parkways can block catch basins, cause drainage issues, and increase the risk of accidents on slippery, leaf-covered streets. City street sweepers are unable to pick up large piles of leaves and will avoid them, leading to uncleared streets.

While the use of commercial fire pits is permitted within city limits, they must meet specific criteria listed below. Although burning leaves might seem like a convenient disposal method, please remember that leaves, wooden pallets, treated lumber, and garbage are not allowed as fuel in outdoor fire pits. Open burning (burning fuel without an approved fire pit) is prohibited.

FIRE PIT CRITERIA

The Joliet Fire Department reminds residents of the criteria for using commercial fire pits within city limits:

Approved Design: Commercially sold steel outdoor fire pits must have legs, a steel bottom, wire mesh sides, and a top.

Safety Equipment: A fire extinguisher or garden hose must be on hand to extinguish the fire if necessary. 

Distance Requirements: Approved outdoor pits must be at least 15 feet away from any structure or fence.

Fuel Restrictions: Fuel (wooden logs or artificial logs) must fit within the confines of the wire mesh, and the top must be in place to be legal. Burning wooden pallets, treated deck wood, leaves, dimensional lumber, or garbage is prohibited.

Nuisance Complaints: Even if using an approved fire pit, if smoke, flames, sparks, or odors are deemed offensive by neighbors, the homeowner must extinguish the fire immediately. A police officer may issue a compliance ticket for creating a public nuisance or violating the International Fire Code 2015 Section 307.4.3, which prohibits open burning that is offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions.