November 26, 2025

Curbside Leaf Collection Over

The Curbside Leaf Collection Program ended on November 21, 2025. No additional collections will be conducted this season. Residents may continue to bag fallen leaves for their weekly household yard waste pickup. The final pickup for curbside bagged yard waste and bundled brush will occur the week of December 8, 2025.

For yard waste collection guidelines, visit our website or call the Environmental Health Division at (847) 359-9042.

Construction Update: Illinois Route 53 Improvements

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has been improving Illinois Route 53 from Interstate 90 to Lake Cook Road. Three travel lanes in both directions will be open for the entire length of the project through winter.

Additional updates include:

From south of Kirchoff Road to Interstate 90, existing pavement remains in several sections of the two outside lanes (local lanes) in both directions. These sections have been cold patched for the winter and will be resurfaced in spring 2026.
At the Euclid Avenue bridge over Route 53, the eastbound and westbound traffic on Euclid Avenue will be shifted to the outside lanes the week of December 15. Demolition of the inside lanes will begin in early 2026, depending on temperatures. Work on the piers will begin in spring 2026.

Work on Route 53 will resume in spring 2026 and IDOT anticipates the work to continue into 2027 to complete the bridge reconstructions.

For more information regarding this public improvement project, visit IDOT’s website or call IDOT’s project contacts Maria Castaneda at (312) 447-1919 or Guy Tridgell at (312) 343-1731.

Construction Update: Illinois Route 53 Noise Abatement Wall Replacement

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has started work on the noise abatement wall replacement along Illinois Route 53 between Dundee Road and Lake Cook Road. The three lanes of northbound traffic will be shifted to the far inside shoulder to allow the contractor to begin construction on the northbound wall. A temporary concrete barrier wall will be placed along the northbound outside lane to eliminate the need for daily shoulder closures.

Work on the northbound wall began the week of November 3 and will continue through winter. Work on the southbound wall will begin in spring 2026.

For more information about this public improvement project, please contact IDOT’s project contacts Maria Castaneda at (312) 447-1919 or Guy Tridgell at (312) 343-1731.

Final Collection of Curbside Yard Waste

Week of December 8

The final season's collection of bagged yard waste and bundled brush will end the week of December 8, 2025. Final bagged yard waste collection will take place on your regular garbage collection day. Please have yard waste at the curb by 6:30 AM on your collection day. Curbside yard waste collection will resume the week of March 30, 2026.

For yard waste collection guidelines, visit our website or call the Environmental Health Division at (847) 359-9042.

Palatine Police Thanksgiving Campaign for Safe and Sober Driving

This Thanksgiving, Palatine Police is joining the Illinois State Police and local partners to keep holiday travel safe. Our “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaigns run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.

Officers will be looking for seat-belt violations, speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs, including cannabis.

Plan ahead with these tips:

Before you go out, choose a sober driver or plan to use a taxi, public transit or a rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.).
If you host, offer alcohol free beverages and help guests arrange sober transportation.
If you’ve used cannabis, do not drive. Effects can be delayed and impair reaction time and judgment.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over safely and call 911.
Make sure everyone in the vehicle wears a seat belt. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

This Thanksgiving enforcement effort is supported by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation and aligns with Illinois’ statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Click It or Ticket” and “It’s Not a Game” campaigns.

Helping Community Families in Need

Each year the Palatine Township coordinates a number of programs which assist our neighbors in need. Helping families from our community is a wonderful way to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday season.

If you would like to help please consider the following options:

Donate a Gift Card
Donate to the Food Pantry
Make a tax-deductible donation to the Palatine Township Foundation

Thank you for your generosity. For more information visit the Palatine Township website.

Thanksgiving Holiday Overnight Parking

The Village is granting Village-wide overnight parking permission during the Thanksgiving holiday, Friday, November 21 through 6:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 2. You may park vehicles on the street overnight during this time.

This holiday parking permission DOES NOT include commercial vehicles. The Village’s Code of Ordinances defines commercial vehicles as “any motor vehicle used by or for a business or service which may or may not bear any sort of advertising for that business or service.”

Holiday Light Recycling Program

The Village of Palatine, in partnership with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) and Elgin Recycling, is pleased to offer a Holiday Light Recycling Program now until January 31, 2026.

Holiday string lights can be dropped off at the Palatine Village Hall, Village Services Counter (first floor), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Accepted Items:

Holiday string lighting (minilights, C7 & C9, rope, and LED)
Extension cords

Not Accepted:

Wreaths, garlands, or other holiday decorations

Important: Do not place string lights or extension cords in your recycling cart. For more information, contact the Environmental Health Division at 847-359-9042. Help reduce waste this holiday season!