Trash & Recycling in Bloomington, IL (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Bloomington, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
The City of Bloomington provides refuse collection only to single-family homes and multifamily buildings with six or fewer units; buildings with more units get no City pickup at all. Multifamily owners with two or more units may opt out and hire a private hauler after filing written notice with Public Works, and mobile homes qualify only inside a licensed park.
Bloomington Trash Pickup Eligibility Rules
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 21-301
The City shall provide refuse collection service to all single family residential buildings and to multifamily residential buildings with six or fewer units, but only for refuse generated by occupants of said residential buildings. The City will not pick up refuse from premises with more than six residential units. Refuse generated at another premise or business location will not be collected. ...
Bin Placement Rules
Bloomington requires refuse containers to stay screened on the owner's property except from 2:00 p.m. the day before pickup to 9:00 a.m. the day after, under City Code § 21-403; containers left outside that window must be a watertight, lidded can or City cart, never a loose plastic or paper bag.
Bloomington Trash Cart Storage and Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code §§ 21-403, 21-404
Except for a period of time beginning at 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled collection day and ending at 9:00 a.m. on the day following the collection day, all refuse and refuse containers shall be stored on the owner's premises, screened so as to prevent their being viewed from the street. ... Refuse stored on the exterior of any property must be stored in either an approved galvanize...
Bulk Item Disposal
Bloomington collects bulk and building waste curbside every other week under City Code § 21-307. The first bucket per pickup is free, each additional bucket is billed at the Schedule of Fees rate, appliances are taken only on request, and sod or shingles beyond 35 pounds cost the actual removal cost.
Bloomington Bulk Waste Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 21-307
A. Bulk waste and building waste shall be collected by the City via an every other week curbside collection program, under rules established by the Director of Public Works and approved by the City Manager. B. The City shall not charge the occupant or owner of residential property served by the solid waste program for the first bucket of bulk waste or building waste collected during the schedul...
Recycling Requirements
The City of Bloomington runs an every-other-week curbside recycling program for residential buildings under City Code § 21-601, though the Downtown Service Area is carved out of curbside recycling entirely, and the Director of Public Works can add extra recycling service at his discretion.
Bloomington Curbside Recycling Program Rules
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 21-601
Recycling is encouraged in the City of Bloomington. This section will serve to establish approved containers and locations for storing recyclable materials prior to collection. A. The City shall provide curbside recycling collection service from residential buildings every other week on the day of the week serving the residences according to a collection schedule established by the Director of ...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
The City of Bloomington collects refuse and recycling on every holiday that falls on a normal route day except Christmas Day. Under City Code § 21-306, Christmas collection simply slides to the next regularly scheduled pickup day, and § 21-603 applies the identical rule to the recycling program.
Bloomington Holiday Trash Collection Shift
Light RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 21-306
A. The City shall collect refuse on all holidays which fall within the weekly calendar for collection, except Christmas Day or the day designated by the City for observance of Christmas. B. Refuse shall not be collected on Christmas Day or the day designated by the City for observance of Christmas, but shall be collected on the following day on which refuse is regularly scheduled to be collected.
Illegal Dumping
In the City of Bloomington, dumping or depositing garbage, refuse or debris on undeveloped private or public property is a misdemeanor under City Code § 28-119. A first conviction is fined $10 to $100, and every later offense jumps to $25 to $500, with an affirmative defense only for the property's owner, immediate family, or someone holding the owner's prior written consent.
Bloomington Illegal Dumping Penalties
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 28-119(A)(2), (D)
No person shall perform any of the following acts on undeveloped private or public property in the City of Bloomington: ... Dump or deposit garbage, refuse or debris as defined in Bloomington City Code Chapter 21; or ... Penalty. ... Any person convicted of improper use of undeveloped property shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100 for the first offense; not less than $25 nor more ...
Yard Waste Collection
Bloomington collects yard debris such as brush and leaves every other week under City Code § 21-305(B); brush not in a container must be cut to six feet or less under § 21-401(B), and residents can also drop yard waste at the City's Drop-Off Facility except during its January 1-March 21 seasonal closure.
Bloomington Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code §§ 21-309, 21-401(B), 21-407
Leaves may be collected by the City from time to time as directed by the Director of Public Works and approved by the City Manager. No person shall rake or store leaves on any street. ... Brush not in approved refuse containers shall be cut in lengths not to exceed six feet in length and stacked neatly for collection. ... ... A. The City's Drop-Off Facility shall be closed annually from January...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial trash and recycling dumpsters in the City of Bloomington must be sited away from street frontages and required parking, then screened on all sides to at least six feet. § 44-1308(E) of the Zoning Code sets the siting, height, and material rules the Development Services Director checks during site plan review.
Dumpster Screening Rules in Bloomington, IL
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 44-1308(E)
Refuse disposal areas. ... Trash and recycling receptacles shall be screened in accordance with the following requirements: ... Siting. Refuse disposal areas shall be sited to minimize visibility from the public rights-of-way. Trash enclosures shall not be located within a required street front or street side setbacks or occupy area used for required parking spaces. Where feasible, refuse enclo...
Collection Schedule
In the City of Bloomington, garbage is collected once a week on a route schedule the Director of Public Works sets, and yard debris is picked up every other week under City Code § 21-305, with an exception that halts ash-tree limb pickup between April 30 and September 1 during an Emerald Ash Borer quarantine.
Bloomington Weekly Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code § 21-305
A. Garbage shall be collected once per week according to a collection schedule established by the Director of Public Works, except for such holidays as hereinafter provided. B. Debris shall be collected on a schedule established by the Director of Public Works which shall ensure collection every other week, with the following exception. No brush or tree debris containing limbs, logs, branches, ...
Recycling Rules
Bloomington limits curbside recycling to City-issued 65- or 95-gallon wheeled carts, defines recyclables as aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic #1 and #2 bottles, food boxes, cardboard and paper under § 21-204, and bars storing recyclables outdoors in plastic or paper bags.
Bloomington Recycling Container and Material Rules
Some RestrictionsBloomington City Code §§ 21-204, 21-602, 21-604
Aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles (#1 and #2), food boxes, cardboard and paper collected for the purposes of recycling. ... Wheeled carts of 65 gallons, 95 gallons or other volumes issued exclusively by the City of Bloomington Public Works Department and its designees and vendor for the sole purposes of recycling, and excluding blue, hand-carried bins previously i...