Trash & Recycling in Gary, IN (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Gary, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Anyone other than a city crew who wants to collect garbage, rubbish or waste material in Gary needs a scavenger license under Municipal Code § 34-65. Applicants apply to the city controller, pass a board of health vehicle inspection, and carry liability insurance covering $15,000.00 per injury and $30,000.00 in property damage before the mayor's office will let a truck out on a route.
Gary Licenses Private Trash Haulers
Significant RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 34-65
It shall be unlawful for any person other than a city refuse collector or a scavenger licensed by the city as herein provided to remove, displace, uncover, or otherwise disturb any refuse container or the contents thereof placed on location, to go from place to place with any vehicle, mechanical or otherwise, for the purpose of collecting garbage, rubbish, ashes, or waste material, or to act or...
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Gary, Municipal Code § 34-53 bars storing garbage and rubbish containers on public property except for pickup, and only where the entire private lot is built out with structures. Containers must sit convenient to the alley or street as the street commissioner specifies, and the owner is liable for any damage a container placed on public property causes.
Gary Sets Curbside Trash Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 34-53
Containers referred to in this article shall not be stored on public property or so placed that a nuisance shall be caused to adjacent residents. Containers may be placed on public property for collection purposes only where the complete private property is occupied by structures. Containers shall be placed convenient to the alley or street, as specified by the street commissioner, for the coll...
Recycling Requirements
In the City of Gary, any person or entity that is being licensed or permitted, or that is renewing a license or permit, must submit a written plan as part of that application describing how its solid waste will be managed, including the reduction, reuse and recycling steps it will take to cut its wastestream. The city controller's office reviews the plan alongside the license paperwork.
Gary Recycling Plan Required for Licenses
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 10-31
Persons or entities, upon being licensed/permitted or obtaining any renewal thereof, shall provide as part of its submission, a plan describing how its solid waste will be managed, including reduction, reuse and recycling steps taken to reduce its wastestream.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping garbage, trash or other waste on any public or private property in Gary is unlawful unless the board of public works and safety has designated the site, under Municipal Code § 34-61(b). The ban does not reach clean fill: an owner may still have dirt, sand or gravel free of garbage or rubbish deposited on private property to raise its grade.
Gary Bans Illegal Dumping Of Trash
Heavy RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 34-61(b)
(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to place, dump, or discharge garbage, trash or other waste materials upon any public or private property except as established by the board of public works and safety; however, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit dumping or depositing of dirt, sand, and gravel, free of all garbage or combustible and noncombustible rubbish upon any privat...
Dumpster Rules
In the City of Gary, Municipal Code § 34-52(a) requires multifamily dwellings, complexes and apartment buildings of six or more units to maintain at least a 15-cubic-yard dumpster for every six units. The requirement can be met with one dumpster or a combination, such as two eight-yard dumpsters, as long as the total capacity per six units reaches 15 cubic yards.
Gary Sets Dumpster Size for Apartment Buildings
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 34-52(a)
(a)Containers for the storage of garbage, rubbish, ashes, and wastes covered by this article shall be furnished by the owner, tenant, or lessee in single-family dwellings, multiple dwellings and commercial buildings, in sufficient numbers to store all garbage, rubbish, ashes, and construction wastes produced on the premises between collections or disposals. For multifamily dwelling, complexes a...
Collection Schedule
The City of Gary runs its own garbage, rubbish and ash collection under Municipal Code § 34-59, publishing pickup dates by route rather than a single citywide day. City crews serve households; commercial establishments and industrial plants get no municipal pickup and must arrange private hauling. A private scavenger may only collect if the street commissioner permits it and the board of health approves the vehicles and method.
Gary Sets Residential Garbage Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 34-59
(a)The city will provide the necessary vehicles and men to collect the garbage, combustible and noncombustible rubbish, and ashes produced in the city. Collection dates for each route shall be published. Garbage and combustible and noncombustible rubbish may be collected by private individuals if they are permitted by the street commissioner and provided the vehicles, method of collection, and ...
Looking for Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gary city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Lake County →