Trash & Recycling in Springfield, IL (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Springfield, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Licensed refuse haulers in Springfield must pick up every regular bag, can, or receptacle a customer sets out on the assigned collection day, plus any garbage that falls to the ground while a dumpster is emptied. Excess items outside normal service can carry a per-item fee.
Springfield Trash Pickup and Hauler Duties
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 105.04(e) & (g) (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; Ord. No. 263-07-16, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-16; Ord. No. 187-05-20, § 1(Exh. A), 5-19-20)
(e)The licensed refuse hauler must pick up any garbage that has fallen on the ground as a result of emptying the dumpster. ... (g)Each licensed refuse hauler shall pick up all solid waste and bags or waste receptacles containing solid waste on the day such refuse is regularly placed for collection by the customer. Each licensed refuse hauler shall also pick up any excess bags, waste receptacles...
Bin Placement Rules
Springfield requires garbage and rubbish carts to sit on the owner's premises at ground level, at the alley if the lot has alley access, under City Code § 170.17.05. Carts can't go out earlier than 48 hours before pickup and must come back off the curb within 48 hours after collection. Violators face a $25-per-day fine, though the Office of Public Works waives the first two offenses at a property.
Springfield Garbage Cart Placement and Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances § 170.17.05 (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; as amended)
All receptacles for the collection of garbage and rubbish shall be placed on the owner's premises in an accessible place at ground level, provided that if the owner's property has alley access, the receptacles shall be placed at the alley. When a snow emergency has been declared pursuant to section 79.30 of this Code, for the following ten days, garbage and rubbish must be placed in an area nea...
Bulk Item Disposal
Large items that don't fit regular garbage pickup go through Springfield's utility-billed large item program: call your licensed hauler to coordinate a pickup, and haulers must separately flag abandoned bulk items they spot for the office of public works.
Springfield Large Item Pickup Program
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 105.16 (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; Ord. No. 445-12-12, § 1(Exh. A), 3-7-13; Ord. No. 263-07-16, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-16)
The office of public works shall, in conjunction with the office of public utilities, distribute information to city residents through utility bills regarding the collection of large items not eligible for collection through regular garbage pickup. Residents shall contact their waste hauler to coordinate large item pick up. Each licensed refuse hauler shall report to the office of public works ...
Recycling Requirements
Springfield's curbside program accepts only specific plastics, glass, cans, and dry paper in an 18.5-gallon city bin, and materials left out without a receptacle on site draw a $500-per-day fine, split with anyone who reports the violation.
Springfield Curbside Recycling Material Rules
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 105.11(a)-(c) (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; Ord. No. 445-12-12, § 1(Exh. A), 3-7-13; Ord. No. 263-07-16, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-16)
(a)Recyclable materials shall be placed in recycling receptacles.(b)When the receptacle is removed for any reason, recyclable items shall not be left at the site. Deposits may be made only when receptacles are on site. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of $500. Each day the violation exists constitutes a separate offense. One hundred dollars of said fine may be paid to any ind...
Illegal Dumping
Springfield bans dumping litter on any public or private property, or city-owned land, under § 170.17.42 of the Litter Control Ordinance, unless it's disposed of at a state-designated site, dropped in an owner's receptacle, or done with the property owner's consent. Convictions carry a $500 to $750 fine, and the city pays up to $100 of that fine to anyone whose tip leads to a conviction.
Springfield Illegal Dumping Ban and Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances § 170.17.42 (Litter Control Ordinance) (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07)
No person shall dump, deposit, drop, throw, discard, leave, cause or permit the dumping, depositing, dropping, throwing, discarding or leaving of litter upon any public or private property within the corporate limits of the City of Springfield or upon any property owned by or under the jurisdiction of the City of Springfield unless: (1) The property has been designated by the State of Illinois ...
Yard Waste Collection
Springfield requires yard waste to go out in stickered paper bags or receptacles containing yard waste only; haulers must collect it within five business days, and unstickered bags can be billed up to $2.50 each unless the city is running a free collection period.
Springfield Yard Waste Bag and Sticker Rules
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 105.12(a), (b) & (e) (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; Ord. No. 353-05-08, § 1(Exh. A), 5-20-08; Ord. No. 445-12-12, § 1(Exh. A), 3-7-13; Ord. No. 263-07-16, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-16)
(a)All yard waste that is placed for residential and commercial pickup by licensed waste haulers shall meet the following requirements:(1)Yard waste must be placed in paper bags or emptyable waste receptacles;(2)The bags or receptacles must have yard waste stickers attached thereto; and(3)The bags or receptacles must contain yard waste only.(b)(1)Haulers must pick up all stickered paper bags or...
Dumpster Rules
Springfield's fire code sets a hard clearance for big dumpsters: Sec. 94.61 bars any commercial dumpster or waste container of 1.5 cubic yards or more from sitting within five feet of a combustible wall, opening, or roof eave line unless that area carries an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Springfield Commercial Dumpster Placement Rule
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 94.61 (Ord. No. 190-04-06, § 1(Exh. A), 4-4-06)
Commercial dumpsters and containers with an individual capacity of 1.5 cubic yards or greater shall not be stored or placed within five feet of combustible walls, openings or combustible roof eave lines unless the area is protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Collection Schedule
Springfield fixes garbage and rubbish collection to 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday for homes, with different windows for commercial stops near hospitals and hotels; violating the hours carries a $100 first-offense fine and $500 for each repeat.
Springfield Trash Collection Hours
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 105.03.2(a) & (c) (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; Ord. No. 01-01-08, § 1, 1-8-08; Ord. No. 445-12-12, § 1(Exh. A), 3-7-13)
(a)The following are fixed as permissible hours of collection of garbage or rubbish for refuse haulers and the collections shall only be made during the following times.(1)Collections from dwellings may be made only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, except as provided for in subsection (d).(2)Collections from commercial estab...
Recycling Rules
Springfield requires recyclables to go in an approved receptacle; leaving material out without one violates City Code Sec. 105.11 and carries a $500 daily fine. The accepted-materials list covers PETE and HDPE plastics, food and beverage glass, aluminum and tin cans, and clean cardboard and paper.
Springfield Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL City Code Sec. 105.11(a)-(c) (Ord. No. 745-10-07, § 1(Exh. A), 10-23-07; Ord. No. 263-07-16, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-16)
(a)Recyclable materials shall be placed in recycling receptacles.(b)When the receptacle is removed for any reason, recyclable items shall not be left at the site. Deposits may be made only when receptacles are on site. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of $500. Each day the violation exists constitutes a separate offense. One hundred dollars of said fine may be paid to any ind...
Looking for Sangamon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Springfield city rules.
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