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Trash & Recycling in St. Clair County, IL (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated St. Clair County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of St. Clair County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Bin Placement Rules

The county Property Maintenance Code requires every dwelling to have approved, leakproof, covered garbage containers and covered rubbish containers, and premises must stay free of any accumulation of rubbish or garbage. This applies in unincorporated areas; cities set their own container rules.

Trash and Garbage Container Rules (Unincorporated County)

Some Restrictions

SCC 29-3-54

Every occupant of a structure shall dispose of all rubbish garbage in a clean and sanitary manner by placing such garbage in an approved garbage disposal facility or approved garbage containers.

Bulk Item Disposal

There's no county bulk-pickup program. Large items and construction debris must be hauled to a permitted landfill or transfer facility under the county Sanitary Landfill Code (Ch. 32). Letting bulk waste and debris pile up on unincorporated property lets the county remove it and lien the cost.

Bulk Waste and Debris Disposal in St. Clair County

Some Restrictions

SCC 25-2-3(F)

"Waste" means any garbage, debris or other discarded materials including glass, plastic, paper, wood, metal, rubber, fabrics, furniture, tires or any other materials that have been discarded.

Illegal Dumping

Dumping litter, garbage, or debris on public or private property is illegal under Illinois' Litter Control Act - a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense (415 ILCS 105/8). The county Sanitary Landfill Code bans open dumps, and abandoning junk vehicles is a county nuisance punishable by up to $500.

Illegal Dumping Laws in St. Clair County, Illinois

Some Restrictions

415 ILCS 105/4

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 in this State, or upon or into any river, lake, pond, or other stream or body of water in this State, unless:

All St. Clair County ordinances

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