Bloomington, IL Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage window
- Screened on-site except 2pm-9am cycle
- Container size
- 30-33 gallons max if not a City cart
- Alley set-out
- Within 5 feet of alley
- Container damage fine
- $50-$500 plus replacement cost
- Governing sections
- §§ 21-403, 21-404, 21-406, 21-506
Summary
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.
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 galvanized iron refuse container or an approved heavy duty durable plastic container, being not more than 30-33 gallon capacity, and which is watertight, has a tight fitting cover and two handles, as specified in § 21-204, or in a City-issued wheeled garbage cart. Refuse stored on the exterior of the property shall not be stored in plastic or paper bags of any kind. ... Street collection. Not earlier than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled collection day, all refuse to be collected shall be placed so as not to present a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Full Breakdown
the day after. Containers left outside that window must be an approved galvanized metal can or a heavy-duty plastic container of no more than 30 to 33 gallons that is watertight with a tight lid and two handles, or a City-issued wheeled cart; loose plastic or paper bags left outdoors do not satisfy the section. the day before collection, and where alley pickup applies, containers must sit within five feet of the alley in a spot that will not block traffic. Placing refuse on the property line is treated as the owner's permission for the collection crew to enter the property to retrieve it.
City collectors can condemn a defective container on the spot under § 21-406 by tagging it red; a resident then has until the next scheduled collection to replace or clean it, or the City takes over disposal of it and the resident can be billed a replacement cost. Anyone who disputes a red tag has 24 hours to call the Director of Public Works, whose decision is final; missing that window counts as an admission the container was defective.
Violations & Fines
Damaging, defacing or letting a pet damage a collectible refuse container that is not your own is punishable by a fine of $50 to $500 per container plus the replacement cost, under § 21-506 of the Bloomington City Code. Storing or setting out a container outside the § 21-403 or § 21-404 windows is a separate improper storage or placement offense under §§ 21-503 and 21-504.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put my trash cart out in Bloomington?
Can I leave loose trash bags at the curb in Bloomington?
What happens if the City tags my trash cart as defective?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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