Winnebago County, IL Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 70-4
- Removal frequency
- At least once per week
- Container required
- Metal or plastic, fitted covers
- Hauler permit fee
- $50 per vehicle plus $100 inspection
- Hauler insurance minimum
- $1,000,000 per person
- Permit violation fine
- Up to $1,000 per day
Summary
Every unincorporated Winnebago County household must dispose of its garbage in an approved metal or plastic container with fitted covers and have it removed at least once a week, under Code Sec. 70-4. Residents must also keep a record of who hauls their garbage, and any hauling vehicle used to reach a disposal site in the county needs a Health Department permit under Sec. 70-6.
(a)All persons within the county who accumulate garbage shall dispose of it in an approved manner and in a suitable container of metal or plastic with fitted covers.(b)All garbage shall be placed in a container, as set forth above, and removed at least once per week. All persons generating garbage shall keep a record of who is removing such garbage.(c)All garbage hauling vehicles transporting garbage to a garbage disposal area in Winnebago County must be properly permitted as set forth in section 70-6.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 70-4 sets three duties at once: (a) garbage must be kept in "a suitable container of metal or plastic with fitted covers"; (b) that container "shall be placed in a container, as set forth above, and removed at least once per week," and "all persons generating garbage shall keep a record of who is removing such garbage"; and (c) any vehicle hauling that garbage to a disposal area in the county must carry a permit issued under Sec. 70-6. Sec. 00 per accident in liability coverage, pass a Health Department inspection for leaks and spills before the permit issues, and display two visible decals per vehicle.
00 late fee if the application misses the due quarter. If an owner will not remove accumulated garbage and debris voluntarily, Sec. 70-7 lets the county remove it after 15 days' mailed notice and recover the cost by recording a lien against the property in the county recorder's office within 60 days. Sec. 70-8 folds violations of Secs. 70-3 through 70-6, including the weekly-removal and hauler-permit duties, into the Chapter 4 administrative code hearing process rather than ordinary criminal court.
Violations & Fines
Missing the weekly removal or record-keeping duty in Sec. 70-4 is enforced through the Chapter 4 code hearing unit under Sec. 70-8, which can order compliance and impose a fine. A hauler who operates without the Sec. 70-6 vehicle permit, or violates its terms, faces suspension of the permit and a fine of up to $1,000.00, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Winnebago County pick up trash for unincorporated residents?
What container does Winnebago County require for garbage?
Do garbage trucks need a permit to operate in Winnebago County?
What happens if a property owner won't clean up accumulated garbage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
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