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St. Joseph County, IN Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

District Authority
IC 13-21-3-12
South Bend
City weekly, 48/96-gal cart
Mishawaka
Waste Management weekly
Unincorporated
Private hauler

Summary

St. Joseph County's Solid Waste Management District, empowered by IC 13-21-3-12, runs countywide recycling but not garbage. South Bend's city Solid Waste division collects trash weekly in a 48- or 96-gallon cart; Mishawaka contracts Waste Management; unincorporated residents hire a private hauler.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Joseph County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Except as provided in section 14.5 of this chapter and subject to subsection (b), the powers of a district include the following: ... The power to plan, design, construct, finance, manage, own, lease, operate, and maintain facilities for solid waste management.

Source: Indiana CodeView official code

Full Breakdown

Who picks up your trash depends on where you live. St. Joseph County operates the Solid Waste Management District under IC 13-21, whose board holds broad powers in IC 13-21-3-12 to manage solid waste and run facilities, but the district handles recycling and household hazardous waste, not weekly garbage. Inside South Bend, the city's own Solid Waste division collects trash weekly, Monday through Thursday, in a 48- or 96-gallon cart billed at $15.78 a month. Mishawaka contracts Waste Management for weekly cart collection billed on the utility bill. In unincorporated St. Joseph County no municipal route exists, and residents contract a private hauler such as Borden or Republic directly.

Violations & Fines

Letting solid waste pile up instead of arranging collection draws a county or city code-enforcement notice to abate, and unpaid South Bend or Mishawaka trash fees are added to the utility bill and can lien the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does St. Joseph County pick up my trash?
The county's Solid Waste Management District runs recycling and hazardous-waste drop-off, not garbage. South Bend's city division collects trash weekly, Mishawaka uses Waste Management, and unincorporated residents hire a private hauler.
What cart does South Bend provide?
A 48- or 96-gallon cart, collected weekly Monday through Thursday. Trash service runs about $15.78 a month on your utility bill, with a reduced senior rate.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Joseph County

Bulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSignificant RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsHeavy RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsLight Restrictions

All St. Joseph County rules

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