Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Alton
In Illinois, garbage and recycling services run on weekly zone-based routes. Exact pickup days vary by local municipality and private hauler.
State Mandate
Electronics and landscape waste are strictly banned from landfills.
Black Cart (with Black or Blue Lid) Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the provided container. Carts should be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Small broken household goods
Cart with Dark Green, Yellow, or Powder Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not place items in plastic bags; toss them loosely into the recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and office paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✕Medical waste and diapers
- ✕Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✕Clothing, shoes, and toys
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is collected year-round on your regular trash day. Use the free Republic Services yard waste cart (available upon request), biodegradable paper bags, or bundle branches with twine (max 50 lbs per bundle).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Plants and shrubs
- ✓Small tree branches (under 4 feet long and 3 feet in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 times per year (up to 5 items each time)
Placement
Call 618-656-6883 to schedule. Once confirmed, place items at the curb by 6:00 AM on the scheduled bulk collection day. No single item may exceed 50 pounds.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattress sets
- ✓ Couches, chairs, desks, and dressers
- ✓ Rolled carpet
- ✓ Glass from doors/windows (must be broken into a marked box)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete and construction materials
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Fluorescent light bulbs
- ✕ Lead or oil-based paint/varnish
- ✕ Loose trash in boxes
This bulk allowance is completely covered by your bi-monthly city trash bill; there is no additional cost as long as you stay within the limit of 5 items, 4 times a year.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your regular service day, all trash, recycling, and yard waste collections will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule since it is collected on your regular trash day.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection schedule usually remains unaffected. Always check the Republic Services app for live updates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep your recyclables loose in the cart. Plastic garbage bags and grocery sacks wrap around the spinning discs at the Republic Services sorting facility, causing massive equipment jams and safety hazards.
Box Up Broken Glass for Bulk
If you are scheduling a bulk pickup for doors or windows that contain glass, you must safely break the glass portions down and place them into a small, sturdy box clearly marked 'GLASS' to protect the sanitation workers.
Keep Food Out of the Blue Lid
A half-full soda bottle or a greasy pizza box can ruin an entire load of clean paper and cardboard. Always ensure containers are 'Empty, Clean, and Dry' before recycling.
Seasonal Information
Late Autumn
November - DecemberThe Alton Street Department runs a specialized Leaf Vacuum Truck route through the city wards. Rake leaves to the edge of your property (not into the street or over storm drains) prior to your ward's scheduled vacuum week.
Winter
December - MarchThe Alton Public Works Department is responsible for plowing 553 miles of city streets and alleys. During snow events, keep garbage carts fully in your driveway rather than the street to avoid interfering with snowplows.
Year-Round
January - DecemberUnlike many Midwestern cities that suspend organic pickup in the winter, Republic Services collects yard waste year-round in Alton. You can place your yard cart or bags out on your normal trash day any month of the year.
About Alton Waste Management
Alton's Integrated Municipal Refuse Billing
Trash collection in Alton, Illinois, is performed by Republic Services, but the billing is uniquely managed directly through the City Comptroller's office alongside your bi-monthly water bill. Residents should note that the city continuously bills for refuse collection as long as the property has an active water service account. If a house becomes vacant and the water is shut off, homeowners must submit a formal Request for Refuse Abatement form to the city to stop the garbage fees from accumulating.
Capitalizing on Free Bulk and Large Item Collection
Getting rid of heavy household goods in Alton is highly accommodating compared to other municipalities. Through the city's contract, each residential unit is entitled to schedule up to five bulk items for collection, four times per calendar year, at absolutely no additional charge. However, these pickups are not automatic; residents must call Republic Services directly at 618-656-6883 in advance to schedule the specialized truck for items like mattresses, couches, and rolled carpeting.
Year-Round Yard Waste and Fall Leaf Vacuuming
Maintaining property aesthetics is supported by a robust landscape waste program. Republic Services provides year-round, weekly curbside yard waste pickup on your standard trash day, and they will even provide one dedicated organics cart per household upon request. During peak autumn leaf-fall in November and December, the Alton Public Works Department supplements this with a specialized leaf vacuum truck that follows a warded neighborhood schedule. Keep in mind that burning leaves directly on the street asphalt is strictly prohibited and carries a police citation.
Proper Cart Identification and Single-Stream Recycling
To minimize confusion at the curb, Republic Services utilizes specific lid colors to distinguish the waste streams. Standard household trash should be placed in the carts featuring black or blue lids, while single-stream recycling must go into carts with dark green, yellow, or powder-blue lids. Alton's recycling program follows the 'Empty, Clean, Dry' mandate, explicitly prohibiting plastic bags, styrofoam, and greasy pizza boxes, which severely disrupt the automated material recovery facilities.
Regional E-Waste and Madison County Drop-Offs
For items that cannot be safely processed in curbside carts—such as electronic waste, fluorescent bulbs, and hazardous household chemicals—Alton relies on its strong partnership with Madison County Recycling and Resource Management. The county operates a convenient drop-off station right in downtown Alton on Piasa Street, ensuring residents can easily and safely deposit special recyclables rather than sending heavy metals into local landfills.
Drop-off Facilities
Madison County Recycling Drop-off (Downtown Alton)
400 Piasa St., Alton, IL 62002 (Across from the federal building)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop paying for trash if my Alton house is vacant?
The City of Alton automatically bills for Republic Services trash collection as long as the property has an active water account. If the water is shut off and the home is vacant, you must submit a formal 'Request for Refuse Abatement' to the City Comptroller to stop the garbage billing.
Is it legal to burn leaves in Alton, Illinois?
You are permitted to burn leaves, plants, or shrubs, but it must be done safely in a container. It is strictly illegal to burn anything directly on the street, as the heat damages the asphalt, and burning standard household trash or garbage will result in a citation from the Police Department.
Does Republic Services charge extra for yard waste pickup?
No. Yard waste collection is included in your standard city trash bill at no additional charge. The service runs year-round on your normal trash collection day. Republic Services will even provide you with one free dedicated yard waste cart if you call them to request it.
How do I throw away a mattress or a couch?
You can dispose of large furniture for free utilizing Alton's bulk item program. You are allowed to set out up to 5 bulk items, 4 times per year. However, you must call Republic Services at 618-656-6883 to schedule the pickup in advance.