Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Belvidere
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.
95-gallon cart provided by Rock River Disposal Bin (Trash)
All primary trash must fit inside the 95-gallon cart. Any excess garbage can be placed in bags or personal cans (max 32 gallons, under 50 pounds) next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Soiled paper
65-gallon toter provided by Rock River Disposal Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is single-stream and unlimited. Items must be placed loose in the toter. Extra recyclables can be placed in a cardboard box or paper bag next to the toter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Active April through mid-December. Use kraft bags or 32-gallon cans marked with an 'X' (max 50 lbs). Branches must be bundled (max 3 feet long, 1 inch thick, 25 lbs). Limits apply depending on the month.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (One item per week for free)
Placement
Place your single allowed bulk item next to your 95-gallon trash cart on your regular collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Grills (without propane tanks)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Tires
Additional standard bulk items cost $35 each. Oversized items (requiring two people to lift) and white goods (appliances) cost $50 each and must be prepaid and pre-scheduled by calling 815-965-2489.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active collection season, yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there is no service delay and your regular weekday collection schedule remains unchanged.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose and Unbagged
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery or garbage bags. These bags act as tanglers and jam the sorting gears at the recycling facility. Always toss your paper, plastics, and glass loosely into your 65-gallon toter.
Mark Your Yard Waste Cans Clearly
If you choose to use your own 32-gallon rigid containers for yard waste instead of kraft paper bags, you must paint or tape a large, highly visible 'X' on the side facing the street so the driver knows it contains organic waste, not trash.
Prepare Your Branches Properly
Loose branches will not be collected. If you are discarding brush, it must be tied into secure bundles no longer than 3 feet. Furthermore, individual branches cannot exceed 1 inch in diameter, and the entire bundle must weigh under 25 pounds.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberDuring the spring and summer landscaping months, Rock River Disposal enforces a strict limit of 5 yard waste bags, bundles, or marked cans per household per collection day.
Autumn
October - DecemberTo accommodate the heavy fall leaf drop, the yard waste limit is quadrupled. From October through mid-December, you may place up to 20 yard waste bags, bundles, or marked cans at the curb each week.
Winter (Post-Holidays)
JanuaryNatural Christmas trees are collected during the first two weeks of January. Please ensure all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and plastic tree disposal bags are completely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
About Belvidere Waste Management
Reliable Refuse Collection for Belvidere Residents
The City of Belvidere, located in Boone County, partners with Rock River Disposal to provide dependable weekly solid waste services. To keep neighborhoods clean, the city utilizes an automated cart system, outfitting each household with a 95-gallon trash container and a 65-gallon recycling toter. Residents also benefit from a generous allowance for extra waste; overage can be placed in standard 32-gallon personal cans or bags alongside the main cart without requiring prepaid stickers, provided they weigh under 50 pounds.
Understanding Belvidere's Single-Stream Recycling
Rock River Disposal offers an unlimited, single-stream recycling program for the Belvidere community. Homeowners are encouraged to place flattened cardboard, plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans loosely inside the provided 65-gallon recycling toter. It is critical to never bag your recyclables, as plastic grocery and garbage bags severely tangle the mechanical sorting equipment used at local Material Recovery Facilities. Any excess recyclables that don't fit into the cart can be placed in a paper bag or a cardboard box and set out next to your toter.
Seasonal Yard Waste Allowances and Limits
Belvidere's seasonal yard waste program runs from April through mid-December, but the collection limits shift depending on the season. During the spring and summer months (April through September), households are limited to five bags, bundles, or designated cans per week. However, during the heavy leaf drop in autumn (October through December), that limit is drastically increased to 20 containers per week. All yard waste must be placed in kraft paper bags or 32-gallon cans clearly marked with a large 'X'.
Disposing of Bulk Items and Appliances
Discarding large items in Belvidere is straightforward. Rock River Disposal collects one standard bulk item—such as a piece of furniture, a mattress, or a grill—per week at no additional charge. If you need to dispose of multiple items, oversized pieces that require two people to lift, or white goods like refrigerators, you must call Rock River Disposal in advance. These specialty pickups require scheduling and an additional fee paid prior to collection.
Drop-off Facilities
Boone County Health Department (Guidance for E-Waste/HHW)
1204 Logan Ave, Belvidere, IL 61008
Materials Accepted
Rock River Disposal Transfer Station / Main Office
1125 N. 2nd Street, Rockford, IL 61107
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on how much garbage I can throw away in Belvidere?
The City provides a 95-gallon trash cart. If you have excess garbage, you can place it in personal bags or cans (up to 32 gallons and under 50 pounds) next to the cart for collection at no extra charge.
How many bags of leaves can I put out in the fall?
From October through mid-December, you are permitted to place up to 20 bags, bundles, or marked cans of yard waste out per week. However, from April through September, the limit is strictly 5 per collection day.
Does Rock River Disposal charge for bulk items?
The first standard bulk item (such as a couch or mattress) is collected free of charge each week. Any additional items cost $35, and oversized items or white goods (like refrigerators) cost $50 and must be pre-scheduled.
What happens to my garbage pickup if a holiday falls on the weekend?
If a recognized holiday like Christmas or Independence Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay in service. Your garbage will be collected on its normal weekday schedule.