Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Carbondale
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.
City-Provided Cart Bin (Trash)
All refuse must fit entirely within the cart. Must be out by 7 AM and no earlier than 6 PM the night before. Keep 3 feet of clearance around the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue Bin (Plastics/Glass/Metal) & Green Bin (Paper/Cardboard) Bin (Recycling)
Use the dual-stream system correctly. Items must be loose, not bagged (except shredded paper, which must be bagged in plastic or paper). Flatten all cardboard boxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastics #1-#7
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Office paper and junk mail
- ✓Magazines and catalogs
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Waxed paper
- ✕Waxed cardboard
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Medical waste
Yard Waste Bin
Each bag or bundle requires one $1 Special Waste Collection sticker. Alternatively, schedule a loose leaf vacuum pickup for $35 ($25 during the Nov-Jan seasonal program).
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush and branch bundles
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Fridays (By Appointment) or Annual Spring Clean-Up
Placement
Items must be placed curbside by 7 AM on Friday, but no earlier than 6 PM Thursday evening. Do not block sidewalks or streets.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Large household appliances (requires 10-20 stickers)
- ✓ Tires (requires 4-6 stickers)
- ✓ Excess bagged garbage
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Unstickered appliances or tires
Extra volume charges apply. Special items require $1 stickers: 10 stickers for non-refrigerated appliances, 20 for freon appliances, and 4-6 for tires.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, refuse and recycling collections for the remainder of that week are typically delayed by one day, with Friday pickups shifting to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Special Friday extra-volume collections are completely suspended during holiday weeks.
Residents should check the Recycle Coach app or the city's official portal for real-time adjustments during severe winter weather or specific holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Streams Separated
Carbondale strictly uses a two-bin recycling system. Do not mix materials. Paper and cardboard belong in the Green Bin, while plastics, glass, and cans must go into the Blue Bin.
Bag Only Shredded Paper
All recyclables should be thrown loose into your blue or green bins to prevent machinery jams at the facility. The only exception is shredded paper, which should be bagged (in paper or plastic) before placing it in the Green Bin to prevent litter.
No Waxed Cardboard
While clean corrugated cardboard and paperboard are highly encouraged in your Green Bin, waxed paper and waxed cardboard boxes are strictly prohibited, as the wax coating ruins the paper recycling process.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MayThe city conducts an annual Residential Spring Clean-Up Program starting May 1st. Rubbish can be placed curbside no earlier than 5 days before your designated route day for free collection of general household bulk items.
Fall/Winter
November - JanuaryThe Special Seasonal Leaf Collection Program runs during these months. You can rake loose leaves to the edge of the street (avoiding ditches) and call to schedule a vacuum pickup for a discounted rate of $25 per collection.
Winter
December - JanuaryCarbondale offers a special Christmas Tree Recycling Program after the holidays. Check the city website for designated drop-off points or curbside collection dates for bare, un-bagged trees.
About Carbondale Waste Management
Navigating Carbondale's Residential Waste Services
The City of Carbondale's Maintenance and Environmental Services Division oversees a comprehensive municipal waste program for single-family and eligible multi-family dwellings. Residents must use official city-issued carts for their household refuse. Carts must be positioned at the curb with at least a three-foot clearance from all obstacles. Timing is strictly enforced by city ordinance: carts should not be placed outside before 6:00 PM on the evening preceding your pickup, and they must be curbside by 7:00 AM on your collection day.
Dual-Stream Recycling with Blue and Green Bins
Unlike many municipalities that use single-stream processing, Carbondale utilizes a dual-bin curbside system to maximize material recovery and reduce contamination. The Green Bin is exclusively for paper goods—such as clean office paper, mail, magazines, and flattened cardboard. The Blue Bin is designated for rinsed plastics (#1-#7), glass bottles, and metal cans. It is vital to leave these recyclables loose rather than bagging them inside the bins.
Managing Landscape Waste and Fall Leaves
Carbondale residents have a structured system for yard waste disposal. You can dispose of yard waste year-round using standard paper landscape bags or brush bundles, provided each item is tagged with a $1 Special Waste Collection sticker (available at City Hall and local stores). During the peak autumn season from November through mid-January, the city also operates a Special Seasonal Leaf Collection program where you can rake loose leaves to the curb and schedule a vacuum pickup for a reduced $25 fee.
Friday Extra Volume and Bulk Item Pickups
Because regular routes strictly collect only what fits inside the city carts with the lids closed, overflow garbage and large furniture cannot be left at the curb on standard trash days. Instead, residents must call the city at 618-457-3275 to arrange an Extra-Volume Pickup. These bulk and overflow routes run exclusively on Fridays. Extra volume charges will apply based on the items, and special items like appliances require purchasing a specific number of Special Waste stickers in advance.
E-Waste Drop-Offs and Local Partnerships
Illinois state law explicitly bans electronic devices like televisions, computer monitors, DVD players, and gaming consoles from traditional landfills. To accommodate this mandate, Carbondale partners with the Jackson County Health Department to provide accessible e-waste drop-offs. Residents are encouraged to bring their prohibited electronics directly to the Southern Recycling Center on West Chestnut Street during operational hours, ensuring safe and legally compliant disposal.
Drop-off Facilities
Southern Recycling Center (E-Waste Drop-Off)
300 W. Chestnut Street, Carbondale, IL 62901
Materials Accepted
City Recycling Drop-Off Locations
604 E. College Street & 700 S. Oakland Avenue
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave extra trash bags next to my city-provided cart if it gets full?
No. All regular refuse must fit completely inside your city-provided cart with the lid closed. Any trash left outside the cart will not be collected on your normal route. Instead, you must call 618-457-3275 to schedule an 'extra-volume pickup' on a Friday, which will require paying an additional fee.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or large appliance in Carbondale?
You must purchase Special Waste Collection stickers, which cost $1 each at City Hall or local hardware stores, and schedule a Friday pickup. Non-refrigerated appliances require 10 stickers ($10), while items containing Freon, like refrigerators and AC units, require 20 stickers ($20).
What are the rules for recycling large cardboard boxes that don't fit in the green bin?
Large cardboard boxes must be flattened, broken down, and tied into manageable bundles. These bundles must weigh less than 25 pounds, be under 36 inches long, and be placed directly next to your Green Bin on your scheduled collection day.
How do I get rid of an old television or computer monitor in Carbondale?
Due to the Illinois state electronic landfill ban, city refuse collectors are prohibited from picking up household electronics. You must take them to the free household electronics recycling drop-off service located at the Southern Recycling Center at 300 W. Chestnut Street.