Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Carbondale
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Thursday depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected every other week on your designated trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Collected on Wednesdays (call 618-457-3275 to schedule; requires city landscape waste stickers).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (and no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside trash and recycling charges are bundled directly into your monthly municipal water and sewer utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In Person, Drop Box, Participating Local Banks
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Carbondale Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule
Residents of Carbondale, Illinois benefit from a structured and reliable municipal waste collection system. Your standard household refuse is picked up on a weekly basis by city sanitation crews. Ensuring that your garbage is properly contained and placed inside the City-provided carts guarantees a smooth collection process. Residents should verify their specific neighborhood route schedule to prevent missing the garbage truck on collection morning.
Bin Placement and Curbside Rules
Proper bin placement is crucial for maintaining the cleanliness of Carbondale streets and allowing automated trucks to work efficiently. Carts must be rolled out to the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening prior to your scheduled pickup, and they need to be ready by 7:00 AM on collection day. Ensure there is a three-foot clearance around the cart on all sides, with the arrow on the lid pointing toward the street. Once emptied, containers must be removed from the curb and returned to their storage spot by 11:59 PM.
Carbondale Recycling Guidelines
The city implements a dual-bin recycling program to maximize sustainability. Use the Blue Bins exclusively for clean plastics numbered 1 through 7, all clean glass containers, and clean metal cans. The Green Bins are designated for paper products, including junk mail, office paper, books, and flattened cardboard boxes. Never place food waste, waxed cardboard, or plastic bags in your recycling bins, and keep all items loose rather than bagging them.
Bulk Waste and Extra Volume Pickup
If you have large furniture, broken appliances, or an excessive amount of trash that will not fit in your standard cart with the lid completely closed, you cannot simply leave it on the curb. Carbondale residents must schedule a dedicated extra-volume pickup. These special collections occur on Fridays and require an additional fee. To arrange a bulk pickup, contact the refuse department directly at (618) 457-3275.
Holiday Service Delays
During designated city holidays, standard waste and recycling routes may experience a one-day delay, pushing collections back for the remainder of the week. Furthermore, if a holiday falls during the work week, the Friday extra volume and bulk pickups are entirely suspended for that week. Always check the official City of Carbondale calendar to verify holiday schedules and plan your refuse disposal accordingly.
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
What time should I put my trash bins out in Carbondale?
Trash and recycling carts should be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day, but no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before.
How do I schedule a bulk item pickup?
You can schedule a Friday extra-volume pickup for bulk items or overflow trash by calling the city's refuse department at (618) 457-3275. Additional charges will apply.
What is the difference between the Blue and Green recycling bins?
In Carbondale, Blue Bins are for rigid containers like plastics, glass, and metal cans. Green Bins are exclusively used for clean paper products and flattened cardboard.