Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Champaign
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.
Varies by chosen private hauler (Commonly Blue, Green, or Black) Bin (Trash)
Set-out times, container placement rules, and weight limits are dictated by your contracted private hauler. Generally, trash should be bagged and securely tied before being placed inside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Varies by chosen private hauler Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the bin. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic garbage bags, as they jam sorting machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (curbside)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
During city collections, materials must be in 30-gallon paper yard waste bags (no plastic). Branches must be bundled with non-metallic twine, under 2 inches thick, and no longer than 3.5 feet.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Plant materials
- ✓Twigs and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment with your licensed hauler
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb only after confirming your scheduled pickup date with your private hauler. Keep items clear of sidewalks, street drainage, and low-hanging tree limbs.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (may require a separate fee)
- ✓ Carpeting (cut to specified lengths and rolled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Liquid paint and motor oil
Fees vary strictly by which private company you have contracted. Some haulers allow one free bulk item per month, while others charge an additional fee per large item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Because Champaign uses a private hauler system, holiday schedules can vary slightly by company (WM, Republic, Illini, ABC Sanitary). Generally, if a major holiday falls on a weekday, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
City-run yard waste collection weeks are prescheduled to avoid holidays, but if a weather delay occurs, crews work on consecutive days until the zone is finished.
Always check your specific private hauler's website or annual calendar to confirm exact holiday delay policies.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Skip the Plastic Bags
Never place recyclables in plastic grocery bags. Film plastics tangle in sorting machines and cause severe facility delays. Take empty, clean plastic bags to designated drop-offs like the Illini Union or local grocery stores instead.
Keep Cardboard Clean and Dry
While Champaign haulers accept cardboard, it must be completely free of food residue. A greasy pizza box or a takeout container covered in cheese is considered contaminated and should go straight into your regular trash cart.
Keep Batteries Out of the Bin
It is illegal in Illinois to throw household, lithium, or rechargeable batteries in your garbage or recycling cart because they pose a severe fire risk. Tape the terminals and take them to designated drop-offs like Battery Specialists or the library.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe city conducts its Spring Yard Waste Collection by dividing the city into Orange and Blue zones. Residents get two designated collection weeks to set out 30-gallon paper bags of yard debris at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on Monday.
Fall
October - NovemberSimilar to the spring program, the Fall Yard Waste Collection handles heavy leaf drops. Only Kraft paper bags are accepted, and bags must be kept 5 feet away from mailboxes, trees, or fire hydrants to allow easy truck access.
Winter
JanuaryChampaign Public Works offers free holiday tree collection shortly after New Year's Day. Trees must be completely bare, meaning no tinsel, lights, stands, wire, or plastic tree bags. Trees larger than typical residential sizes may not be accepted.
About Champaign Waste Management
Navigating Champaign's Open Hauler System
In the City of Champaign, residential waste collection operates on an open market system. Homeowners living in single-family houses or buildings with up to four units must contract directly with one of the city's privately licensed haulers, such as Illini Recycling, Republic Services, or WM. This setup allows residents to compare prices, schedules, and container sizes to select a garbage and curbside recycling plan that best fits their household's needs and budget.
Multi-Family Recycling with Feed The Thing
For residents living in apartment complexes and multi-family dwellings with five or more units, Champaign mandates recycling through the 'Feed The Thing' program. Landlords and property managers are required by local ordinance to provide shared recycling totes or dumpsters on the premises. This ensures that tenants can responsibly dispose of paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals without needing individual curbside subscriptions.
Zone-Based Seasonal Yard Waste Pickups
While weekly yard waste pickup isn't provided universally by the city, Champaign Public Works hosts massive free yard waste collections twice a year—typically in the spring (April/May) and fall (October/November). The city is divided into an Orange Zone and a Blue Zone, with specific collection weeks designated for each. Residents must place leaves, grass, and plant materials into 30-gallon Kraft paper bags to participate.
Strict Rules on Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste
Illinois state law strictly prohibits the disposal of electronics and batteries in standard landfill trash. To support compliance, Champaign co-hosts biannual residential electronics collection events (typically in May and October), which require online preregistration. For everyday rechargeable and single-use batteries, residents can utilize designated drop-off bins at local retailers like Home Depot or specialized recycling centers like Mervis Recycling in neighboring Urbana.
Drop-off Facilities
Landscape Recycling Center
1210 E. University Ave, Urbana, IL 61802
Materials Accepted
Illini Recycling Drop-Off
420 Paul Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
Materials Accepted
Mervis Recycling
3008 N. Cunningham Ave, Urbana, IL 61802
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Champaign provide weekly garbage and recycling collection?
No. Champaign operates an open market system for residential properties with 1 to 4 units. Homeowners and renters in these properties must hire a privately licensed waste hauler (such as ABC Sanitary, Illini Recycling, WM, or Republic Services) for weekly curbside pickup.
What is the Feed The Thing program?
It is a mandatory recycling initiative for multi-family buildings with five or more units. The city requires property managers and landlords of these complexes to provide accessible, shared recycling containers so tenants can recycle standard materials without hiring their own hauler.
How do I dispose of a broken television or computer in Champaign?
Televisions and computers cannot go in your curbside trash due to Illinois state law. You must take them to a specialized e-waste recycler (like Mack's Twin City Recycling) or register for one of Champaign County's biannual residential electronics collection events held in May or October.
When is yard waste picked up by the city?
The City of Champaign offers free curbside yard waste collection only twice a year—during specific zone-based weeks in the spring (April/May) and fall (October/November). For year-round disposal, residents must pay their private hauler for seasonal yard waste service or take it directly to the Landscape Recycling Center in Urbana.