Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Decatur
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 Assigned Hauler (e.g., Green, Blue, or Black) Bin (Trash)
All residential customers must use a 64 or 96-gallon wheeled cart for garbage. Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your pick-up day or after 4:00 p.m. the night before. All garbage must fit inside the container with the lid closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
Varies by Assigned Hauler Bin (Recycling)
Recycling service is available to all single-family homes and residences with up to six units for a $2.50 monthly fee on the water bill. Place items loosely in the designated 64 or 96-gallon cart without using plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #7)
- ✓Food and beverage glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass and ceramics
- ✕Food-contaminated paper
- ✕Tissue paper
- ✕Motor oil bottles
- ✕Plastic #6
Yard Waste Bin
Unlimited weekly collection from March 1 to December 15. Residents may use biodegradable paper bags, tied stick bundles, or privately-owned rigid containers clearly marked 'yard waste only'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Stick bundles and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Five separate scheduled collections per year
Placement
Place your approved bulk items at the curb no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before your pre-arranged collection date, ensuring they do not block the sidewalk or street.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household junk
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers - limit one per pickup)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and remodeling debris
- ✕ Roofing materials
- ✕ Televisions and electronics
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
The five 5-item bulk collections are included free in your monthly 'Basic Service' rate. If you exceed this generous limit, you will be subject to additional fees billed directly by your private hauler.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday on or before your scheduled collection day, your pickup will typically be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active growing season, yard waste and recycling collection will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your regular garbage service.
Because Decatur utilizes five different private haulers, it is highly recommended to verify exact holiday shift dates directly with your specific assigned company's customer service line or website.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Lids Completely Closed
Haulers in Decatur utilize automated and semi-automated lift trucks. Any loose garbage or extra bags that prevent the lid of your 64 or 96-gallon cart from fully closing can trigger an 'overage' fee on your next bill. Haulers are permitted to take photographic evidence of overflowing carts to justify this surcharge.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Plastic grocery bags and film are strictly banned from Decatur's curbside recycling carts. Bagged recyclables wrap around and jam the sorting gears at the regional recycling facilities. You must keep all paper, plastic, and glass completely loose in your recycling cart.
Separate Yard Waste from Regular Garbage
Illinois state law prohibits mixing organic landscape waste with standard household garbage in landfills. Never throw grass clippings or leaves into your regular trash cart. Doing so will cause your hauler to reject your bin entirely until the yard waste is removed and placed in marked bags or designated cans.
Seasonal Information
Spring through Late Fall
March 1 - December 15Unlimited weekly yard waste collection runs concurrently with your regular trash day during these months. You can use any combination of biodegradable bags, stick bundles, or marked personal cans.
Mid-Winter
January and FebruaryAlthough the primary weekly yard waste season ends in mid-December, your assigned hauler is required by the city to provide one specialized yard waste pickup in January and another in February. You must contact your specific hauler to confirm these exact winter dates.
Winter / Extreme Weather
December - FebruaryFor residents who are physically unable to place their heavy carts at the curb during harsh winter weather (and have no other family members living at the residence to assist), Decatur mandates that all haulers provide free 'Hardship' back-door service upon approval.
About Decatur Waste Management
The Assigned Hauler Zone System
Decatur mandates that all residential properties have active garbage service, but rather than contracting a single citywide provider, the city has divided its neighborhoods among multiple private companies. Depending on your address, your assigned hauler will be Waste Management, GFL, Jeremy Doolin Disposal, Doolin Disposal, or Murrell's. Residents must utilize the city's online Digital Atlas map to identify their specific company. Despite the different operators, the City of Decatur strictly enforces a standardized monthly 'Basic Service' rate to ensure fair pricing across all zones.
Standardized 'Basic Service' Package
Regardless of which of the five private haulers services your neighborhood, the City of Decatur guarantees that every resident receives an identical core service package. For a flat monthly rate, 'Basic Service' includes the collection of one 64- or 96-gallon refuse cart, a matching recycling cart, and highly flexible yard waste and bulk disposal options. If a household consistently generates more trash than one cart can hold, they can upgrade to 'Expanded Basic Service' to receive a second garbage cart for an additional fee.
The Generous '5-by-5' Bulk Waste Allowance
Decatur offers one of the most generous bulk waste programs in central Illinois, completely integrated into the standard monthly fee. Under the Basic Service agreement, every household is entitled to five separate bulky waste collections every calendar year. For each of these five scheduled pickups, residents can place out up to five large items—with a strict limit of one major household appliance (white good) per pickup. To utilize this benefit, you must call your specific assigned hauler to get on their schedule.
Extended Yard Waste Collection Season
Unlike many Midwestern municipalities that terminate landscape waste collection immediately after the autumn leaves fall, Decatur provides an extended yard waste program. Unlimited weekly curbside yard waste pickup runs continuously from March 1st all the way through December 15th. In addition to this primary nine-month season, all assigned haulers are contractually obligated to provide one bonus collection in January and another in February to manage post-holiday winter debris and Christmas trees.
Drop-off Facilities
Macon County Environmental Management Agency (Drop-off Events)
141 S. Main Street, Room 501, Decatur, IL 62523 (Office Location)
Materials Accepted
Belson Steel Center Scrap Inc.
1685 N. 21st St, Decatur, IL 62526
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out which garbage company services my house in Decatur?
Decatur uses a zoned system with multiple private haulers. To find your assigned hauler, you must visit the City of Decatur's website (decaturil.gov/garbage-recycling) and use the interactive Digital Atlas map tool. By entering your address and selecting the garbage hauler layer, it will display whether you are serviced by Waste Management, GFL, Doolin Disposal, Jeremy Doolin Disposal, or Murrell's.
Can I leave extra garbage bags next to my cart?
No. All of your household garbage must fit entirely inside your designated 64 or 96-gallon cart with the lid completely closed. If you leave loose bags on the ground or overflow your cart so the lid remains open, your hauler is authorized to charge you an extra 'overage' fee on your next bill.
How do I throw away a mattress or couch in Decatur, IL?
Your standard 'Basic Service' rate includes five free bulk pickups per year, with an allowance of up to five large items per pickup. You cannot simply leave the couch or mattress at the curb; you must call your assigned private hauler in advance to trigger one of your five allowable bulk collections and get on their schedule.
Does Decatur collect yard waste in the winter?
Yes, but on a highly restricted basis. While the unlimited weekly yard waste season ends on December 15th, city rules mandate that all private haulers must provide one additional yard waste collection in January and one in February. You must contact your hauler for those exact winter dates.