Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Decatur
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood and assigned private hauler. You can verify your pickup day and hauler via the city's Digital Atlas map.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Unlimited weekly pickup runs March 1 through December 15 on your regular trash collection day, with one additional pickup each in January and February.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (or after 4:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City utility bills (water, stormwater, and mandatory recycling fees) are issued monthly by the city, while regular trash collection is billed directly by your assigned private hauler.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Free backdoor service is available for residents with qualifying physical or medical hardships who are unable to bring containers to the curb.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Decatur's Private Hauler System
In the City of Decatur, residential waste collection operates under an open market system, meaning homeowners can choose their preferred provider from a list of city-authorized private haulers, such as GFL Environmental, Waste Management, Murrell's Disposal, and Doolin Disposal. To ensure consistent neighborhood sanitation, the city requires these haulers to offer a standardized 'Basic Service' package for a regulated rate of $28.93 per month. This fundamental tier includes the weekly collection of one standard garbage cart, weekly recycling, and seasonal yard waste removal. For larger households generating more refuse, an expanded service featuring two garbage carts is available for $40.83 per month. Property owners can utilize the Digital Atlas on the city's website to identify which haulers currently route through their specific neighborhood.
Bulky Item Pickups and Large Appliances
Clearing out outgrown furniture or replacing a broken refrigerator does not have to involve expensive trips to the landfill. Under Decatur's Basic Service agreement, your chosen private hauler must provide five separate bulky waste collections at the curb each year. During each scheduled pickup, residents are permitted to set out up to five large items. However, there is a strict limit regarding large appliances, often referred to as white goods: you may only include one appliance (such as an oven, dishwasher, or refrigerator) per collection, accompanied by up to four other non-appliance items. Because these special routes require different equipment, you must call your specific hauler in advance to arrange a bulky pickup date.
Recycling Fees and the Recycle Coach App
Curbside recycling is an integral part of Decatur's commitment to sustainability, available to all single-family homes and residential buildings with up to six units. A mandatory $2.50 monthly recycling fee is assessed directly on your municipal water bill, regardless of whether you actively utilize the service. To help residents avoid recycling contamination, the city has partnered with the free Recycle Coach mobile app. This digital tool allows you to search a database of thousands of household items to see exactly 'What Goes Where,' and provides helpful push notifications for local recycling events. If you need a blue recycling cart, you must request one directly from your assigned private trash hauler.
Unlimited Yard Waste Season
Decatur features a beautiful, robust tree canopy, which naturally produces significant seasonal debris. To accommodate this, the basic waste collection package includes unlimited weekly yard waste removal from March 1 through December 15 each year. Additionally, haulers are required to provide one special yard waste pickup in January and another in February to help manage winter storm debris. Residents can set out leaves, brush, and grass clippings using biodegradable kraft paper bags, clearly marked privately-owned rigid containers, or tightly bound stick bundles. Official yard waste stickers for your personal containers can be obtained at the Civic Center box office or the Community Development Department.
Consumer Protections, Overages, and Hardship Service
The city maintains strict consumer protection rules to hold private haulers accountable. If a customer is charged an extra 'overage' fee because their garbage allegedly did not fit inside the designated cart, the hauler is required by the city to produce photographic evidence of the violation upon request. Furthermore, if a hauler completely misses your weekly collection cycle, they must credit your bill for 50% of a single month's rate. For residents who are physically unable to roll their carts to the curb and have no able-bodied household members to assist, the city mandates a free 'Hardship' back-door service. To qualify for this premium assistance, a verified medical note must be submitted to the hauler.
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
Who do I call if my garbage is not picked up in Decatur?
Because Decatur uses private haulers, you must first contact your specific waste company (like WM or GFL) to resolve a missed pickup. If the issue remains unresolved after speaking with them, you can call the City of Decatur for further assistance at 217-424-2727.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress?
Your basic garbage service includes five bulky item pickups per year, allowing up to five items per collection. You simply need to call your private hauler directly to schedule the pickup for your large furniture.
What is the monthly fee for recycling in Decatur?
The City of Decatur charges a $2.50 monthly recycling fee, which is automatically included on your monthly municipal water bill rather than your private trash hauler's invoice.