Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Loves Park
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-issued 96-gallon Cart (or smaller if on One-Bag plan) Bin (Trash)
Trash is collected weekly. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day, but no earlier than the evening before. Carts must be removed from the curb within 24 hours after pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Small broken household items
City-issued 65-gallon Cart (or legacy Brown Bin) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is unlimited. All recyclables must be placed loosely in the provided cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic garbage bags, as this contaminates the load.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and mail
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Electronic waste and batteries
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Styrofoam and foam packaging
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Collected from April 1 to November 30. Use 30-gallon brown paper kraft bags or personal cans marked with a large 'X'. Maximum weight is 50 lbs per container. Branches must be bundled, max 3 to 5 feet in length.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Plant and garden debris
- ✓Small tree branches and bush trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular collection day
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb next to your 96-gallon Rock River Disposal cart by 6:00 AM on your scheduled service day.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and recliners
- ✓ Desks, dressers, and standard wooden furniture
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpeting
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (drywall, lumber)
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paints
- ✕ Televisions and electronic waste
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
Standard household furniture is free. However, construction and remodeling debris requires you to call Rock River Disposal in advance and incur a minimum $25.00 fee per hopper.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage and recycling collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day. Friday collections will be pushed to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Bagged yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active April-November season.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there is no delay in service for the week. Holidays like MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day do not cause service interruptions.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Leaves Out of the Street
When prepping for the city's fall leaf vacuuming, keep the windrow strictly on the grass edge of your lawn. Raking leaves directly into the street washes them into storm drains, causing localized flooding and environmental damage to waterways.
Construction Debris Will Be Tagged
Do not hide heavy drywall, concrete chunks, or 2x4 lumber inside your garbage cart. It damages the automated lifting mechanisms on the trucks and violates the municipal contract. Call Rock River to schedule a paid hopper pickup for these items.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep your recyclables completely loose in your 65-gallon cart. Plastic grocery and kitchen bags jam the mechanical sorting gears at the material recovery facility, bringing operations to a dangerous halt.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - NovemberThe City of Loves Park provides a specialized fall leaf vacuuming service. Residents can rake leaves to the edge of their front lawn in a long windrow. Vacuuming continues on a continuous loop through the city until the first major snowfall.
Spring to Fall
April - NovemberStandard curbside yard waste collection (using paper bags or cans marked with an 'X') officially runs from April 1st through November 30th. Outside of these dates, yard waste will not be collected by standard trucks.
Summer
May - SeptemberDuring peak growing season, the City Code strictly enforces that lawns must be kept under 10 inches long. Overgrown grass will result in a Code Violation notice, city-initiated mowing, and a subsequent fine.
About Loves Park Waste Management
Loves Park's Partnership with Rock River Disposal
The City of Loves Park maintains an exclusive franchise agreement with Rock River Disposal for all residential solid waste services. Single-family and duplex homes are automatically provided with a heavy-duty 96-gallon cart for trash and a 65-gallon cart for recycling. An outstanding feature of this municipal contract is the allowance for unlimited standard household trash and bulk items, setting it apart from many neighboring Winnebago County communities that enforce strict limits. Residents who generate very little waste, or seniors aged 65 and older, can visit the City Clerk's office to apply for the 'One-Bag Plan' or a discounted senior rate to receive smaller cart options.
Fall Leaf Vacuuming and the Strict Ban on Burning
Managing autumn foliage is highly convenient in Loves Park due to the city's dedicated leaf vacuuming program. Rather than bagging every leaf, residents can rake loose leaves into a continuous windrow along the edge of their front lawn—taking care never to push them directly into the paved street. The city's Public Works crews operate vacuum trucks continuously throughout the fall until the first major snowfall. Crucially, while some surrounding rural areas or neighboring municipalities permit seasonal burning, the Loves Park Fire Department strictly prohibits the burning of leaves or any landscape waste within city limits.
Generous Bulk Item Collection vs. Construction Debris
While standard bulk items like mattresses, couches, and old furniture are collected in unlimited quantities alongside your regular household trash, construction and remodeling debris are handled much differently. Rock River Disposal will not collect drywall, concrete, or heavy lumber as standard curbside refuse. If you have DIY renovation waste, you must call the hauler in advance to arrange a special hopper pickup, which incurs a minimum $25.00 fee. For massive home cleanouts, renting a roll-off dumpster directly through Rock River is the recommended route.
Winnebago County Hazardous Waste and E-Waste
Hazardous materials like motor oil, pool chemicals, and solvent-based paints cannot be discarded in your 96-gallon Rock River cart. Loves Park residents are encouraged to utilize the regional Household Hazardous Waste drop-off center located on Kishwaukee Street in Rockford, which operates on weekends. For electronic waste, such as old televisions and computer monitors, the city directs residents to the Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (KNIB) recycling centers, as e-waste is banned from all Illinois landfills and will be left at the curb if placed in your bin.
Drop-off Facilities
Rockford Household Hazardous Waste Facility
3333 Kishwaukee St, Rockford, IL 61109
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to burn leaves in Loves Park during the fall?
No. While some neighboring unincorporated areas or towns in Winnebago County may permit seasonal burning, the Loves Park Fire Department explicitly prohibits the burning of leaves, sticks, or any other yard waste within the city limits.
How do I participate in the city's fall leaf vacuuming program?
To have your leaves vacuumed, simply rake them into a continuous long windrow at the very edge of your front lawn. Do not bag them, and critically, do not rake them into the street pavement, as this blocks storm drains.
Do I have to buy stickers to throw away a large couch or mattress?
No. A major benefit of the Loves Park municipal contract with Rock River Disposal is that standard accumulation of household bulk items (like couches, mattresses, and furniture) is completely unlimited and free on your regular garbage day.
Does Loves Park offer a senior discount for garbage service?
Yes. Residents who are 65 or older and occupy the premises are eligible for a senior discount rate. You must go directly to the Loves Park City Clerk's office to register. If the 96-gallon cart is too large, you can request a smaller cart or the 'One-Bag Plan'.