Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Normal
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly, Monday through Thursday, based on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Landscape waste is collected weekly on your regular collection day from early April through Thanksgiving, and brush is collected year-round on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (and no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before).
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage and recycling fees are bundled directly into your monthly municipal utility bill alongside water, sewer, and stormwater services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft/E-Check), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
Town-Issued Automated Garbage Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must fit securely inside the Town-issued cart with the lid closed. Carts must be spaced at least 3 feet apart from each other and other obstructions like mailboxes or cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Non-recyclable plastic packaging
- ✓Food-contaminated wrappers
- ✓Small non-hazardous household items
Town-Issued Automated Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be loose inside the official Town cart—never bag recyclables in plastic. Carts need a 3-foot clearance from objects for the automated truck arms.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Rigid plastic containers and bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam and EPS foam packaging
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Tanglers such as hoses or cords
Yard Waste Bin
Landscape waste must be placed out properly according to seasonal guidelines (open bags or carts during non-fall periods, or raked near the curb during official autumn leaf collection windows). Woody sticks and tree limbs must not be mixed here and belong in the separate brush pile.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and garden plants
- ✓Weeds, flowers, and pine needles
- ✓Non-woody plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular garbage collection day
Placement
Place bulky items curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day, keeping them clear of automated carts and utility poles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, mattresses)
- ✓ Framed glass
- ✓ Large household non-appliance items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (e.g., mini-fridges, dehumidifiers)
- ✕ Electronics (must go to the e-waste facility)
Standard bulky waste pickup is integrated into municipal services, but specialized industrial or oversized cleanouts may require direct coordination with Public Works.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Household garbage and recycling in Town-issued carts are collected on all holidays except Christmas Day. When Christmas falls on a weekday, that day's garbage and recycling collection shifts to the next regular business day.
Yard Waste Exception
Bulky waste, brush, and landscape waste services are not operated on holidays when Town offices are closed. These services are generally delayed and picked up the following week on your regular garbage collection day.
Always check Town news flashes or notifications around major holidays, as secondary waste streams like brush and bulk items frequently experience schedule shifts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayAs winter clears, yard maintenance ramps up. Residents can resume standard landscape waste and separate loose brush piles for collection. Public Works also provides enhanced electronic drop-off accommodations as spring cleaning projects get underway.
Autumn
October - DecemberDuring the peak autumn leaf drop, the Town shifts to specialized leaf collection protocols. Residents may rake loose leaves directly near the curb during designated seasonal windows, keeping them separate from general yard waste bags and street gutters.
Winter
December - JanuaryHousehold garbage and recycling collections operate as normal through winter, pausing only for Christmas Day. Residents must ensure snow accumulation does not block cart placement and that carts maintain the required 3-foot separation for truck automation.
Local Tips & Community Info
Curbside Collection Managed by Normal Public Works
Residents living in the Town of Normal rely on the municipal Public Works Department for their weekly household refuse collection. To ensure a seamless pickup, all provided garbage carts must be wheeled to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. It is highly advised to place your bins out the evening prior, as truck routing can occasionally change without notice. When positioning your container, verify that the metal lift bar is facing the street and that the bin is positioned at least three feet away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, and utility poles so the automated trucks can grab it safely.
The Bi-Weekly Recycling Schedule
Unlike regular refuse, the Town of Normal collects single-stream recycling on an every-other-week basis. The town is divided into specific color-coded zones to manage this alternating schedule efficiently. All approved recyclable materials, including flattened cardboard, clean tin cans, glass bottles, and paper, should go straight into the cart without being bagged. Plastic film and grocery sacks are the biggest contaminants at the sorting facility, so please drop those off at local grocery stores that feature dedicated plastic recycling bins instead of tossing them in your curbside cart.
Rules for Furniture and Bulky Waste
A major perk for those residing in the Town of Normal is the inclusion of bulky waste pickup on your regular garbage day without the need for a special phone call. Homeowners can set out items like old couches, broken mattresses, and small wooden furniture directly next to their refuse cart. However, this convenient service strictly excludes construction materials like drywall, roofing shingles, and concrete. If you are doing a home remodel, you will be required to rent a commercial roll-off dumpster to properly dispose of the resulting construction debris.
Appliance Stickers for White Goods
While general furniture is collected at no extra cost, large metal household appliances—commonly referred to as white goods—require a prepaid permit before they can be hauled away. If you need to dispose of a refrigerator, washing machine, stove, or water heater, you must purchase a $25 appliance sticker. These stickers are available for purchase at the Finance Department located inside Uptown Station. Once the sticker is prominently displayed on the appliance, you can confidently leave it at the curb for the specialized collection crew.
Landscape Waste and Leaf Vacuuming
Keeping your lawn pristine is supported by the town's robust seasonal yard waste program. Grass clippings, pulled weeds, and small twigs can be placed in standard biodegradable paper bags or a dedicated, clearly labeled yard waste cart. Brush and limbs must be bundled with twine and kept under four feet in length. During the heavy autumn months, the Town of Normal also deploys specialized leaf vacuum trucks. For this specific fall service, residents can rake their fallen leaves directly to the parkway edge, ensuring they do not spill into the street where they could clog storm drains.
Drop-off Facilities
Town of Normal Public Works Electronics Recycling Facility
1301 Warriner Dr, Normal, IL 61761
Materials Accepted
Normal Public Works Battery Drop-off
1301 Warriner Dr, Normal, IL 61761
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How late can I leave my empty garbage cart at the curb?
Town ordinances require that all empty refuse and recycling carts be removed from the curb and returned to a storage area near your home by 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Where can I safely get rid of old computer monitors and TVs?
Electronic waste is banned from Illinois landfills. Normal residents should take their old electronics to the McLean County hazardous waste drop-off events or utilize designated local e-waste recycling centers in the Bloomington-Normal area.
Will my pickup day change if it snows heavily?
Standard refuse collection is rarely canceled for snow, though severe blizzards may cause slight delays. However, observed holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas will push your regular pickup day back by 24 hours.