Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pekin
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.
96-gallon cart with a Gray/Black lid (or approved personal 35+ gallon can) Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit completely inside the cart. Items left beside or on top of the cart, including bulk materials and construction debris, will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Soiled paper
96-gallon cart (purchased from the City) Bin (Recycling)
Collection is voluntary and occurs bi-weekly on your normal trash day. Recyclables must be loose, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and cardboard
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean beverage carriers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass (No longer accepted)
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Active April to December. Containers (bags, 35-gal cans, or carts) must not exceed 50 pounds. A city yard waste sticker must be visible on every container facing the curb. Dirt, rocks, sod, and treated lumber are prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden plants and mulch
- ✓Small branches (maximum 5 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Prohibited from regular curbside collection.
Placement
Do not place large items next to your standard trash cart. They will not be serviced by the city trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ N/A (Prohibited curbside)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Furniture
- ✕ Mattresses and box springs
- ✕ White goods (appliances)
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Construction materials (except bundled carpet under 4ft/50lbs)
Residents must hire private junk haulers, utilize local transfer stations, or wait for specially scheduled, city-hosted bulk clean-up events to dispose of oversized items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, there will be no pickup that day. Collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as garbage and recycling collections.
If one of the observed holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your garbage, recycling, and yard waste will be collected on their regular schedule for that week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Glass is Now Banned from Recycling
The City of Pekin has updated its recycling rules, and glass is no longer accepted in the curbside single-stream program. Placing glass bottles or jars in your recycling cart will contaminate the load; please throw glass away in your regular trash cart.
Face Your Yard Waste Stickers to the Street
Drivers need to quickly differentiate between a standard garbage can and a yard waste container. Ensure your city-issued yard waste sticker is clearly affixed to the side of your bag or can, facing the curb, so it doesn't get left behind.
Keep Dirt and Sod Out of the Mix
While yard trimmings and leaves are perfect for composting, the city strictly forbids dirt, rocks, bricks, concrete, and sod in the yard waste collection. Heavy materials destroy processing equipment and will result in your container being rejected.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilWeekly yard waste collection officially begins the first full week in April. Make sure to purchase your required yard waste stickers ahead of time at City Hall (111 South Capitol Street).
Summer/Fall
May - NovemberKeep an eye out for City-sponsored bulk disposal events. Since bulk items are prohibited from regular curbside pickup, these occasional clean-up days are the best time to dispose of old mattresses and furniture.
Winter
December - MarchThe yard waste program pauses the Friday before Christmas. During snowstorms, ensure your solid waste carts are placed clear of the roadways so city snowplows can operate safely and efficiently.
About Pekin Waste Management
Municipal Solid Waste Services in Pekin
Unlike many municipalities that contract out their residential waste services, the City of Pekin proudly operates its own Solid Waste Department. Serving single-family dwellings and multi-family homes up to four units, city crews manage the weekly collection of household garbage. Residents are required to use specific 96-gallon wheeled carts—which can be purchased through City Hall—to ensure efficient and clean collections throughout Tazewell County.
The Voluntary Single-Stream Recycling Program
Pekin encourages environmental stewardship through a voluntary, bi-weekly curbside recycling program. If you wish to participate, you must sign up and purchase a dedicated 96-gallon roll-out recycling cart for a one-time fee of $60, which is billed directly to your wastewater account. There are no additional monthly fees for the collection itself. Because it is a single-stream system, paper, cardboard, and most plastics can be mixed together in the cart, provided they are loose and clean.
Strict Limits on Bulk and Large Item Disposal
The City of Pekin enforces very strict limits on what can be left at the curb. Bulk items—defined by the city as anything too large to fit inside the standard 96-gallon cart, such as furniture, mattresses, and household appliances—are entirely prohibited from regular weekly collection. Residents must handle these items independently by hiring a private junk removal service, taking them to a local transfer station, or participating in the city's specially scheduled bulk disposal events.
Managing Yard Waste Sustainably
Given the lush, suburban landscapes of Central Illinois, Pekin offers a robust seasonal yard waste collection program that runs from the first full week of April through the week before Christmas. To guarantee your grass clippings and fall leaves are picked up, they must be placed in a 35-gallon can, a 96-gallon wheeled cart, or biodegradable paper bags. Crucially, every single container or bag must have an official City of Pekin yard waste sticker affixed to it, facing the street.
Drop-off Facilities
Tazewell County Health Department (Information & Guidance)
21306 IL-9, Tremont, IL 61568
Materials Accepted
Area Recycling Facility - GFL Environmental
South Pekin Area (Check website for specific drop-off details)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay extra for the recycling program in Pekin?
The bi-weekly recycling collection itself does not carry an additional monthly service charge. However, because the program is voluntary, participants are required to make a one-time purchase of a 96-gallon roll-out recycling cart for $60, which will appear on a subsequent wastewater bill.
Can I leave a mattress or couch next to my garbage cart?
No. The City of Pekin explicitly prohibits bulk items—defined as anything too large to fit inside the 96-gallon cart—from regular curbside pickup. You must dispose of these items via a private hauler, at a transfer station, or during a designated city bulk disposal event.
What happens to my collection day if a holiday falls on a weekend?
If an observed holiday (like Christmas or the 4th of July) happens to fall on a Saturday or Sunday, your garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection will remain on its regular schedule for that week, regardless of whether City Hall is closed.
Do I need a sticker for my yard waste?
Yes. All yard waste containers, whether they are standard 35-gallon cans, 96-gallon wheeled carts, or biodegradable paper bags, must have a city-issued yard waste sticker clearly affixed and facing the street so the driver can identify it as yard waste rather than standard garbage.