Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rockford
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Thursday, once per week depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Weekly, collected on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash day, collected seasonally from late March through early December.
Set Out Time
No earlier than 3:00 PM the evening before and no later than 6:00 AM on collection day.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage and recycling services through Rock River Disposal are automatically billed as a combined charge on your monthly City of Rockford water bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Draft, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Seniors 62+ or residents with disabilities can exchange 95-gallon carts for 65-gallon carts for free; income-eligible households can seek energy and utility aid through LIHEAP and local partner agencies.
City-issued Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be containerized in the City-issued 95-gallon cart. Excess garbage may be placed in secure personal cans (up to 32-gallons, under 50 lbs). Carts should be placed out between 3:00 PM the day before and 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
City-issued Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place all materials loosely inside the 65-gallon recycling cart without plastic bags. Large cardboard must be flattened and bundled (no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet) if placed outside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Clothing
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Place in 2-ply compostable paper bags or 32-gallon (or smaller) cans clearly marked with a large 'X'. Brush must be bundled with twine, no longer than 4 feet and under 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Plants and weeds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your designated garbage collection day
Placement
Place bulk items curbside neatly alongside your 95-gallon cart no earlier than 3:00 PM the day before collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Box springs
- ✓ Cabinets
- ✓ Large non-hazardous household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Building and remodeling materials
- ✕ Televisions
- ✕ Computer monitors
- ✕ Auto parts and tires
- ✕ Liquids and hazardous waste
Any volume exceeding the 3-cubic-yard allowance will still be collected, but is automatically subject to a bulk refuse surcharge added to your utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your regular collection day, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste pickup follows the exact same holiday delay schedule during the active growing season.
Normal garbage schedules run Monday through Thursday, so holiday delays mean Friday collections will occur for standard Thursday routes.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
March - NovemberWeekly yard waste collection resumes in late March and runs continuously until late autumn. Place your grass, leaves, and twigs in compostable bags or marked 32-gallon personal cans on your regular garbage day.
Early Winter
JanuaryRock River Disposal conducts a special Christmas tree pickup during the second or third full week of January. Ensure your tree is unbagged, cut into 4-foot sections, and completely stripped of ornaments and lights.
Late Fall / Winter
November - DecemberAs temperatures plunge below freezing in Northern Illinois, yard waste placed in plastic cans frequently freezes to the sides. The city highly recommends utilizing 2-ply paper bags during freezing weather to guarantee a complete pickup.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Operations in Rockford
The City of Rockford partners with Rock River Disposal to provide comprehensive refuse and recycling services to residential neighborhoods. Maintaining a clean and sustainable community is easier when residents follow local disposal guidelines. Each single-family household is serviced weekly, and ensuring you have the correct bins ready on your scheduled day keeps the collection routes running smoothly across the city. Staying informed about your designated route guarantees your home will not miss a vital collection cycle.
Routine Garbage and Cart Guidelines
Household trash should be securely bagged before being placed inside your designated garbage container to prevent littering on windy days. Carts must be positioned at the curb by early morning on your specific pickup day to guarantee service. It is important to leave enough space around the bins—typically at least three feet from mailboxes, parked vehicles, and secondary carts—so that the automated collection trucks can safely grasp and empty them without causing property damage or dropping refuse.
Single-Stream Recycling Rules
Rock River Disposal utilizes a highly convenient single-stream recycling method, allowing you to mix all acceptable materials into one bin without sorting them manually. You can seamlessly recycle clean flattened cardboard, office paper, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and basic household plastics. Do not place recyclables inside plastic grocery bags, as these films can severely jam the heavy sorting machines at the processing facility. Instead, leave all items completely loose in the bin and verify they are free of food residue.
Yard Waste Collection Season
Keeping your lawn tidy during the warmer months is heavily supported by the city's seasonal yard waste program, which runs continuously from April 1st through November 30th. Leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs should be packed into standard brown Kraft paper yard bags or placed in a personal garbage can prominently marked with a large 'X'. Brush can also be bundled with twine into sections no longer than three feet. Make sure no individual container or bundle exceeds 50 pounds, and always keep out prohibited items like dirt, rocks, and large root balls.
Disposing of Bulky Materials
Getting rid of oversized household items like old furniture, discarded mattresses, or broken wooden cabinets requires a bit of planning. Bulk items are typically collected on the exact same day as your regular garbage collection. However, they are subject to specific bulk refuse rates or local volume limits established by the municipality. It is highly recommended to contact Rock River Disposal directly before dragging massive items to the curb to confirm if special arrangements or additional fees apply to your specific disposal situation.
Holiday Schedule Adjustments
Major federal holidays frequently cause temporary shifts in your standard sanitation routine. Typically, if a recognized holiday occurs during the normal workweek, all subsequent trash and recycling collections will be pushed back by one full day for the remainder of that week. Normal route schedules will then resume the following Monday morning. Residents are encouraged to review the city's official website or utilize local reminder tools to stay fully informed about upcoming holiday delays and avoid leaving carts out prematurely.
Drop-off Facilities
Household Hazardous Waste Facility (Rock River Reclamation District)
3333 Kishwaukee Street, Rockford, IL 61109
Materials Accepted
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (KNIB) Rockford Recycle Center
4665 Hydraulic Road, Rockford, IL 61109
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the official residential garbage hauler for Rockford?
Rock River Disposal is the contracted waste hauler for residential properties within the City of Rockford, managing your standard weekly trash, single-stream recycling, and seasonal yard waste.
When does the yard waste pickup program begin and end in Rockford?
The dedicated seasonal yard waste collection period officially begins on April 1st and concludes on November 30th each year, weather permitting.
Can I put my recyclables inside plastic bags before throwing them in the bin?
No, all recyclable materials must be placed completely loose inside your recycling cart. Plastic grocery and garbage bags cause severe damage to the mechanical sorting equipment at the processing center.