Trash, Recycling, and Yard-Waste Collection

Curbside trash, yard-waste, and recycling pickup is provided by the city. Most apartment complexes use dumpsters instead of this service. However, students who live in rental houses and some apartment buildings must adhere to the city’s collection schedule and policies.

Trash

Trash is collected once a week. Call the Public Works Department at 349-3410 for your scheduled collection day. Trash must be placed in a container or bag no larger than 32 gallons and weighing no more than 40 pounds. Bloomington uses a pay-for-use trash disposal system, which means you must attach a $1 trash sticker around the neck of each bag or handle of each can. City trash and yard-waste stickers can be purchased at all Marsh and Kroger locations and other select vendors. For the complete list, visit the Bloomington Sanitation Department.

Trash containers should be placed on the curb the night before pickup and must be removed from the curb on the same day as pickup. This is a city code and violations may result in a $100 fine per day.

Yard Waste

If you are responsible for maintaining your own yard, it’s important to note the city’s policy on yard-waste removal. From March through January, yard waste is collected weekly on your regular trash day. Affix a 25-cent yard-waste sticker to each paper yard-waste bag or can of yard waste. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. Paper yard-waste bags are available at most trash and yard-waste sticker vendors (including Marsh and Kroger).

Recycling

Every other week, on your regular trash day, recycling service is provided free of charge to recipients of city trash pickup. Recyclables should be sorted into three categories:

• Paper products
• Metal cans and glass containers
• Plastic bottles (#1 and #2 only)

All plastic, glass, and metal containers must be rinsed out and have their lids removed. One official Bloomington recycling bin will be issued to each residence (to request a bin, call the Department of Public Works at 349-3410). Other similarly sized, privately purchased containers may also be used. Sort each category into a separate bin or paper sack and leave them on the curb the evening before your scheduled trash pickup.