The Public Works department provides curbside collection of refuse, garbage and recycle for the City of Bloomington residents only.  Businesses may NOT participate in these programs.  Receipt of the Recycle/Garbage Collection map by Condo/Apartment complexes does NOT guarantee participation in the program.  Contact Public Works for specifics of participation.

PLEASE CHECK THE MAP TO INSURE THE PROPER DAY OR WEEK OF YOUR COLLECTION.

Click on the image to download and view the current Recycle/Garbage Map & Schedule.

Garbage Collection

• Garbage is collected once a week, Monday through Friday, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Garbage is NOT collected on Christmas Day. Garbage regularly collected on Christmas Day will be collected on December 28th, along with the garbage regularly scheduled for collection that day. Garbage is collected on all other holidays that fall on a weekday. (See the Recycle/Garbage Map & Schedule.)
  
  
• Garbage may be placed out for collection at the curb (NOT in the street) no earlier than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to scheduled collection, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of the collection. Empty containers must be removed from the curb no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day following collection. Garbage containers can be plastic trash bags, galvanized steel containers, or heavy duty plastic containers. Containers must have a tight fitting lid, and handles or bales. Containers must NOT exceed 33 gallons in capacity. The container and garbage must NOT weigh over 35 pounds, lids cannot be attached to cans and containers cannot be attached to objects such as; mailboxes, trees or any type of post/pole.
  
  
• No liquids of any type including but not limited to paint, varnish, stain, other paint like materials, oils, or chemicals may be mixed with garbage.
  
  
• Needle disposal: In order to provide safety for our refuse workers and to prevent inappropriate use of needles, the City requires that prior to placing needles in a sealed coffee can or laundry detergent container the end should be broken off from the dispenser unit. The sealed container that the broken needle has been placed in should be labeled “SHARPS” and placed beside your garbage cans. By placing the sealed and labeled container beside the garbage cans, our refuse workers can identify the potential hazard and breaking the needles prevents their further use by anyone else. Please don’t place any needles or other sharp objects loose in the garbage as this presents potential health and safety hazards for our refuse workers.

• Glass disposal: Glass and other similar sharp objects can do great harm to our refuse workers. Because of this, the City requires citizens to place broken glass into a sealed container that will not fall apart if it gets wet. Our concern is with glass placed in cardboard (or other similar material) that falls apart when it gets wet. Our refuse workers can get severely hurt if they grab this material and it falls apart with glass inside. Please help us protect our workers.  If the glass is not broken and whole, please place the unbroken glass panes carefully on the curbside separate from the garbage cans and bulk waste. Our bulk waste workers will be able to safely dispose of the glass this way.

Recycle Collection   

• Products that can be recycled are separated into two basic categories, paper products in one bin and containers in another bin. Paper and containers cannot be co-mingled together in the same recycle bin. Any recyclables placed in plastic bags for collection will NOT be collected. The plastic bags are not recyclable and blow into neighbors bushes, wires, etc. Recycle may NOT be placed in the street.

All types of recyclable paper products should be placed together in one recycle bin; newspapers, magazines, cardboard (ALL cardboard must be cut and folded to newspaper size), paperboard and junk mail. All types of recyclable containers should be placed together in a separate recycle bin such as; aluminum cans, steel cans, plastic pop bottles, plastic milk bottles and glass bottles and jars.  (Please see the listing for Recycle description/explanation located next to the Street Map Index in the Recycle/Garbage Map & Schedule).

Some plastics that have not been accepted previously, namely #4 and #5 yogurt cups, margarine tubs, and similar non-narrow neck containers can now be placed out for collection with other recyclable items.  All #6 plastic products are still not acceptable.
For a complete list of recyclable items, please click here.

For further information about recycling in the Bloomington/Normal area please visit the Ecology Action Center, or call them at 309-454-3169. 

***Please call the Public Works Department at 434-2225 for specific instructions on how to prepare recyclable products for collection.***

Brush, Bulk Waste, Leaves, Grass Clippings, Paint and Appliances

• Brush & Bulk Waste    
  More information about bulk waste can be found here.
  
  
• Leaves    
  Leaves are collected year round. During the regular leaf collection season (late fall) leaves are collected by both vacuum machines and bulk waste crews. The remainder of the year only bulk waste crews are used. Leaves should be raked in a windrow on the parkway or placed out for collection in metal or plastic cans with handles. If you prefer to have a lid on the can, it must be clearly marked as leaves.  From December 1st - March 31st, leaves may be placed in open bags.

Containers may NOT be larger than 33 gallon and NOT heavier (with leaves inside) than 35 lbs. Leaves will NOT be collected in bags of any type. Leaves must NOT have trash, twigs, or garbage mixed in them and may NOT be placed out for collection in the street. Items placed in the street are the liability of the homeowner. Children some times play in the leaves, wet leaves could cause an accident or wash into the sewer system causing potential sewer back up into homes in the area.

• Grass and Thatch Clippings
  Grass and thatch clippings are NOT collected by City crews and may NOT be mixed with brush or bulk waste placed out for collection by City crews. Grass and thatch may NOT be placed in the street. Items placed in the street are the liability of the homeowner and could cause an accident or wash into the sewer system causing potential sewer back up into homes in the area. Grass and thatch clippings may be brought by the resident to the City Drop Off Facility for disposal at 402 S. East St.
  
  
• Paint
  Paint, varnish, stain, or other paint like materials in liquid form will not be collected by City crews or collected at the Drop Off Facility.  To dispose of paint, remove and leave the lid off of the can, mix kitty litter or sand with the paint and allow it to dry completely. Once the paint has completely dried, place the can with the lid off, with your weekly garbage for collection or out with your bulk waste or bring it to the Drop Off Facility.
  
  
• Appliance Pick-Up
  Appliances are classified as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, microwaves, dehumidifiers, air conditioners and water heaters. Appliances are collected by a private company. To have an appliance collected, place it on the parkway and call the Public Works office at 434-2225 to have the address and type of appliance put on the collection list.
   
  Refrigerators/freezers must have doors removed. No food or any type of bulk waste may be inside an appliance that is placed out for collection. Appliances must be separate from all other debris.

Drop Off Facility
The City operates a drop off facility for City of Bloomington residents to bring their Brush, Bulk Waste, Leaves, Grass and Thatch Clippings, Appliances and empty propane tanks (valves must be removed) for disposal. This facility is located at 402 S. East St. (corner of East and Jackson).

Paint, varnish, stain, paint like materials, oils, chemicals, or fluids of any type will not be collected by City crews or accepted at the Drop Off Facility in liquid form.

No vehicles over the size of a pickup are allowed.  No trailers are allowed, except for brush.  Each resident is only allowed two pickup trucks per week.  Businesses, contractors, persons for hire, private organizations, and not for profit organizations are NOT permitted to use the Drop Off Facility. Only debris generated from residences within the City of Bloomington that are participating in the Refuse Billing Program will be accepted.

The following items may NOT be brought to the drop off facility:

• tires,
• automobile batteries,
• fluids of any kind, 
• household garbage (food waste or containers),
• hazardous waste,
• or any debris commercially generated,
• concrete/rock
• sod/dirt
• shingles/roofing

Items Not Lisited
For questions about the disposal of items not lisited, contact Public Works at 434-2225 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM weekdays.

Snow and Ice
The Public Works Department provides Snow and Ice Control Services for all public streets. For specific information about the Snow and Ice Control Program call the Public Works Department at 434-2225.