The department of Community & Economic Development, division of Neighborhood Standards, handles the sanitation contract through Rock River Disposal for City of Rockford Residents. Our mission is to provide for the collection and disposal of solid waste in a manner that is consistent with federal and state regulations as well as to encourage the recycling efforts of the community. This web page contains everything you need to know about garbage service, recycling, yard waste and hazardous material. You can also download our sanitation brochure, complete a service request, or e-mail us with a question or concern. You can also call Neighborhood Standards at 815-987-5566.

City of Rockford ordinance requires all garbage, garbage cans or bags to be out of site from the street until 3pm the night before your regularly scheduled pick-up. Empty garbage cans must be moved to a location that is not visible from the street by 8am the day following your garbage pick-up.

 Holiday Garbage & Refuse Schedule

No collections on:
- New Year's Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day

Normal garbage collection days for all Rockford residents are Monday through Thursday. For holidays falling on these days garbage pick-up will be one day later.

Weekly Garbage Pick-Up

All Rockford residential properties have unlimited collection once a week, Monday through Thursday (excepting holidays). If you are a new resident and need to know your garbage collection day, you can contact Community & Economic Development at 815-987-5600 or e-mail the Neighborhood Standards division.

Although you can place any amount of garbage out for pickup, it must be placed in garbage cans or bags weighing no more than 75 pounds along the curb or alley no earlier than 3pm the night before your garbage pick-up and no later than 6am the day of pick-up. All containers must be removed from the curb or alley by 8am the day following your garbage pick-up. Large items that will not fit in garbage cans or bags can be placed for pick-up, however if the total amount of your garbage exceeds the size of the hopper on the dump truck you may be charged an additional $25 fee. You do not need to call ahead if you have large quantities of garbage to be picked up.

The following items will not be picked up by Rock River Disposal: tires, used motor oil, paint, batteries, construction debris, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners or other hazardous materials. These materials may be accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste facility. Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful also has various collection drives each year. Visit their website for more information at www.knib.org.

Weekly Bulk Item Pick-Up

Bulk items are household items that are too large to be placed in a garbage can or bag. Items containing freon, such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, will  be accepted only if they are certified freon free by a licensed refrigeration technician. Bulk items are collected the same day as your regularly scheduled garbage pick-up.

Building and remodeling materials, automobile parts, oi, tires, liquid waste and paint thinners are not accepted. These items may be accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

 Weekly Recycling Pick-Up

Rockford residents are not required to recycle, however the City encourages all residents to take advantage of the recycling program. Each household is furnished with a recycling bin. If you do not have one, contact Rock River Disposal at 815-965-2489. Recyclables will be collected on your regular garbage day.

Aluminum and tin cans, glass jars and bottles, aerosol cans, coded plastics #1-#7, and 6 and 12 pack plastic rings will be accepted. All containers should be rinsed, caps removed, and placed loosely in a bin. If you have excess recyclables, they may be placed in a paper bag and set next to the bin. Newspapers should be placed in a paper bag and set on top of the bin. Paper, magazines and phone books should be placed in a paper bag and set next to the bin. Cardboard and paperboard must be flattened and bundled with string or twine, not wire. The bundles should be no larger than two feet by two feet. 

Hazardous materials are not accepted by Rock River Disposal. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts several types of Hazardous Waste.

Weekly Compost/Yard Waste Pick-Up

Yard waste pick-up occurs only during spring, summer and fall when plants are growing. A press release is sent out in the fall and spring advising when yard waste pick-up will resume. A notice will also be placed at the top of this web page.

Residential yard waste pick-up occurs the same day as your regularly scheduled garbage pick-up. Yard Waste material must be placed in compostable paper bags or in 30 gallon refuse cans that have been marked with a large "X" that is plainly visible from the street. Twigs, branches and other types of large brush that cannot fit into either of these containers must be placed in bundles no more than 4 feet long by 2 feet in diameter and not exceeding 25 pounds. Bundles should be tied with string or twine, not metal. Yard waste cannot be mixed with regular garbage nor placed in plastic bags for pickup.

Leaf burning in Winnebago County and within City of Rockford limits is illegal. Leaves can be collected the same as your other yard waste and picked up during your regularly scheduled garbage day. It is illegal to sweep leaves into the streets as they clog both street sweepers and storm sewer drains which can cause flooding in the spring.

 Household Hazardous Waste

Illinois residents (not businesses) can dispose of household hazardous waste at the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Center at 3333 Kishwaukee Street on Saturdays from 8am to 4pm and on Sunday from noon to 4pm, excluding holidays.

Acceptable hazardous waste includes the following: aerosols, corrosives, oxidizers, solvents, oil-based and latex paints, waste oil, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent lamps, up to 4 tires (without the metal rim), and insulin disposal.

Unacceptable waste includes: radioactive waste, compressed gas, explosives and 55 gallon drums.

Although the facility will not accept used medication, the organization called Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful holds used medication drives, along with metal, clothing and other drives, each year. Visit their website at www.knib.org for more information.