Rockford, IL trash pickup schedule

Rockford trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 147,384 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked October 30, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	A private hauler under city contract: Rock River Disposal City-contracted collection is mandatory for residential buildings of four units or fewer; managed by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Billing/new service through the City Customer Service Center; collection issues go to Rock River Disposal. The city pages name the contractor only as Rock River Disposal (its contact email is [email protected] and it offers the WasteConnect app); parent company not stated by the city.¹
How often	Trash weekly, recycling weekly, same day as garbage, yard waste weekly in season, same day as garbage²⁴⁵
Set out	No earlier than 3:00 p.m. the day before and no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day; return empty cans to storage out of sight by 8 a.m. the next day.²
Your pickup day	Collection days are Monday–Thursday by zone. Zone map: rockfordil.maps.arcgis.com. App: Waste Wizard 'My Schedule' tab (Rock River Disposal) / WasteConnect app² · Look up your day here
Holidays	No further 2026 holidays are on the city’s list. See the 2026 table.

Bulk items: Set collection days (details). Drop-off sites: 4 listed (hours and fees).

Rockford holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	If a collection day falls on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, collection is delayed one day for that day and the rest of the week.²
Official notice	rockfordil.gov²

Rockford trash pickup on holidays, 2026
Holiday	Date	Pickup	What the city says
New Year's Day	Thu, Jan 1, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19, 2026	No change	Rock River Disposal operated on MLK Day; garbage collection stayed on its regular schedule (MLK Day is not one of the six delay holidays).¹¹
Presidents' Day	Mon, Feb 16, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Independence Day (Fourth of July)	Fri, Jul 3, 2026 (observed)	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day	Mon, Oct 12, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Veterans Day	Wed, Nov 11, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: Weekly Garbage Collection, Garbage Collection Reminder (MLK Day 2026) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Rockford

How it works	Set collection days³
How to request	No call needed: set bulk items out with garbage on the regular collection day; contact Rock River Disposal (815-965-2489) to verify unusually large items.²
Limits	One truck hopper (~3 cubic yards) per dwelling unit per week included; toilets separated, long objects cut to 4 ft, king mattresses folded/box springs cut, bed-bug items wrapped in plastic, refrigerant appliances need a refrigerant-free certificate.²
Fees	Up to 3 cubic yards no charge; $35.69 per additional 3 cubic yards (per dwelling unit), 2026 Fee Schedule⁹
Not accepted	Building and remodeling materials, TVs/monitors, automobile parts, oil, tires, liquids, hazardous wastes²

Sources: Weekly Garbage Collection, Weekly Bulk Item Collection, 2026 Fee Schedule (PDF), Solid Waste Fees Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Rockford

Pickup	weekly, same day as garbage⁴
Type	single-stream⁴
Glass	accepted in cart (bottles and jars only)⁸
Plastics	plastic containers: bottles, tubs, jugs and jars only (no resin numbers listed)⁸
Cart	65-gallon recycling cart (request from Rock River Disposal 815-965-2489); extra recyclables in paper bags or cardboard boxes; cardboard flattened and bundled no larger than 2 ft x 2 ft⁴

Accepted

Cardboard (flattened), office paper, newspaper, magazines⁸
Glass bottles and jars⁸
Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs and jars⁸
Steel and aluminum containers and foil (aerosol cans must be empty)⁸
Cartons⁸

Not accepted

Plastic bags and plastic wrap⁸
Tanglers: hangers, hoses, wire, cords, ropes, chains⁸
Clothing, textiles, shoes⁸
Shredded paper⁸
Food, liquid, diapers, batteries, needles, Styrofoam⁸
Big items: electronics, wood, propane tanks, scrap metal⁸
Food-contaminated paper and cardboard such as pizza boxes⁴
Recyclables in bags or liners⁴

Programs

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (KNIB) recycling centers take items not accepted curbside (clothing, shredded paper, some appliances, electronics)⁴
Waste Wizard and WasteConnect app (Rock River Disposal) for item lookup⁴

Sources: Weekly Recycling Collection, Rockford Recycling Guidelines (PDF) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	yes, seasonal curbside collection⁵
Season	2026 season started March 23, 2026; end date TBD (announced by press release)⁵¹²
How often	weekly in season, same day as garbage⁵
Rules	Compostable paper bags or cans of 32 gallons or less marked with a large 'X'; brush in bundles max 4 ft long x 2 ft diameter tied with string/twine; no limbs over 4 in. diameter, stumps, root balls, mulch or soil; max 50 lb per item; no plastic bags; not mixed with garbage.⁵
Food scraps	Not published by the city (official page)
Christmas trees	2025-26 season (last published): January 5–15, 2026 on the regular garbage day by Rock River Disposal; unbagged trees cut into 4-ft sections, no ornaments/stands/lights; 2026-27 dates announced by press release. Drop-off also at KNIB sites.⁵
Leaf collection	Leaves go out with in-season yard waste collection (paper bags or X-marked cans); leaf burning is illegal in the city.⁵

Sources: Weekly Yard Waste Collection, City Announces Start of Weekly Yard Waste Collection (2026) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Center

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	City of Rockford, Illinois EPA and Four Rivers Sanitation Authority
Address	3315 Kishwaukee Street, Rockford (enter from Kishwaukee St.) · Map⁶
Hours	Saturdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sundays noon–4 p.m.; closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Christmas⁶
Fees	free for Illinois residents; up to 4 passenger tires per vehicle per day for Rockford residents⁶
Who can use it	Illinois residents (not businesses)⁶
Not accepted	latex paint (use PaintCare), compressed gas cylinders, explosives, radioactive waste, pharmaceuticals, 12V auto/marine batteries

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful — Rockford Recycle Center (e-waste)

Type	Recycling center
Run by	Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (nonprofit)
Address	4665 Hydraulic Road, Rockford, IL · Map⁷
Hours	Tuesdays 2–5 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.–noon (e-waste hours as listed by the city)⁷
Fees	electronics free except TVs/monitors: $20 under 19 in., $25 19 in.+, $30 projection/console⁷

Winnebago Landfill

Type	Landfill
Address	Not published by the city (official page)
Hours	Not published by the city (official page)
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful — Machesney Park Recycle Center (e-waste)

Type	Recycling center
Run by	Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (nonprofit)
Address	8409 N. 2nd Street, Machesney Park, IL · Map⁷
Hours	Wednesdays 2–5 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.–noon (e-waste hours as listed by the city)⁷
Fees	electronics free except TVs/monitors: $20 under 19 in., $25 19 in.+, $30 projection/console⁷

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: Weekly Bulk Item Collection, Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Disposal Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	Contact Rock River Disposal at 815-965-2489 or [email protected], or the 'Need Help' tab in the Waste Wizard; escalate to the City at 779-348-7300 / [email protected]²
Phone	Rock River Disposal 815-965-2489 (collection issues); City Customer Service Center 779-348-7300 (billing, new service)¹
311	Not published by the city (official page)
Official website	rockfordil.gov¹
Email	[email protected] (city); [email protected] (hauler)²
Recycling phone	779-348-7425 (City sanitation; also for HHW asbestos pre-approval)⁸

Sources: Residential Waste & Recycling Services, Weekly Garbage Collection, Rockford Recycling Guidelines (PDF) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

All Illinois cities: Illinois trash pickup schedules.

Rockford trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Rockford?

Trash is collected weekly. Collection days are Monday–Thursday by zone.

How do I get rid of bulky items in Rockford?

Set collection days. No call needed: set bulk items out with garbage on the regular collection day; contact Rock River Disposal (815-965-2489) to verify unusually large items. Fees: Up to 3 cubic yards no charge; $35.69 per additional 3 cubic yards (per dwelling unit), 2026 Fee Schedule.

Does Rockford recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart (bottles and jars only).

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Rockford?

Use the city’s online form (Contact Rock River Disposal at 815-965-2489 or [email protected], or the 'Need Help' tab in the Waste Wizard; escalate to the City at 779-348-7300 / [email protected]) or call Rock River Disposal 815-965-2489 (collection issues); City Customer Service Center 779-348-7300 (billing, new service).

Sources

1
Residential Waste & Recycling ServicesCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
2
Weekly Garbage CollectionCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
3
Weekly Bulk Item CollectionCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
4
Weekly Recycling CollectionCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
5
Weekly Yard Waste CollectionCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
6
Household Hazardous Waste DisposalCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
7
Electronic Waste (E-Waste) DisposalCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
8
Rockford Recycling Guidelines (PDF)City · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
9
2026 Fee Schedule (PDF), Solid Waste FeesCity · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
10
Rockford Garbage Boundaries (ArcGIS MapServer layer, city map)City · utility.arcgis.com · checked October 30, 2026
11
Garbage Collection Reminder (MLK Day 2026)City · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
12
City Announces Start of Weekly Yard Waste Collection (2026)City · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026
13
Fee Schedule (index naming DocumentCenter/View/6071 the 2026 Fee Schedule)City · rockfordil.gov · checked October 30, 2026

Something changed? Report a change

Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.