South Bend, IN trash pickup schedule
South Bend trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 103,201 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | The city collects City of South Bend Public Works Solid Waste collects trash (weekly, Mon–Thu routes) and opt-in yard waste; service is billed on the city utilities bill ($15.78/mo; senior $9.47). Curbside recycling is NOT a city service: it is provided by Borden Waste-Away Services through the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management District. Service only within city limits.1 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly (routes Monday–Thursday), yard waste weekly, same day as trash13 |
| Set out | by 6 a.m. on pickup day, within 2 ft of the curb (or alley line), lid closed, opening facing the street, 3 ft from other bins/objects, not blocked by a vehicle1 |
| Your pickup day | Address lookup: southbend.maps.arcgis.com3 |
| Holiday | Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: Delayed one day. Mon/Tue no change; Wed→Thu, Thu→Fri1 |
Bulk items: On-call pickup: call or book online (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).
South Bend holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | Only the City's designated holidays affect service. If your pickup day falls on or after a city holiday in that week (Mon–Thu), pickup is one day late (Mon→Tue, Tue→Wed, Wed→Thu, Thu→Fri); days before the holiday are unchanged. Weather may cause further delays.12 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | 311.southbendin.gov2 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Delayed one day | Thursday route collected Friday1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Delayed one day | Mon–Thu routes each one day late (Mon→Tue … Thu→Fri)1 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Mon–Thu routes each one day late1 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 (observed) | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Delayed one day | Mon–Thu routes each one day late1 |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Delayed one day | Mon/Tue no change; Wed→Thu, Thu→Fri1 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed one day | Mon–Wed no change; Thu→Fri1 |
| 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.
Bulk trash pickup in South Bend
| How it works | On-call pickup: call or book online4 |
|---|---|
| How to request | Online form (311.southbendin.gov) or call 311 Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:30 pm; scheduled on the next available trash day (2–3 weeks out in summer); items at the curb by 6 am, no more than 24 hours early, within 2 ft of the curb, unobstructed. Only the primary account holder (landlord, property manager, etc.) can schedule; confirmation email gives the date; do not put items out before receiving the date. Appliance lids and doors must be removed or taped shut.49 |
| Limits | One free bulky item or appliance pickup per month (plus one free yard-waste extra pickup per month); homeowners within city limits.4 |
| Fees | Free once a month; additional items $20 per cubic yard; totals over $100 need resident approval first.4 |
| Not accepted |
|
Recycling in South Bend
| Pickup | Not published by the city (official page) |
|---|---|
| Type | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Glass | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Plastics | Not published by the city (official page) |
Accepted
Not published by the city (official page)
Not accepted
Not published by the city (official page)
Programs
- Curbside recycling is run by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management District with Borden Waste-Away Services (not the City). Contact the District at 574.235.9971.4
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | yes — opt-in subscription, $6/month per bin during the season, city residents only1 |
|---|---|
| Season | 2026 season: March 30 – December 31 |
| How often | weekly, same day as trash1 |
| Rules | City-issued 48/96-gal yard waste bin, lid closed, out by 6 am; grass clippings, leaves, twigs, weeds only; no animal waste, dirt/rocks, food waste, trash, lumber, liquids, plastic bags or recycling; nothing outside the bin. Extra yard-waste pickup: one free per month (up to 10 30-gal biodegradable bags or 1 cu yd of bundled branches ≤4 ft long), extra $10/cu yd.1 |
| Food scraps | not accepted in yard waste bins1 |
| Christmas trees | 2025-26 season (latest published): free curbside pickup of one tree per household Monday January 5 – Thursday January 29 (2026), on trash day, by request (online form or 311, by 3 pm the business day before); extra trees $10; artificial/metal-containing trees not collected. 2026-27 dates not yet published.6 |
| Leaf collection | Fall Leaf Pickup (2025-26 season, latest published): city crews vacuum leaves raked to the tree lawn (not the street) by 6 am on the zone's scheduled date; no call needed; schedule/tracker at southbendin.gov/leafpickup. The 2025 program began November 3, 2025, paused in late November for snow, and resumed March 23, 2026 (Zones 7-9, then a second pass from Zone 1). No fall-2026 announcement found on 2026-11-01.710 |
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
St. Joseph County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management District) |
| Address | 828 Kerr Street, South Bend, IN · Map1 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | free for South Bend residents (hazardous waste and electronics); tires limited to six per year per household1 |
| Who can use it | South Bend residents (free)1 |
| Accepts | aerosols, Ni-Cad/lithium/button/rechargeable batteries, corrosives, fluorescent bulbs, mercury items, paints and solvents, pesticides/herbicides, poisons, smoke detectors, Styrofoam, tires, waste fuels and oils (no 55-gal drums)1 |
Organic Resources (free mulch and compost)
| Type | Compost / yard waste site |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | 4340 Trade Drive, South Bend, IN · Map1 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | free, self-loading1 |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | forms.office.com (via 311 article 311.southbendin.gov); report after 6 pm, crews run until 6 PM; picked up within 48 business hours5 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 311 inside city limits; 574-233-0311 outside city limits (Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:30 pm)2 |
| 311 | Dial 311 (574-233-0311); online 311 Service Portal 311.southbendin.gov1 |
| Official website | southbendin.gov1 |
| Recycling district phone | 574-235-9971 (St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management District — recycling and HHW)4 |
Nearby cities
- Chicago, IL74 miles · The city and contracted haulers (by area or service)
- Grand Rapids, MI94 miles · The city collects
- Joliet, IL98 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Naperville, IL98 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Aurora, IL104 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Elgin, IL109 miles · A private hauler under city contract
All Indiana cities: Indiana trash pickup schedules.
South Bend trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in South Bend?
Trash is collected weekly (routes Monday–Thursday). South Bend does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (southbend.maps.arcgis.com).
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in South Bend?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: Mon–Wed no change; Thu→Fri
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in South Bend?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday route collected Friday
How do I get rid of bulky items in South Bend?
On-call pickup: call or book online. Online form (https://311.southbendin.gov/knowledgecenter/article/?id=KA-04547) or call 311 Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:30 pm; scheduled on the next available trash day (2–3 weeks out in summer); items at the curb by 6 am, no more than 24 hours early, within 2 ft of the curb, unobstructed. Only the primary account holder (landlord, property manager, etc.) can schedule; confirmation email gives the date; do not put items out before receiving the date. Appliance lids and doors must be removed or taped shut. Fees: Free once a month; additional items $20 per cubic yard; totals over $100 need resident approval first.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in South Bend?
Use the city’s online form (forms.office.com) or call 311 inside city limits; 574-233-0311 outside city limits (Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:30 pm).
Sources
- 1 Solid Waste (City of South Bend Public Works)City · southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Trash Pickup Holiday Schedule (South Bend 311 KA-04573)City · 311.southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Weekly Trash Schedule (South Bend 311 KA-04553)City · 311.southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 New Trash and Yard Waste Service Information (South Bend 311 KA-04552)City · 311.southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Report Missed Trash Pick-Up (South Bend 311 KA-04542)City · 311.southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Christmas Tree Pickup Request (South Bend 311 KA-04540)City · 311.southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 City's Fall Leaf Pickup Program Begins November 3 (City news, Oct 29 2025)City · southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 8 St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management District pagesCounty · sjcindiana.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 9 Request an Extra Pickup for Appliance, Bulky Item or Yard Waste (South Bend 311 KA-04547)City · 311.southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 10 City's Leaf Pickup Program Resumes March 23 (City news, Mar 4 2026)City · southbendin.gov · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.