Primary Functions – The four primary functions of the Sanitation Division include collection and disposal, composting, recycling, and technical and financial services.

• Collection and Disposal Provides weekly unlimited collection to all residential buildings of four units or less through a private contractor.
• Composting Program – Contractor collects yard wastes, including leaves, grass, and pruning, and composts them at a City owned landfill site and uses material for landfill cover.
• Recycling Program – Provides curbside recycling as part of regular weekly collection. Residents can recycle 32 items and Christmas trees are recycled seasonally.
• Technical and financial Services – Contract monitoring, purchase of service for billing and collecting, and reimbursement for street cleaning services are included.

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Garbage pick up is scheduled between Monday and Thursday. Garbage cans and/or bags should be placed at the curb or alley no earlier than 3 p.m. the night before pick up and no later than 6 a.m. the day of pick up. All containers must be removed from the curb or alley and returned to a storing location by 8 a.m. the day following pick up. Click here for examples of what is acceptable.

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Rockford residents are not required to recycle, however, the City encourages all residents to take advantage of the program. Each household is furnished with a recycling bin. Aluminum and tin cans, glass jars and bottles, aerosol cans, coded plastics #1 - #7, and 6 and 12 pack 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. These also should be set next to the recycling bin. Recyclables will be collected on your regular garbage day.

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Compost/Yard Waste is recycled in spring, summer, and fall months, and will be collected on your regular garbage day. Grass and twigs should be placed in compostable paper bags or in a 30 gallon refuse can marked with an "X," which must be visible from the street. Sticks, twigs, brush, etc. must be bundled with string or twine, not wire. The bundles may be no longer than three feet and no larger than two feet in diameter. Compost/Yard Waste will not be accepted if garbage is mixed in with the compost/yard waste, if placed in plastic bags, if bundled with wire, or if bundles are larger than the designated size.

Fall Leaf Collection: It is illegal to burn leaves. Leaves will be collected for composting on your normal collection day.  The proper containers are a 40 gallon biodegradable 2-ply paper bag or a standard garbage can with a bold "X" on the side of the can facing the street. Citizens should not sweep loose leaves into the public street.  Loose leaves will clog the storm sewer system and cause flooding in the spring.View the Fall 2007 leaf collection  information.

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Bulk items are household items that are too large to be placed in a garbage can or bag. Items containing freon (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc.) will be accepted only if they are certified freon free by a licensed refrigeration technician. Building and remodeling materials, automobile parts, oil, tires, liquid waste, and paint thinner will not be accepted. Bulk items will be collected each week on the same day and placed as refuse.

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Rockford residents can also recycle used oil and tires at Fire Station #9  at the corner of N. Rockton Ave. and Halsted Rd., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., excluding holidays. No more than (4) four tires will be accepted per person per day. No other materials will be accepted at this site. To use this facility, you must have a current Rockford City Sticker on your vehicle.

 Click the image for a printable map to Fire Station #9

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Rockford residents can dispose of household hazardous waste at the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Center at 3333 Kishwaukee St., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. (noon) to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. Aerosols, corrosives, oxidizers, solvents, oil-based and latex paints, waste oils, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent lamps, and insulin disposal service will be accepted. Radioactive waste, compressed gas, and explosives will not be accepted. The facility is available to all residential parties, regardless of place of residence.

 Click the image for a printable map to 3333 Kishwaukee Street

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Print this calendar

Hazardous Waste Site and Tire/Oil Sites closed these weekends:

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