Weekly Garbage Collection

All Rockford residential properties that are not exempt from collection receive garbage service once per week. In early 2024, the City issued 95 gallon garbage carts to every residential building serviced by the City's garbage collection program. Residents may place any amount of garbage out for collection but it must be containerized in City-issued 95 gallon garbage carts. If additional garbage does not fit, residents may rely on standard garbage cans with a capacity of no more than 32-gallons and with secure lids, each weighing no more than 50 pounds. Bulk items that will not fit in garbage cans or bags may also be placed out for collection with some restrictions. 

Eligible residents 62 years of age and older or persons living with a disability that are not able to move a 95 gallon cart will have to ability to exchange their 95 gallon cart for a 65 gallon cart at no additional cost. Applications will be required and accepted through the City of Rockford Customer Service Center for review of eligibility and approval. Once approved, the City will notify Rock River Disposal, who will then make the exchange. The application can be found here. Please return the completed application to Customer Service by email: customerservice@rockfordil.gov or by mail or in person at: 

City of Rockford                                                                                                                                 Customer Service Department - 1st Floor                                                                                                  425 E State Street                                                                                                                                   Rockford, IL 61104 

Each residential dwelling unit is allowed a single truck hopper (~3 cubic yards) per week. Volumes exceeding a single truck hopper are subject to a bulk refuse surcharge as listed in the City's Fee Schedule. Residents do not need to call ahead to put out large quantities of garbage. Building and remodeling materials, televisions/monitors, automobile parts, oil, tires, liquids, and hazardous wastes are some common items placed out that will not be accepted. However, some of these items may be accepted at the City's Household Hazardous Waste Facility for no charge.

Chapter 25 of the City of Rockford's General Ordinance requires all garbage, garbage cans or bags to be stored at an inconspicuous location, generally out of sight from the street. Garbage shall be placed out for collection no earlier than 3:00 p.m. of the day preceding the collection day and not later than 6:00 a.m. of the scheduled collection day Empty garbage cans must be returned to an inconspicuous storage location by 8 a.m. the day following garbage collection.

Normal garbage collection days for Rockford residents are Monday through Thursday. If you are a new resident and need to know your garbage collection day, simply enter your address in the Garbage Boundary Map web page or in the Waste Wizard tool. If a collection day falls upon the holidays listed below,  collection will be delayed by one day for the scheduled collection day and the balance of the week:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

If you are having an issue with your garbage service or have a missed pick-up, please contact Rock River Disposal direct at 815-965-2489 or by email at callcenter@wasteconnections.com. If your issue needs further assistance from the City, please contact the City of Rockford's Customer Service Division at 779-348-7300 or email us at sanitation@rockfordil.gov.