The City of Bloomington solid waste cart fee includes garbage collection each week, brush and recycle collection on alternating weeks, and bulk waste collection twice per year (spring and fall). The fee also includes usage of the Citizen Convenience Center, where Solid Waste Program users can drop off items free of charge.
All participants in the Solid Waste Program must use a cart for regularly-scheduled garbage and recycle pickups. Additional fees apply for switching from a small cart to a large cart or for placing additional bags (under 35 pounds) on the curb that will not fit inside the provided container. All residential properties that participate in the Solid Waste Program should have a cart. However, if you would like to order a cart, please contact Public Works at 309-434-2225. All solid waste fees are included in the monthly utility bill. Beginning May 1, 2024, Solid Waste fees will begin increasing by the Consumer Price Index for Water, Sewer, and Trash Collection = CPI-WST. The current fees are outlined below:
| EFFECTIVE DATE |
35 GAL. &
LOW INCOME FEE |
65 gal. |
95 GAL. |
BULK WASTE
bucket |
garbage bag
stickers |
SMALL TO LARGE
CART FEE |
| May 1, 2020 |
$16.97 |
$26.52 |
$30.77 |
$25.00 |
$3.00 |
$30.00 |
| May 1, 2021 |
$17.48 |
$27.32 |
$31.69 |
$25.00
|
$3.00
|
$30.00 |
| May 1, 2022 |
$18.00 |
$28.14 |
$32.64 |
$25.00
|
$3.00
|
$30.00 |
| May 1, 2023 |
$18.54 |
$28.98 |
$33.62 |
$25.00 |
$3.00 |
$30.00 |
| May 1, 2024 |
$19.34 |
$30.23 |
$35.07 |
$25.00 |
$3.00 |
$30.00 |
Low Income Fee
Monthly Fee: $19.34 per month (4.3% annual increase)
The City offers a discounted rate for refuse collection based on an individual’s income. This is found in
City Code Chapter 21, Section 301.8. The qualifying criteria for this discount is based on the federal poverty guidelines as provided in the Federal Register issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each year. In order to receive the discount, an individual or household must provide proof of income that is below the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants and/or co-applicants must submit the
Low Income Fee Application and proof of the last 30 days of income (see application),
with social security number removed or redacted.
35 Gallon Cart
Monthly Fee: $19.34 per month (4.3% annual increase)
These carts are about the size of a typical garbage can, which holds about three tall kitchen (13 gallon) trash bags.
65 Gallon Cart
Monthly Fee: $30.23 per month (4.3% annual increase)
These carts are about the size of two typical garbage cans, which holds about six tall kitchen (13 gallon) trash bags.
95 Gallon Cart
Monthly Fee: $35.07 per month (4.3% annual increase)
These carts hold about ten tall kitchen (13 gallon) trash bags.
Bulk Waste Collection Fees
Additional charges apply for curbside pickup of bulk waste outside of the spring and fall collection periods. Once the deadline has passed, users will have to use the Citizen Convenience Center or pay for curbside collection. The fee for curbside collection outside of the regular collection period is $25 per bucket load (about 2.5 cubic yards). For more information,
please click here to visit the Solid Waste page.
Switching Cart Sizes
There is a $30 administrative fee for switching from a smaller cart to a larger cart, but there is no fee for switching from a larger cart to a smaller cart. If you don't recycling or don't recycle very much, please consider recycling, which can cut household waste by up to 70 percent. To switch your cart size or to order a recycle cart, contact Public Works at
309-434-2225.
Fees for Additional Garbage Bag Stickers
Residents can purchase stickers to be placed on additional bags that do not fit in the provided container, so long as the bags are not more than 35 pounds. The stickers cost $3.00 each. The stickers are designed to accommodate households on those occasions when they dispose of more trash than usual – during holidays, for example. Stickers do not replace carts. All users will be assigned a cart and charged a monthly fee. The stickers may be purchased on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hub on the first floor of the Government Center 115 E. Washington St.
