What waste services does the City of South Bend offer?

Programs offered by Solid Waste: 

• Trash pickup

• Yard waste pickup

• Extra pickup for appliance, bulky item or yard waste 

Bins to choose from: 

• 96-gallon trash bin

• 48-gallon trash bin

• 96-gallon yard waste bin

• 48-gallon yard waste bin

GUIDELINES
Trash Guidelines:

• Bins must be out by by 6:00 a.m. on day of pickup and placed within two feet of the curb with the lid closed and opening facing the street. Bins should NOT be blocked by a vehicle and should be at least three feet from other bins and objects.
   
• All trash must be bagged and placed in city issued bins with the lid closed and the opening facing the street. Bags on top of the bin or on the ground or in personal containers will NOT be collected.
   
• Only regular household trash may be put in bins, No electronic waste, yard waste, loose debris, paints, chemicals or other hazardous materials are allowed. Hazardous waste should be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 828 Kerr Street.

Yard Waste Guidelines:

• All yard waste must be placed in city issued bins with the lid closed and the opening facing the street. Bags on top of the bin or on the ground or in personal containers will NOT be collected. (Residents may order as many bins as necessary for $5.50 each per month.)
   
• Bins must be out by 6:00 a.m. on day of pickup and placed within two feet of the curb with the lid closed and opening facing the street. Bins should NOT be blocked by a vehicle and should be at least three feet from other bins and objects.
   
• Items ACCEPTED in yard waste bins are:
  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves
  • Twigs
  • Weeds
     
• Must be completely void of the items below or it will not be picked up:
  • Animal waste
  • Dirt and rocks
  • Food waste
  • Household trash
  • Lumber
  • Oils, liquids and other hazardous waste
  • Plastic bags
  • Recycling

Guidelines for Extra Pickup for Appliance, Bulky Item or Yard Waste

The City offers three options for extra pickups:

• Appliance
• Bulky Item   
• Yard Waste

You can request one yard waste pickup AND one bulky item or appliance pickup per month at no charge. Fees apply for additional pickups scheduled for the same month (see below). A pickup date will be provided after you submit your request.

*Appliance includes refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, etc. Bulky item pickup covers items that are too big to fit in your regular trash bin, such as furniture.

• To request an extra pickup, fill out the online form or call 311 Monday through Friday between 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. Extra pickups are scheduled on the next available trash day. Due to higher volume of requests during summer months, pickup dates may be scheduled out two or three weeks.
   
• The extra pickup item(s) must then be out at the curb by 6:00 am on the day of service. Items should NOT be placed at the curb any more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled pickup.
   
• Item(s) must be out front, in an open area, unobstructed by cars, trees, powerlines, fences, poles, buildings or trash containers.
   
• APPLIANCE/BULKY ITEM: Solid Waste will remove ONE bulky item or appliance for free each month. Each additional item or cubic yard will be charged at $20 per cubic yard.
   
• YARD WASTE: Pickup of up to 10 biodegradable bags or one cubic yard of bundled/tied branches is free per month.Branches need to be cut to four feet or shorter, be no more than six inches indiameter and bundled securely with twine into manageable bundles.Additional amounts will be charged at a rate of $10 per cubic yard (equates to 10 30-gallon biodegradable bags).
   
• Anything totaling more than $100 will need to be approved by the resident prior to the removal.

RECYCLING INFORMATION
Recycling and the Household Hazardous Waste facility are handled by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management District, not the City of South Bend. They can be reached at 574.235.9971.

How do I get more information on starting new services?

By viewing the City's website here  or by calling the City's 311 call center. 

311 Process Notes

311 Solid Waste Customer Requests for New Residents  3-1-1 liaisons will enter requests for Solid Waste containers and services requested at utility account opening.