Waste Disposal

General Guidelines for Removal of Refuse, Yard Waste & Recycling from GFL

  1. All items (regular refuse, yard waste and recycling) need to be bagged, in cans, or bundled together in length of 5 feet or less and weighing less than 50 pounds.  No large loose piles can be picked up.

  2. Regular household refuse only will be accepted.  Piles of carpet, construction material, remodeling projects, electronics, appliances, cans with wet paint, tires, batteries or any other items with hazardous waste cannot be taken.  We do have roll off dumpsters available for rent for large projects. The same landfill guidelines are followed on a large dumpster.  An occasional toilet or items such as that will be taken as long as the above guidelines are adhered to.

  3. We do take mattresses and box springs.  However, we will leave them at the curb for one week to insure any viruses are dead.  Also, they need to be less than 5 feet and less than 50 pounds, so if it is longer or heavier than that, it will need to be cut up and bundled together.   We also ask you put them out on different days to cut down on the room in the garbage truck bed.  We will take an occasional couch, unless it is a sleeper sofa.  We cannot take those as the springs get caught in the smasher.

  4. Large piles of furniture cannot be taken.  If someone moves out, again, a roll-off dumpster is available for short term lease.  Prices and information can be obtained from our office. 

  5. Our drivers try to stay on schedule as much as possible, but occasionally the route is ran different for various reasons.  We encourage you to put out your trash, recycling, and yard waste the night before if at all possible.  If you occasionally miss putting out your items, please call the office as soon as possible so we can route someone back to get your trash.  Please try to refrain from missing them.  It causes delays in other parts of the route.

  6. If you have any items you are unsure of, please call the office and we will try and guide you as much as possible.

  7. Yard Waste:  Regarding yard waste, the same rules apply.  No large loose piles of brush, branches, leaves, or grass clippings can be taken unless guideline #1 is adhered to.  If you use a can for yard waste, please mark the can to avoid confusion.  We have different trucks for trash and yard waste, so a different driver and helper will be running that route.  They may not be aware of what your regular trash can looks like.

 

Recycling:  Always put your recycling out in a designated recycling cart.  If you need a blue recycling cart, please again call our office to request one.  Please do not put your recycling in plastic bags.  Recycling needs to be loose in the container to work with our processing system.


All questions regarding any of these services should be directed to GFL Environmental at (309) 274-4589.
 

Click here for Residential Bulky and Large Item Collection Services

 

Waste Disposal Fee FAQs

Why am I getting charged for garbage?

The Village had been able to provide waste disposal service at a reduced rate for its residents for more than 25 years. Due to inflation, the cost to pay for waste disposal had increased until it was more than 11% of the total budget. To help offset increased costs and to further reduce the budget deficit, the Board of Trustees voted to increase the waste disposal fee from $10/month to $20/month effective May 1st, 2024.

 

Why are there separate bills for garbage and water now?

Waste disposal services are now billed on separate statements one month apart. This is to allow residents more time and flexibility for their monthly budgeting needs. Any remaining balance for water will appear as a “previous balance” on the waste disposal statement. The red late notices will no longer be mailed. Accounts set up for auto-payment will process once for water and once for garbage on their respective due dates.

 

I thought it was paid through my property taxes; why is there a bill for this service?

The Village receives less than a nickel per dollar paid in property tax. Of that, slightly more than three cents must be contributed to the police pension fund by law. That leaves the Village with about one cent per dollar taxed to pay for all the services the Village provides (police officers, public works, street and sidewalk repairs, fire department and emergency services). This money represents only 3% of our budgeted expenses.  

 

Is there any assistance program for senior citizens?

Because the Board of Trustees was worried about the impact on our elderly residents on a fixed income, those residents registered for the senior freeze property tax exemption with the County will pay $10/month.