
The City of Decatur, Illinois, offers a curbside single-stream recycling program for its residents. The program accepts a variety of materials, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass, and metals. However, it is important to note that certain items, such as plastic bags, light bulbs, and electronics, are not recyclable through the curbside program. Decatur also has a premier commercial recycling facility that specializes in industrial plastics recycling, contributing significantly to the city's sustainability efforts. This facility plays a crucial role in managing and reducing plastic waste in the community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling in Decatur, IL | Curbside Single-Stream Recycling |
| Accepted Items | Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, glass bottles and containers, metals, tin cans, newspapers, phone books, chipboard, junk mail |
| Prohibited Items | Plastic bags, plastic films, styrofoam, hazardous materials, plastic grocery bags, light bulbs, window glass panes, electronics, organic matter |
| Recycling Fee | $2.50 per month |
| Collection | Weekly |
| Collection Tote/Cart Standard | 64 or 96-gallon wheeled tote for garbage collection, and a separate 64 or 96-gallon wheeled tote for recycling |
| Collection Time | March through December, with additional pickups in January and February |
| Yard Waste Stickers | Available at the Civic Center box office, 2nd-floor cashier windows, and the Community Development Department |
| Contact | Macon County Environmental Management, 141 S. Main Street, Room 501, Decatur, IL 62523 |
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What You'll Learn

Curbside recycling
The City of Decatur, Illinois, offers a curbside single-stream recycling service, allowing residents to place all their recyclables in the same bin/cart without sorting. The list of acceptable materials for curbside recycling includes paper, cardboard, chipboard (cereal boxes, etc.), junk mail, plastic bottles, metals, glass, and tin cans. It is important to note that hazardous materials, plastic bags, light bulbs, window glass panes, electronics, and organic matter are not recyclable through this service.
The curbside recycling program is currently only available to single-family households or multi-family dwellings of up to 6 units. Residents can use either the 65-gallon blue recycling cart or the 18-gallon plastic bins provided by the City. The monthly fee for recycling is $2.50, and it is charged on water bills. For properties that do not use city water, billing is done quarterly.
The City of Decatur also provides unlimited weekly yard waste removal for its residential customers from March 1 through December 15 each year, with additional pickups in January and February. Yard waste must be placed in approved containers marked as "yard waste only," and customers can use biodegradable bags, stick bundles, or privately-owned containers.
In addition to the curbside program, Decatur has a premier commercial recycling facility, Circular Services, that specializes in industrial plastics recycling. This facility plays a crucial role in managing and reducing plastic waste, contributing to the city's sustainability efforts. They offer convenient collection services and work with municipalities to keep valuable materials out of landfills.
Overall, Decatur, IL, is committed to providing accessible and efficient recycling services to its residents, promoting a circular economy and a more sustainable future.
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Plastics recycling hub
Circular Services' centralized industrial plastics recycling hub in Decatur, Illinois, has been serving the city since 1990. The 75,000-square-foot facility specializes in industrial plastics recycling and plays a vital role in reducing plastic waste, contributing to Decatur's sustainability goals.
The recycling hub processes approximately 4,000 tons of material monthly, collecting, sorting, processing, and returning end-of-use products to supply chains. This service is provided for local businesses and community organizations, helping them achieve their waste reduction targets. The facility accepts a range of plastics, including beverage bottles, food containers, packaging for cosmetics and household products, and more.
In addition to the centralized hub, Decatur offers curbside single-stream recycling for its residents. This service is provided by Macon County Environmental Management and includes the collection of paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass, and metal. The city provides a 65-gallon blue recycling cart or an 18-gallon plastic bin for recyclables, and residents are not required to sort their recyclables before collection.
However, it is important to note that certain items are prohibited from curbside recycling, such as plastic bags, styrofoam, and plastic films. These items can contaminate recycling loads, so residents are advised to refer to the accepted and prohibited materials list provided by the county.
Through the combined efforts of the centralized plastics recycling hub and the curbside recycling program, Decatur is making significant strides towards a more sustainable future, reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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Yard waste collection
On April 1, 2024, the Decatur City Council approved a universal yard waste collection program. All residential Decatur customers receive unlimited weekly yard waste removal from March 1 through December 15 each year. There is one additional pickup in January and one in February, at a time set by the hauler. The hauler is responsible for notifying customers of the collection times in January and February.
Customers can use any combination of biodegradable bags, stick bundles, and privately-owned containers to set out their yard waste at the curb. Approved yard waste containers must be indicated as "yard waste only." Yard waste stickers are available at the Civic Center box office in the main lobby, at the 2nd-floor cashier windows, and in the Community Development Department on the 3rd floor.
The city collects leaves, grass clippings, and branches from yards at specific times of the year. To find out when your yard waste will be picked up, check the city’s website or call the local waste management department. If your city doesn’t offer a yard debris pickup service, you can schedule a pickup with a third-party company.
If you are looking for a convenient way to dispose of yard waste in the Decatur area, third-party companies also offer pickup and removal services. They are equipped to handle all types of yard debris, from bagged grass clippings to waste from landscaping projects.
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Recycling fees
The City of Decatur, IL, provides its residents with recycling services, which come at a fee. The monthly recycling fee is $2.50, which is added to water bills. Properties that do not use city water are billed quarterly for recycling.
The city provides its residents with a 65-gallon blue recycling cart at no additional charge. However, if you lose your recycling cart, you will have to purchase a new one from Midwest Fiber Recycling, which costs about $55. Residents can also use 18-gallon plastic bins for recycling. The city's recycling program is currently only offered to single-family households or multi-family dwellings of up to 6 units.
The city's recycling services accept a wide range of materials, including paper, plastics, metals, glass, and cardboard. Yard waste is also collected separately, with all residential customers receiving unlimited weekly yard waste removal from March 1 through December 15 each year, plus one additional pickup in January and February. Customers must use approved yard waste containers indicated as "yard waste only" and can use biodegradable bags, stick bundles, and privately-owned containers for yard waste.
Hazardous materials, plastic grocery bags, light bulbs, window glass panes, electronics, and organic matter are not recyclable and should be disposed of separately. Decatur also has a commercial recycling facility, Circular Services, that specializes in industrial plastics recycling. This facility works with the municipality to keep valuable materials like paper, metals, glass, plastics, organics, textiles, and electronics out of landfills.
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Prohibited items
The City of Decatur, Illinois, offers a curbside single-stream recycling program for its residents. This means that all recyclables can go into the same bin/cart, and there is no need to sort them. However, it is important to keep in mind that certain items are prohibited from being recycled through the curbside program. Here is a detailed list of items that are not accepted through the City of Decatur's curbside recycling:
- Plastic bags: These include grocery bags and other thin plastic bags. Plastic bags can contaminate recycling loads and should be avoided.
- Plastic films: This includes plastic wrap, plastic film packaging, and similar thin plastic sheets.
- Styrofoam: Polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, is not accepted for recycling through the curbside program.
- Hazardous materials: Any materials that are considered hazardous should be kept out of the curbside recycling. This includes items like batteries, chemicals, and flammable substances.
- Light bulbs: Incandescent, fluorescent, and LED light bulbs are not accepted for recycling through the curbside program.
- Window glass panes: While glass bottles and containers are recyclable, window glass panes are often treated with chemicals and are not accepted.
- Electronics: Electronic waste, such as computers, phones, and appliances, should not be placed in the curbside recycling bin. Instead, residents can partner with companies like Circular Services, which offer convenient collection of electronics for proper recycling.
- Organic matter: Food waste and other organic materials are not accepted in the curbside recycling.
It is important to note that while these items are prohibited from curbside recycling, some local businesses and organizations in Macon County accept many items that are not included in the curbside program. Residents can refer to the Macon County Environmental Management website or contact their local commercial recycling services for more specific information on prohibited items and alternative recycling options.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bottles and containers are accepted for recycling in Decatur, IL.
Other accepted materials include cardboard, paper, metals, glass, chipboard, and junk mail.
Plastic bags, plastic films, and styrofoam are prohibited from recycling loads in Decatur, IL.
The fee for recycling is $2.50 per month, billed either quarterly or on water bills.
Residents must use a 64 or 96-gallon wheeled tote for recycling.










































