Customers who prefer a curbside service will be able to subscribe for weekly collection and customers who prefer a lower cost option may use a new drop-off center.
1. Subscription service for curbside collection
To subscribe for curbside pick up service, residents must pay an annual seasonal subscription fee of $100. The yard waste collection season is from the first week in April thru the first week in December.
Subscribers are required to place an orange, City of Rock Island yard waste sticker on each bag. Ten (10) free stickers will be given to subscribers. Bundled brush will be collected for free and does not require a sticker. In addition an official City of Rock Island 96 gallon yard waste cart(s) can be rented for additional $50.00 each for the season. The official City of Rock Island 96 gallon yard waste cart does not require stickers and brush does not have to be bundled to be placed in it. Yard waste and brush will be collected one day per week throughout the season.
Subscription applications are also available at City Hall and the Public Works Department. Residents may also subscribe over the phone by calling Finance Department at 732-2000 or Public Works at 732-2200, and then mail in the subscription fee. Subscription requests will be taken starting in March of 2005. Residents may subscribe anytime during the yard waste collection season.
The following rules and regulations apply to the subscription curbside service:
- Yard waste (except brush and limbs) must be placed in two-ply paper yard waste bags or an official City of Rock Island 96 gallon yard waste cart
- Gross weight of the 2-ply paper bags must not exceed 50 lbs.
- A City of Rock Island Yard Waste sticker must be attached to each 2-ply paper bag. Stickers are available at City hall (1528 3rd Ave.) and sell for $1.00. Various retail stores also sell stickers (prices may vary). Residents should purchase 2-ply paper yard waste bags at a store of their choice.
- Bundled brush does not require a sticker. Limbs and branches 3 inches in diameter or less is considered as yard waste. Brush must be tied in bundles not more than 2 feet in diameter by 4 ½ ft. long and weigh no more than 50 lbs unless it is placed in an official City of Rock Island 96 gallon yard waste cart. Only twine or string may be used to tie bundles. No wire or plastic ties.
- Individuals renting the official City of Rock Island 96 gallon yard waste cart must have the cart lid closed in order for it to be picked up. The lid opening on the cart must face the right-of-way for pick-up.
- Yard waste mixed with regular household waste will not be taken
- Yard waste must be at the regular collection up point by 7:00 am to guarantee pick-up.
2. Yard Waste Drop-off center
A drop off site for Rock Island residents to bring and dispose of yard waste located at the Public Works facility, 1309 Mill Street. The site is open every Saturdays, except holidays, between 8 am and 4 pm. Residents will be directed to pull their vehicles adjacent to large containers where yard waste may be disposed of. Residents are responsible for loading their own waste into the containers. An attendant will be on duty to collect fees. Fees charged at the center will be as follows:
- Bag or can of grass or leaves - $1.00 each
- Loose grass or leaves - $10.00 per cubic yard
- Mid size pick-up – 1 cu.Yd., cost $10.00 per load
- Full size pick-up – 2 cu. Yd., cost $20.00 per load
- Trailers and larger trucks will be measured
- Brush and limbs will be taken for free - limit of one pick-up truckload per Saturday.
- If yard waste is mixed with brush, the yard waste fee will apply to the entire load.
The following rules and regulations apply to the drop-off site:
- Residents may bring yard waste to the site in bags or cans of their choice.
- Plastic bags may not be thrown into the yard waste containers. A trash container will be available for the disposal of discarded plastic bags.
- If residents use two-ply paper yard waste bags, the paper bags may be thrown into the yard waste containers.
- Yard waste mixed with regular household waste will not be taken
- Residents may pre-pay for their bags of yard waste by placing a City of Rock Island yard waste sticker on the bag.
- Residents should use only twine or string to bundle brush. No wire or plastic ties.
Grass or shrubbery cuttings, leaves, tree limbs, and other materials accumulated as the result of the care of lawns, shrubbery, vines, and trees. Only limbs and branches 3 inches in diameter or less are considered as yard waste.
