Rockford Announces Final 2025 Yard Waste Pickup Week Before Winter Suspension

You only have one more opportunity to get yard waste picked up in the City of Rockford before the service is suspended for the winter.

Final Collection Week Set for Early December

According to a press release, the City of Rockford has announced that the final week of residential yard waste collection for the 2025 season will take place beginning next week.

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From Monday, December 1, through Thursday, December 5, residents will have their last opportunity for leaves, branches, and other approved yard debris to be collected.

One More Opportunity Coming in Early January

While regular collection will end on December 5, residents will have a chance to have their Christmas tree picked up after the holiday season ends.

According to the press release, Christmas tree collection will be in early January 2026, and then yard waste pickup will not resume until the city's compost site reopens in spring 2026.

The exact reopening date for next spring is still to be determined.

Strict Requirements for Yard Waste Disposal

Rockford officials are reminding residents to follow all disposal rules to ensure proper pickup.

Yard waste must be placed in compostable paper bags or 32-gallon (or smaller) cans marked with a large "X" visible from the street. Larger debris, such as twigs and branches, must be bundled no more than 4 feet long and 2 feet in diameter, and tied with string or twine, never wire or tape.

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Branches thicker than 4 inches are not accepted, according to the City of Rockford, nor are tree stumps, root balls, dirt, or mulch.

No container or bundle may exceed 50 pounds, and yard waste must not be mixed with trash or placed in plastic bags.