City of Elkhart Trash/Recycling Service

NEW CITY ROUTES BEGINNING ON JANUARY 5TH, 2026. YOUR SERVICE DAY MAY BE CHANGING. Service day information will be sent by mail, or city residents can contact us for more information.  

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Elkhart Trash Service Day:
Monday – Friday (2026 city routes are changing. Look out for information in the mail, or give us a call for more information).

Recycling In Elkhart, Indiana
Your city does recycle. You will receive a 96-gallon cart. Refer to our Recycling Tips for more information on how to get the most out of this service. We’ll pick up your recycling weekly, on Monday – Friday (2026 city routes are changing. Look out for information in the mail, or give us a call for more information). Recycling Services are now Cart-Limited. Please make sure you have all recycling materials in your cart to ensure proper pickup. 

Bag Tags and Additional Bags
If you have additional bags, or bags that will not fit in your regular trash cart, you will need to attach a ‘bag tag’ to the additional bag to receive service. Bag tags can be purchased for $3.00 per tag at local Martin’s Supermarkets in Elkhart at the customer service desk. Please leave tagged bags sat next to your trash cart on the curb to ensure service.

Elkhart city residents receive WEEKLY recycling service on the same day as regular trash service (2026 city routes are changing. Look out for information in the mail, or give us a call for more information).

  • Single-Stream customers will receive a 96-gal recycling bin to be serviced (bin size availability varies by location).
  • Single-Stream Recycling doesn’t need sorted like other recycling services. Just toss in any accepted items and we’ll handle the rest.
  • Please refrain from bagging recyclables.
  • Please exclude all plastic bags, clothing, masks, diapers, needles, food and organic items, cords, tape, covers, and liners.

With Borden’s help you can always ensure a spotless yard. Our Yard Waste Collection Service helps you make sure you’ve always got the best and cleanest lot on the block. Yard Waste Collection is included with your regular trash subscription/service at no additional cost.

  • Yard Waste Collection functions similarly to regular trash collection
  • All yard waste must be bagged and placed within your weekly trash collection bin and is collected on your regular weekly collection day.
  • Yard Waste Collection does not cover logs or large portions of shrubbery. We ask all waste to be cut down to an appropriate size before collection.

For more information regarding accepted and excluded items, please contact us.

Electronic waste can be a confusing hassle to dispose of. With Borden and RecyclingWorks, Inc. it’s as easy as 1 2 3. Our partners at RecyclingWorks can expressly deal with any electronic waste at our designated drop off points. Costs may vary per item.

Working with RecyclingWorks allows disposed of items to be recycled and repurposed, some even restored. This process reduces electronic waste overall, and our single-stream process keeps things efficient and running smoothly.

Drop off your electronic items at RecyclingWorks, located at 605 Mason Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00-5:00 and Friday from 8:00-12:00. RecyclingWorks is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  •  As a municipal resident, you get two free large item removals per WEEK as part of your service. Any additional items are priced per item. Please contact us to schedule this service if your large item contains Freon, otherwise city residents can simply leave large items on their curb. Depending on the timing of your call, it may not be possible to schedule it for your next service day, but we will work to get it removed quickly.
  • Additional Large Item Removal services are priced per item.
  • Borden utilizes a specialized removal truck to dispose of heavy and bulky items. Operators are trained to remove items quickly and safely.