Regional Compliance Hub: Chemicals, Paint & Electronics (Tue–Sat) — Bloomington / Monroe County, IN
This regional hub is designed to keep communities compliant by directing residents to the correct, approved facility for items that are strictly not safe (and commonly not allowed) in standard landfill-bound trash streams—especially household chemicals, flammables, pesticides, paint, and electronics. Monroe County’s primary “Hazardous Materials & Recycling” facility is the South Walnut Recycling Center (Waste Reduction District / Monroe County Solid Waste Management District). [1][2]
South Walnut Recycling Center (HHW + Paint Exchange + Electronics + Freon Appliances)
The “HazMat” Solution (Year-Round): The District states that full household hazardous waste is handled at South Walnut.
This includes common HHW categories such as chemicals, pesticides, and other hazardous household products accepted under program rules.
[3]
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday (7:30 AM – 5:30 PM). Closed Sundays & Mondays.
[1][2]
- Facility: South Walnut Recycling Center (Waste Reduction District)[1]
- Address: 3400 S Walnut St, Bloomington, IN 47401[1]
- Hours: Tues–Sat: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Closed Sun/Mon[1]
- Full HHW: The District identifies full household hazardous waste at South Walnut only[3]
Paint Exchange: Drop Off (or Pick Up) Usable Paint
Paint Exchange: The District’s “Paint Exchange & Disposal” program states that paint is accepted only at South Walnut. Usable paint received is placed in the Haz Bin room so residents can use it for small home projects when available. [4]
Electronics (Daily Drop-Off): Screens Have a Fee
Electronics (Examples): The District accepts electronics at its facilities; however, it specifies that items with a screen 7 inches or larger (examples include TVs, monitors, and laptops) cost $20 per item and are accepted at South Walnut. Other electronics are listed as free under District rules. [5]
- Screen Fee: $20 per item for TVs/monitors/laptops and other screen devices (7"+), accepted at South Walnut[5]
- Other Electronics: Other electronics are listed as free per District guidance (confirm accepted item types before driving)[5]
Appliance Recycling: Freon Appliances ($20 Fee)
The District lists a $20 per appliance fee for Freon / refrigerant-containing appliances so refrigerant can be safely recovered and the unit recycled. Accepted examples include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. [6]
Crucial Warnings: Bulk Trash, Orange Bags & The “Apartment Gap”
The “Apartment Gap” (5+ Units): The City of Bloomington’s Sanitation Department states that buildings with more than four (4) units are
exempt from City trash/recycling service. Many apartment communities are therefore serviced by private haulers and on-site dumpsters, not City carts.
[7][8]
What this means for recycling: If your community does not provide a recycling container/service, you may need to self-haul recyclables to an approved District drop-off location.
[1][7]
Bulk Trash (The “Rotating” Rule): Free Windows at Rural Sites
Free option (rotation-based): The District states that bulky item disposal is available one week per month at each rural site
(not available at South Walnut). Always check the District calendar for the current month’s bulky item schedule before loading a truck.
[3][9]
Paid option (year-round backup): If you cannot wait for the monthly bulky week, private facilities operate locally.
Rumpke lists a Bloomington Resource Recovery Facility at 5220 S Production Dr that serves as a recycling and waste transfer facility.
Fees and accepted-item rules vary by operator—confirm before driving.
[10]
The “Orange Bag” Confusion: These Are Trash Bags (Not Recycling)
Clarification: The District’s Orange Bag Program is a pay-as-you-throw trash system for Monroe County residents who do not have City curbside pick-up or do not use a private trash hauler. The District explicitly states: Do I use the Orange Bags for Recycling? NO. Do not put recyclables in Orange Bags. [11][12]
Latex Paint (Recommendation): Dry It Out at Home When Possible
Practical compliance tip: While South Walnut accepts paints under its program, the City of Bloomington’s materials provide standard guidance that residents can dry out latex paint (using absorbent such as kitty litter/sawdust) before disposal, which can reduce trips and preserve HHW capacity for more toxic chemicals. [8]
- City Service Limit: Bloomington sanitation service is for single-family and multi-family (4 units or fewer); buildings with more than 4 units are exempt[7][8]
- Full HHW: District identifies full HHW at South Walnut only[3]
- Paint Exchange: Paint accepted only at South Walnut; reusable paint may be available in the Haz Bin room[4]
- Electronics Screens: $20 per screen device (7"+), accepted at South Walnut[5]
- Freon Appliances: $20 fee per refrigerant-containing appliance (refrigerators/freezers/A&C/dehumidifiers)[6]
- Bulky Rotation: Bulky item disposal is available 1 week/month at rural sites; check the District calendar[3][9]
- Orange Bags: Orange Bag Program is trash (pay-as-you-throw) and the District says not for recycling[11][12]
EEAT Sources: [1] Waste Reduction District: Recycling & Disposal Centers (South Walnut address + Tue–Sat hours) | [2] Waste Reduction District: S. Walnut location page (address + hours) | [3] GoGreenDistrict (District overview): Full HHW at South Walnut only; bulky item disposal 1 week/month at rural sites | [4] Waste Reduction District: Household Hazardous Waste (Paint Exchange & Disposal details) | [5] GoGreenDistrict: Electronics Recycling ($20 fee for screen devices 7"+; South Walnut acceptance) | [6] Waste Reduction District: Accepted Items (Freon appliance recycling fee $20; accepted appliance list) | [7] City of Bloomington (IN): Sanitation Services (buildings with more than four units are exempt) | [8] City of Bloomington (IN) PDF: Tenant Info brochure (trash/recycling for single-family + 4-units-or-less; cart basics) | [9] Waste Reduction District: Calendar (bulky item schedule by month) | [10] Rumpke: Monroe County Resource Recovery Facility (5220 S Production Dr; transfer/recycling facility reference) | [11] Waste Reduction District: Orange Bag Program (pay-as-you-throw trash for residents without City curbside) | [12] Waste Reduction District: “Do I use the Orange Bags for Recycling? NO!!” (orange bags are not for recycling)
Bloomington and Monroe County property owners and community managers: simplify solid-waste and recycling compliance while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with City of Bloomington sanitation rules, Monroe County solid waste and environmental standards, and Indiana best-practice models (including Shelby County’s mandatory multifamily recycling framework and Lake County recycling-plan requirements) to reduce contamination and protect NOI— all with a turnkey program.
Today, neither Bloomington nor Monroe County has a dedicated apartment recycling mandate. Multifamily communities operate under general solid waste, nuisance, zoning, and hauler requirements. This makes it the ideal time to build a compliance-plus program that protects your property from citations now and positions you ahead of future mandates.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Amenity-driven valet trash & recycling that supports rent premiums and renewals.
- Resident Convenience: Doorstep service reduces overflow and keeps common areas clean.
- Compliance-Plus Strategy: Aligns with Bloomington sanitation rules, Monroe County solid-waste guidelines, and emerging Indiana mandatory-recycling models.
- Inspector-Friendly Design: Container layouts, labels, and resident education that support clean inspections and fewer complaints.
At a Glance: City of Bloomington vs Monroe County (County-Wide Services)
City of Bloomington
- Mandate Type: No dedicated apartment recycling mandate. The City provides weekly curbside trash & recycling for eligible residential accounts.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to all City-served residential units; many apartments use private haulers.
- Duties: Maintain adequate service, keep enclosures sanitary, prevent illegal dumping, follow hauler set-out, placement, and contamination standards.
- Program Notes: Recycling supported by the Monroe County Resource Recovery Facility and Waste Reduction District drop-off sites.
- Key City & District Links: City Trash · City Recycling · Waste Reduction District · Recycling Centers · Resource Recovery Facility · Shelby County Mandatory Recycling (Multifamily)
Monroe County (County-Wide Services)
- Mandate Type: No apartment-specific recycling ordinance. Recycling options rely on District centers and private haulers.
- Applicability Threshold: Solid waste and hauler rules apply county-wide to all generators.
- Duties: Use permitted haulers, follow disposal and containment rules, adhere to District facility guidelines.
- Interlocal Role: The Waste Reduction District coordinates recycling and disposal county-wide.
- Key County Links: Monroe County Solid Waste · District Waste Overview · Drop-Off Centers
Fines & Penalties Snapshot (Bloomington & Monroe County)
- Bloomington – Sanitation & Nuisance Violations: Improper storage or set-out of waste, overflowing dumpsters, and accumulated trash can lead to civil penalties and daily fines.
- Monroe County – Solid Waste & Transport Rules: Violations of transporter or facility rules can trigger administrative enforcement, penalties, or permit restrictions.
- District Facilities – Load Compliance: Non-compliant loads (uncovered, incorrect materials) may be refused or incur extra handling fees at District centers.
- Tip: Keep photos, communications, service logs, and hauler notices to document good-faith compliance.
Property Manager Compliance-Plus Checklist (Bloomington & Monroe County)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Stack | Verify whether the community is inside Bloomington or unincorporated Monroe County and map City, District, and private-hauler responsibilities. | Bloomington Sanitation · District Home |
| ☑ Build Baseline Waste & Optional Recycling Service | Maintain reliable trash service and implement a structured resident recycling program (valet or centralized), even though it’s voluntary. | City Recycling · District Waste |
| ☑ Containers, Enclosure Layout & Contamination | Use adequate containers, provide clear signage, and follow hauler guidelines on accepted materials, contamination, and overflow prevention. | Resource Recovery Facility |
| ☑ Resident Education & Signage | Provide simple, color-coded instructions at move-in and during the year, reinforcing correct recycling and waste placement expectations. | District Resources |
| ☑ Document Fines, Fees & Vendor Agreements | Keep hauler contracts, notices, and photos to support inspections or appeals. | District Centers |
| ☑ Future-Proof Against New Mandates | Design your program so it can plug directly into a Shelby County–style mandatory recycling rule or a Cedar Lake–style recycling-plan requirement without major changes. | Shelby Mandatory Recycling · District Resources |
Need a fast compliance-plus check? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Bloomington or Monroe County property — we’ll right-size your containers, design resident-friendly doorstep service, and prepare inspection- and investor-ready compliance documentation.
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