Solid Waste & Trash

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is a federal agency dedicated to the management and conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations. With over 560 national wildlife refuges and numerous fish hatcheries across the country, the agency engages in a wide range of conservation initiatives and provides technical assistance, permitting, and educational resources. Founded in 1871, the USFWS aims to protect biodiversity and ecosystems while addressing contemporary conservation challenges such as climate change and wildlife trafficking. Through partnerships and community involvement, it encourages public engagement in preserving the natural environment and supports various recreational opportunities in natural settings. Generated from the website

The Division of Environmental Services, a part of South Bend Department of Public Works, consists of the wastewater, solid waste and organic resource sections. Its bureau of wastewater facilitates the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater and is responsible for the operation of the treatment facility. The division manages a sludge plant and interceptor sewer and sewer overflow systems. Its bureau of solid waste collects, treats and disposes of residential solid waste and public trash containers. The Division of Environmental Services also offers the Pick-Me-Up Program for heavy and large item disposal and the Yard Waste Program for recycling of yard debris.

South Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in South Bend, Indiana, operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The plant is designed to treat an average flow of 48 million gallons per day and can treat at least 77 million gallons a day under high flow. It treated over 13 billion gallons of water in 2018 and is committed to improving local water quality by upgrading its sewer system and implementing a Long-term Control Plan. The Long-term Control Plan, consisting of two phases, aims to separate the sewer system, prevent combined sewer overflow events, and enhance the city's Smart Sewer System. Phase 1, completed in 2017, successfully removed over 75% of the annual CSO volume and prevented more than 1,500 million gallons of combined sewage from entering the St. Joseph River each year. Phase 2, known as the SAGE Plan, commenced in 2021 and includes projects such as wastewater treatment plant expansion and the construction of a two million-gallon combined sewage storage tank. The plan is set to be completed by 2038.Generated from the website