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Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Akron
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your street or neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as your trash collection.
Yard Waste
Bundled branches (up to 4 feet) and bagged yard waste can be placed out on regular collection days or scheduled through seasonal leaf pickup and special bulk pickups.
Set Out Time
By 4:30 AM on collection day (and no earlier than 4:30 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling collection fees are bundled directly onto your monthly City of Akron municipal utility (water and sewer) bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, Phone, In-Person / Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
The city offers a Water Bill Assistance Program and Sewer Discount Program providing up to 40% discounts for eligible low-income households and Homestead Exemption recipients.
Grey/Black Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged before being placed in the cart. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled collection day, spaced 3 feet apart from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Diapers and pet waste (bagged)
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be loose (never bagged), clean, and dry. Do not place glass in the curbside bin; utilize designated drop-off glass recycling centers throughout Summit County.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper and mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (requires drop-off)
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable paper yard bags or loose in an authorized separate receptacle, never in plastic bags. Branches must be cut to 4 feet in length and bundled.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches (cut and tied)
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular trash day
Placement
Bulk items must be placed at the curb no earlier than 4:30 PM the day before collection and by 7:00 AM on collection day. Keep them clear of utility poles and overhead wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Non-Freon appliances
- ✓ Large rolls of carpet (cut to 4ft and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Refrigerators and freezers (unless Freon is professionally removed)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Cast iron bathtubs
There is no additional fee for the standard 3-item bulk pickup, as it is included in your standard municipal utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. Friday collections will occur on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste delays run concurrently with standard trash and recycling delays.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is typically no delay in the weekday residential collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring heavy lake-effect snowfalls, ensure your carts are not buried in snowbanks or placed in the street where they obstruct snowplows. Clear a small area on your driveway apron for cart placement.
Fall
October - NovemberThe city executes designated leaf pickup routes. Check the Akron street sweeping and leaf removal schedule. Do not rake leaves into the street or storm drains; use paper lawn bags for off-schedule removal.
Spring
March - MayAs yard work resumes, remember that heavy soil, sod, and rocks are not accepted in standard yard waste collection and can break the automated lifting arms of the sanitation trucks.
Local Tips & Community Info
Early Morning Garbage Set-Out Rules
The City of Akron Sanitation Division manages residential refuse collection with a very strict early-morning timeline. Because trucks deploy before dawn, homeowners are mandated to have their city-issued trash carts positioned at the curb no later than 4:30 a.m. on their scheduled service day. Placing your bins out the night before is generally the best practice to avoid missed collections. All household garbage must be contained entirely within the cart with the lid closed completely.
Curbside Recycling Guidelines
Akron provides single-stream recycling to help divert reusable materials from regional landfills. Residents utilize a dedicated cart for clean paper products, flattened corrugated cardboard, glass bottles, and specific plastics. A critical regulation enforced by the city is the absolute prohibition of plastic bags inside the recycling container. Materials must be dropped in loosely. Bagged recyclables will be treated as contamination, and the city may refuse to empty the cart until the unapproved bags are removed.
Handling Heavy Debris and Bulk Waste
One of the unique advantages of Akron's municipal waste program is its generous bulk pickup policy. Residents do not need to call ahead or schedule a special appointment for most large household items. You are permitted to place up to three bulk items—such as a sofa, mattress, or broken dresser—at the curb right next to your standard trash cart on your regular collection day. Appliances containing freon, however, require a specialized extraction process and must be handled by certified private disposal companies.
Navigating Automated Truck Clearances
Because Akron utilizes highly efficient automated side-loading garbage trucks, spatial awareness at the curb is mandatory. The mechanical claws need ample room to grip the containers without damaging nearby property. Residents must guarantee at least three feet of empty space around every single cart. Keep bins completely separated from mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked vehicles, and utility poles. The metal lifting bar must always face the center of the street.
Seasonal Yard Waste Restrictions
Disposing of organic yard matter requires following seasonal municipal directives. Grass clippings, pulled weeds, and small twigs cannot be mixed with standard household garbage. During the active growing season, residents must pack their yard debris into biodegradable brown paper bags. Plastic garbage bags are strictly forbidden for lawn waste. Brush and thicker branches must be tied tightly with biodegradable twine into bundles no longer than four feet to ensure they fit inside the compaction hoppers safely.
Winter Weather and Holiday Disruptions
Northeast Ohio winters can be brutal, and severe snowstorms occasionally force the Sanitation Division to suspend routes for the safety of their drivers. When a weather emergency is declared, or when a major federal holiday occurs on a weekday, collections shift back by 24 hours. The Akron 311 system pushes out automated alerts regarding weather-related delays, so downloading the city's 311 app is highly recommended for real-time routing updates.
Drop-off Facilities
ReWorks (Summit County Household Hazardous Waste Center)
1201 Graham Rd, Stow, OH 44224
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute latest time I can put my trash out in Akron?
All refuse and recycling carts must be placed at the curb by 4:30 a.m. on your collection day, as route drivers start their shifts exceptionally early.
Do I need to schedule an appointment for bulk trash pickup?
No appointment is necessary for standard bulk items. Akron residents can set out up to three large household items on their regular weekly trash collection day.
Why did the truck leave a tag on my recycling bin?
Tags are typically left when a cart is too close to an obstruction or contains contaminated materials, such as plastic grocery bags or yard waste.