Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Athens
Ohio waste management services operate on weekly zone-based schedules. Exact pickup days vary based on your local municipality or private franchise hauler.
State Mandate
Ohio EPA regulations prohibit the disposal of whole scrap tires in standard landfills.
Green or Brown Rumpke Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day or the evening prior. Carts are provided by Rumpke based on your household's subscribed service level.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam and packaging peanuts
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables should be lightly rinsed, clean, and placed loose inside the blue recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags, as they jam the processing equipment.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and clean paperboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓#1 through #7 plastic containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Film plastic (grocery bags, shrink wrap)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Organic food waste should go in the provided 7-gallon curbside compost bin. Larger brush must be cut, bundled, and require city stickers or a private tree service. Leaves are handled by Public Works vacuums in the fall.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (in the 7-gallon compost bin)
- ✓Small cut brush
- ✓Seasonal leaves
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular service day
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. All fabric and upholstered items, including mattresses and couches, must be fully wrapped and sealed in plastic before pickup to protect workers.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (wrapped if upholstered)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be plastic-wrapped)
- ✓ Non-Freon household appliances
- ✓ Large toys or general household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Freon-bearing appliances (unless tagged by an HVAC tech)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Automotive tires and parts
- ✕ Heavy construction or demolition debris
While standard bulky items are picked up at no extra cost, mattresses can alternatively be sustainably recycled via Rural Action's Zero Waste Program for a $20 exact cash fee to prevent them from entering the Athens-Hocking Landfill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Rumpke operates on a standard 6-day holiday schedule. If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday on or before your regular service day, collection will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Curbside composting and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard trash collection.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your standard Monday through Thursday collection schedule will typically remain unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Film Out of the Blue Carts
The Athens-Hocking Recycling Center strictly prohibits plastic bags, shrink wrap, and bubble wrap in curbside bins. These film plastics act as 'tanglers' and jam the facility's sorting machinery. Take them to local grocery stores with dedicated film recycling drop-offs instead.
Styrofoam Belongs in the Trash
Despite often having a recycling symbol, Styrofoam food containers, cups, and packing peanuts are not accepted in your curbside recycling in Athens. Please bag them securely to prevent litter and place them in your regular Rumpke trash cart.
The 'Empty and Clean' Rule
A quick rinse makes a massive difference. Wash out peanut butter jars, soup cans, and yogurt tubs before tossing them in the recycling bin. Leftover food residue can contaminate an entire truckload of clean cardboard and paper.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberDuring the fall leaf pick-up season, Athens citizens can rake dead leaves to the curb line (ensuring they do not cover storm catch basins) and notify the Department of Public Works. A municipal vacuum truck will sweep them up as routes permit.
Spring
MayDuring the Ohio University move-out season, avoid overloading curbside trash bins. Utilize designated community drop-off sites to donate usable furniture, clothing, and unopened food to local charities instead of sending it to the landfill.
Winter
January to FebruarySevere winter snowstorms in Athens County can delay sanitation vehicles. Place your bins in an area safely cleared of snow and away from the direct path of municipal snowplows to ensure seamless collection.
About Athens Waste Management
Comprehensive Solid Waste Services in Athens, Ohio
The City of Athens partners with Rumpke Waste & Recycling to provide comprehensive curbside trash, recycling, and composting services to all residential households. Following a major system upgrade in early 2024, residents now utilize standardized rolling carts for regular refuse and blue carts for single-stream recycling. All materials collected in the city are processed locally, with trash heading directly to the Athens-Hocking Landfill and recyclables sorted at the nearby Athens-Hocking Recycling Center.
Athens' Unique Curbside Composting Initiative
To support local sustainability goals and reduce landfill methane emissions, Athens automatically enrolls non-commercial residents into an innovative curbside composting program. Each eligible household is provided with a specialized 7-gallon bin for organic food waste, which is collected weekly alongside regular trash. Residents who already manage a backyard compost pile can contact the city's utility office to officially opt out of the service and have the monthly fee removed from their utility bill.
Navigating Bulk Item and Upholstery Disposal
When upgrading your living space or preparing for a move, disposing of large items safely is a top priority. Athens residents can set out bulky waste on their regular collection day. However, strict sanitary rules require that all mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture be completely encased and sealed in plastic wrap before being placed at the curb. This mandatory Rumpke guideline protects sanitation workers from potential hazards like bed bugs during manual loading.
Sustainable Move-Out and Mattress Recycling Options
The annual spring move-out period for Ohio University students generates massive amounts of reusable goods, textiles, and furniture. To keep these valuable materials out of the landfill, local organizations and the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District establish temporary donation stations on campus and around town. Additionally, Rural Action offers a dedicated mattress recycling pickup service for a nominal cash fee, ensuring metal springs and foam are repurposed rather than trashed.
Drop-off Facilities
Athens-Hocking Recycling Center (AHRC)
5991 Industrial Drive, Athens, OH 45701
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash and recycling out in Athens?
All Rumpke trash carts, blue recycling bins, and 7-gallon compost bins must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled service day. You may also place them out the evening prior to avoid missed collections.
How does the Athens curbside composting program work?
All non-commercial residents are automatically enrolled and receive a 7-gallon composting container from Rumpke. The service currently costs $8.42 per month and successfully diverts organic waste from the landfill to significantly reduce methane emissions.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or air conditioner?
Before Rumpke can legally collect any Freon-bearing appliance, the chemical refrigerant must be safely evacuated by a licensed HVAC technician. The appliance must be officially tagged with proof of removal before it is placed at the curb for bulk pickup.
Can I opt out of the city's composting program if I don't need it?
Yes. If you already compost at home or simply prefer not to participate, you can officially opt out by emailing [email protected] with your name, service address, and account number to have the monthly charge removed.