Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cleveland Heights
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.
Black Bin (Trash)
All waste must be bagged and placed securely inside the black cart. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day with the opening facing the street. Keep at least 3 feet away from recycling carts and other obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Clothing that cannot be donated
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely in the cart without plastic bags. Caps and lids should be replaced on plastic containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (with caps)
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hoses, cords, wires
- ✕Food or liquid
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Use Kraft paper bags from May through October for leaves and clippings. Brush must be cut under 4 feet and bundled to no more than 2 feet in diameter. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and tree trimmings
- ✓Hedge clippings
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Monthly during designated neighborhood route week (or by special request)
Placement
Place bulk items on the tree lawn between 7:00 PM Sunday and 7:00 AM Monday of your designated collection week. Keep at least 3 feet away from your carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Washing machines and refrigerators (doors removed)
- ✓ Rolled carpeting (cut to max 3 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires on rims
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Whole house move-out or eviction debris
Up to 4 bulk items are free during your zone's designated week. Additional items, or pickups scheduled on off-weeks, cost $10 per item and must be paid in advance via a Bulk Pickup Request Form.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed city holiday falls on a weekday, refuse and recycling collections will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Friday collections move to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Special yard waste and scheduled bulk collections follow the same holiday delay schedule as standard household refuse.
There are no delays for city holidays that fall on weekends or do not officially impact the weekday collection calendar.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - NovemberThe city provides a special loose leaf collection program. Rake leaves onto the tree lawn (the grassy area between the street and sidewalk) before your neighborhood's designated week. Never rake leaves into the street, as this illegally blocks storm drains.
Winter
December - FebruaryHeavy Ohio snowstorms can disrupt regular refuse and remaining leaf collections. If snow completely covers leaf piles, the city cannot collect them. Ensure your trash and recycling carts are kept clear of snowbanks and have a 3-foot clearance for the trucks.
Spring/Summer
May - OctoberFrom May through October, residents must use biodegradable Kraft bags for loose yard waste. The Public Works Department will not collect yard debris or grass clippings that are packaged in plastic trash bags or cardboard boxes.
Local Tips & Community Info
Automated Cart Placement and Regulations
The City of Cleveland Heights Division of Refuse and Recycling operates a highly efficient automated collection system for its residents. Every participating household is issued a green cart for standard household garbage and a blue cart for recyclables. When positioning your containers at the curb, they must be spaced at least three feet apart from one another and away from obstacles like mailboxes or parked cars. Additionally, the wheels of both carts must face your home to ensure the mechanical arms of the trucks can easily grip them. Unlike your recyclables, local ordinance strictly mandates that all household rubbish must be securely bagged before being placed inside the green refuse cart to prevent littering.
Mandatory Set-Out Windows
To maintain the aesthetic appeal of local neighborhoods and deter urban wildlife, Cleveland Heights enforces specific timelines for waste disposal. Homeowners are prohibited from rolling their carts to the tree lawn prior to 7:00 p.m. on the evening before their scheduled service route. Conversely, to guarantee you do not miss the sanitation crews, all materials must be properly staged at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
Unbagged Blue Cart Recycling
The blue recycling cart is reserved for commingled materials, allowing you to easily mix clean corrugated cardboard, office paper, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and specific plastic jugs all in one place. One of the most critical rules in the Cleveland Heights recycling program is that materials must remain completely loose. Never enclose your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks or garbage bags. Bagged recyclables will be treated as contaminated waste, and sanitation workers may refuse to empty the blue cart if plastic bags are present inside.
First-Week Bulk Item Scheduling
If you are replacing a mattress, upgrading your living room furniture, or clearing out broken appliances, timing is essential. The city does not pick up oversized items every week. Instead, bulk item collection is strictly limited to the first full week of every month, running from Monday through Friday. You may place these heavy items at the curb alongside your regular carts, provided they are set out no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before your route is serviced.
Organic Debris and Kraft Bags
Managing seasonal landscaping waste requires specific preparation. Grass clippings, leaves, and small plant debris must be packed into biodegradable brown paper kraft bags; the city will completely reject yard waste that is placed in plastic garbage bags. For thicker tree branches and brush, residents must cut the limbs to a maximum length of four feet and tie them into tight bundles. Each bundle must not exceed 50 pounds to ensure safe manual lifting by the collection personnel.
Year-Round Electronics Drop-Off
Certain materials should never make their way to the local landfill. For obsolete computer towers, old televisions, mobile phones, and even tangled holiday lights, the city offers a dedicated drop-off solution. Residents can bring their electronic waste to the Cleveland Heights Service Center, conveniently located at 14200 Superior Road. This specialized drop-off program operates year-round from Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Drop-off Facilities
Cleveland Heights Transfer Station
2951 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to put my trash in bags before throwing it in the green cart?
Yes, city regulations require that all standard household garbage must be securely bagged before being placed inside your green refuse cart. Loose trash is not permitted.
When can I put large furniture out for collection in Cleveland Heights?
Oversized bulk items, like couches and appliances, are only collected during the first full week (Monday through Friday) of each month. They can be placed at the curb after 6:00 p.m. the night before.
Are plastic bags allowed in the blue recycling bin?
No. All accepted recyclables must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Plastic bags jam the sorting machinery and will contaminate your entire load.