Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Columbus
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential curbside trash and recycling services are municipal services funded through the city general fund, while city water and sewer services are billed quarterly by Columbus Water & Power.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person, and Authorized Retailers (e.g., Kroger, Giant Eagle, Meijer, Western Union)
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income households (under 200% federal poverty level or enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or HEAP) can receive a 30% discount on water, sewer, and power usage. Income-eligible seniors aged 60 and older can have monthly base service charges waived.
City-issued 90/96-Gallon Cart Bin (Trash)
City Code requires regular trash to be securely bagged and tied before it is placed in the Refuse Collection container. Only trash completely inside the container will be collected. Set out by 6:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Pet waste (double-bagged)
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All items should be empty, clean, and placed loose in the blue cart. Never place recyclables in plastic bags. Plastic lids should be reattached to bottles prior to recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper (flattened)
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and cups
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Metal cans and food/beverage cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam and foam plates
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, chains)
- ✕Batteries and flammables
Yard Waste Bin
Place in biodegradable paper bags or 32-gallon rigid containers marked 'Yard Waste', weighing no more than 50 lbs each. Branches must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 feet long and 2 feet wide.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and shrubbery
- ✓Branches (less than 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only
Placement
Place bulk items away from obstructions on your specially scheduled day. Small bags, boxes, or open tubs of trash are not considered bulk and will be rejected by the crew.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpet (cut to 4-foot lengths, rolled and tied)
- ✓ Non-refrigerated appliances (dishwashers, washing machines)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Refrigerated appliances (fridges, freezers, AC units)
- ✕ Pianos and hot tubs
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Excavating and building debris
Bulk pickup is a free service for Columbus residents, but items resulting from an eviction, set-out, or foreclosure are strictly prohibited and will not be collected by the city.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no trash collection on city-observed holidays. Because of the rotating color schedule, your scheduled trash collection day will permanently move forward one day after each holiday.
Yard Waste Exception
Recycling and yard waste operate on fixed weekdays. During a holiday week, if your scheduled day falls on or after the holiday, collection is delayed by one day (e.g., Friday moves to Saturday).
Check your assigned Color Schedule (Navy, Pink, Ruby, Gold, Gray) via the PickUp CBUS app to confirm your exact shifting trash collection day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - NovemberColumbus strictly prohibits sweeping autumn leaves into the street or storm drains. All leaves must be placed in approved paper yard bags or clearly labeled rigid containers for the bi-weekly yard waste collection.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring severe winter weather, keep your carts completely clear of snowbanks. The automated mechanical arms on the collection trucks need at least three feet of clearance to safely grab your bins.
Summer
June - AugustBeat the heat: Collection crews may start their routes earlier than usual during extreme heatwaves to protect worker health. Ensure your trash, recycling, and yard waste are at the curb by 6:00 AM to prevent a missed pickup.
Local Tips & Community Info
Columbus Residential Trash Pickup Schedule
Navigating the City of Columbus trash collection schedule is straightforward once you know the basics. Columbus utilizes a specific rotation for residential refuse collection. Residents are assigned a regular collection day, which typically rotates forward after city-recognized holidays. It is important to place your 90-gallon refuse container out by 6:00 a.m. on your designated day. To check your exact schedule, you can easily look it up using the city's 311 online portal or by calling the 311 Service Center.
Columbus Recycling Collection Guidelines
RecyColumbus is the city's dedicated recycling program aimed at keeping reusable materials out of the landfill. Your blue recycling cart is collected every other week on the same day as your regular trash pickup. Be sure to only put accepted items like paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and metal cans in the blue bin. Do not bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the container. Yard waste and household garbage do not belong in the recycling cart.
Scheduling Bulk Waste Disposal in Columbus
Getting rid of large household items like mattresses, furniture, and appliances is easy with the Columbus bulk collection service. However, the city will not pick these up on your normal trash day unless you have scheduled an appointment. You must request a bulk pickup ahead of time by calling 614-645-3111 or submitting a ticket online at 311.columbus.gov. Remember that hazardous materials, auto parts, and appliances containing refrigerants are strictly prohibited from this service.
Yard Waste Pickup Procedures
Columbus offers regular yard waste collection to help residents maintain their lawns and gardens responsibly. Yard waste is picked up on the same rotating schedule as your trash. Leaves, branches, and grass clippings must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or rigid containers clearly marked for yard waste. Never use plastic bags for leaves or twigs, as the crews will leave them at the curb. Bundle any loose branches with twine, keeping them under four feet in length.
Holiday Delays & Collection Map
Columbus observes several major holidays throughout the year, which can shift your collection day. Typically, if a holiday falls on or before your regular pickup day, your service will be pushed back by one day for the rest of that week. The city provides a color-coded collection calendar and interactive map online, allowing you to easily track when to roll your carts to the curb during holiday weeks.
Bin Placement & Missed Pickups
Proper bin placement ensures a smooth operation for the automated trash trucks. Place your containers at the edge of the street or alleyway, keeping them at least three feet away from cars, trees, and other carts. The arrows on the lid should point toward the street. If you followed all guidelines and your trash was still missed, you can report a missed pickup directly to the Columbus 311 Service Center within 24 hours to have a truck return to your property.
Drop-off Facilities
Alum Creek Waste and Reuse Convenience Center
2100 Alum Creek Drive, Columbus, OH 43207
Materials Accepted
Com-Til Compost Facility
7000 Jackson Pike, Columbus, OH 43137
Materials Accepted
SWACO Household Hazardous Waste Center
645 East 8th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulk pickup in Columbus?
You must contact the Columbus 311 Customer Service Center at 614-645-3111 or visit 311.columbus.gov to request a scheduled collection date for large items.
What time should my trash and recycling bins be placed at the curb?
All refuse, recycling, and yard waste containers must be placed out by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day to guarantee pickup.
Where can I drop off bulk items if I don't want to wait for a pickup?
Columbus operates Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers, such as the ones on Alum Creek Drive and Georgesville Road, where residents can drop off bulky household items for free.