Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Delaware
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 Black (City-provided Tipcart) Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb by 5:00 AM on your collection day. All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid closed unless an official $1.50 Bag Tag is affixed to extra bags. A QR code on the lid links to schedule updates.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Heavily soiled paper products
Blue (City-provided Tipcart) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, empty, and placed loosely inside the recycling tipcart. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel food cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Medical sharps
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Place loose yard waste in biodegradable paper bags or 32-gallon containers marked 'Yard Waste'. Containers, bags, or bundled brush must not exceed 50 pounds each. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Lawn trimmings and grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Bushes, vines, and brush
- ✓Biodegradable garden waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Typically Thursdays)
Placement
Place approved items at the curb prior to 5:00 AM on your scheduled Thursday bulk collection day. Ensure items do not block the sidewalk or standard refuse tipcarts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large toys
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Carpeting (cut into 4-foot bundles, up to 18 bundles = 1 item)
- ✓ Basketball poles (cut to 4-foot sections with base emptied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Unwrapped mattresses
- ✕ Items not listed on the pre-approved registration form
- ✕ Hazardous materials and wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
A base fee of $50 covers up to five items. Additional items cost $10 each. Payments must be made via credit card online, or in-person using cash or check. In-person credit card payments are not accepted.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
In some instances, refuse collection is delayed by a day for certain recognized holidays. Residents can scan the QR code located on the top of their city-provided tipcart to view the exact holiday delay schedule for the current year.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling follow the same holiday delay schedule as standard household refuse.
When a major holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week are typically pushed back one day, with Friday routes serviced on Saturday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags or garbage bags [1.1.3]. Bagged recyclables pose a severe safety hazard to workers and jam the sorting machinery at the processing facility, leading to entire loads being sent to the landfill.
Prep Your Glass for Bulk Pickup
If you are scheduling a bulk pickup for mirrors, windows, or large glass items, the city requires you to heavily tape the glass so it doesn't shatter upon collection, or place it inside a fully taped box clearly marked 'Glass' to protect the sanitation crew.
No Dirt or Treated Wood in Yard Waste
When bagging yard debris, ensure it only contains natural plant matter. Rocks, dirt, topsoil, clay, and treated lumber are completely prohibited from the yard waste stream and will result in your container being left at the curb.
Seasonal Information
Spring through Late Autumn
Mid-April - Mid-DecemberThe City of Delaware's curbside yard waste collection program runs weekly during these months on your scheduled refuse day. Yard debris must be properly bagged in kraft paper or placed in clearly labeled 32-gallon cans.
Winter Cleanup
JanuaryYard waste collection is extended through the month of January to accommodate late winter cleanups and the disposal of natural Christmas trees. Remember to remove all tinsel, ornaments, and stands.
Move-In / Move-Out Season
Year-RoundThe city offers a one-time free collection of extra bagged garbage for new residents within their first month of establishing service, as well as for departing residents who have scheduled their final utility shutoff. Call 740-203-1810 to schedule.
About Delaware Waste Management
Comprehensive Municipal Waste Services in Delaware, OH
The City of Delaware manages a streamlined curbside collection program through its Public Works Department. For a standard monthly utility fee, residents receive weekly refuse, recycling, and seasonal yard waste collection. To ensure service, residents must place their city-provided tipcarts at the curb no earlier than 24 hours prior to pickup, and no later than 5:00 AM on their scheduled collection morning. Carts must be removed from the public right-of-way within 24 hours after collection.
Handling Excess Trash with the Bag Tag Program
If you generate more garbage than can fit inside your standard refuse tipcart, the City of Delaware requires the use of 'Bag Tags'. These tags cost $1.50 each and can be purchased at the City Utility Office, Public Works Department, or any local Delaware Kroger service counter. Simply affix a tag to any extra bag placed next to your cart. Notably, the city offers a one-time free pickup of extra bagged refuse as a courtesy to residents during their first month of moving in or when scheduling a move-out.
Pre-Scheduled Thursday Bulk Cleanups
Disposing of large household items like furniture and appliances requires advance planning in Delaware. Bulk collection takes place weekly, typically on Thursdays, and mandates pre-registration and payment. The city charges a base fee of $50 to collect up to five items, with each additional item costing $10 (up to a maximum of eight items per stop). All items must be explicitly listed on your application, and strict preparation rules apply—such as cutting and bundling carpeting or safely taping broken glass.
Curbside Recycling Partnership
To divert usable materials from local landfills, Delaware provides single-stream recycling carts to all residential utility customers. The city partners with regional processors to sort these co-mingled materials. Residents are encouraged to recycle clean cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles, and plastics without sorting them. However, it is vital that recyclables remain loose; items tied up in plastic grocery bags will be treated as contamination and sent to the landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
DKMM Solid Waste District Drop-Off Locations
Various locations across Delaware County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away a mattress in Delaware, OH?
To dispose of a mattress or box spring, you must individually wrap it in heavy plastic and securely tape it shut [1.2.1]. Unwrapped mattresses will be rejected. You must also schedule a bulk pickup in advance and pay the required minimum $50 collection fee.
What if I have more trash than my city-provided tipcart can hold?
If you have excess garbage, you cannot simply place loose bags next to the cart. You must purchase official 'Bag Tags' for $1.50 each from the City Utility Office, Public Works Department, or a local Kroger, and attach a tag to every extra bag.
Does the City of Delaware offer any discounts for senior citizens?
Yes. The City of Delaware provides a 25 percent reduction in the monthly refuse collection utility rate for residents who are 65 years of age and older. To apply for this discount, contact the Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810.
Can I get an extra trash or recycling cart for my home?
Yes, you can request additional tipcarts from the Public Works Department. The city charges an additional $15 per month on your utility bill to service an extra refuse cart, and an extra $10 per month for an additional recycling cart.