Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Forest Park
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.
Brown Rumpke Cart (35, 65, or 95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Trash must not exceed your tier limits (190 gallons for Full Service, strict cart-only for Eco-Tier). Eco-Tier overflow requires a $1 sticker per bag. Do not set containers out more than 12 hours before your scheduled pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
Green Rumpke Tote (35, 65, or 95-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Forest Park provides a recycling tote at absolutely no extra charge to encourage diversion. Place all recyclables loosely in the bin; never bag them.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and clean paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass or drinking glasses
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
In Forest Park, Rumpke treats yard waste bags the exact same as garbage bags. They can be paper or plastic, but they are sent to the landfill (not composted). Each bag counts against your weekly garbage limit.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One large item per week (Requires 48-hour advance notice)
Placement
Items must be brought to the curb. Soft items must be wrapped in plastic to prevent bedbug exposure.
Accepted
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Wrapped upholstered furniture
- ✓ Household appliances
- ✓ Tied branch bundles (1-5 bundles count as 1 item)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires (Take to local dealership/collection event)
- ✕ Automobile fluids
- ✕ Wet paint and hazardous chemicals
One item per week is included in your standard GCWW utility bill, provided you give the mandatory 48-hour notice to Rumpke.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Rumpke delays standard collection by one day if an observed holiday falls on a weekday on or prior to your scheduled pickup day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk item collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular household garbage.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your weekday collection schedule will not be impacted.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Yard Bags Count as Trash
Be cautious when doing heavy landscaping. Because Rumpke landfills yard waste in this district, every bag of leaves or grass counts directly against your tier's garbage bag limit. If you are on the Eco-Tier, every yard waste bag requires a $1 sticker.
Wrap Soft Furniture Firmly
To protect sanitation workers from bedbug infestations, Rumpke explicitly requires that all mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture be completely wrapped and sealed in a large plastic bag or sheeting before being left at the curb.
Bundle Branches Properly
If you miss the city's Chipper Service and need Rumpke to take branches, you must cut them to lengths no longer than 4 feet and tie them with twine into bundles no thicker than 24 inches. A collection of 1 to 5 bundles constitutes your one allowed weekly bulk item.
Seasonal Information
Spring-Fall
April - OctoberThe Public Works Chipper Service runs monthly for residents. Leave your unbundled branches loose at the curb by 7:00 AM on your assigned week. Do not use wire or rope, and ensure limbs are under 8 inches thick.
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, you can recycle live Christmas trees for free by dropping them off at Kemper Meadow Park (1282 West Kemper Road) or at the Rumpke Landfill in nearby Colerain Township.
Year-Round
January - DecemberIf you are cleaning out an estate or attic, you can hire the Rumpke Haul-It-Away full-service team by calling 513-742-2900 (ext 3500) to clear items directly from your property without dragging them to the curb.
About Forest Park Waste Management
Two-Tiered Municipal Waste Program via Rumpke
Forest Park offers residents a highly customized approach to household refuse by utilizing a two-tier subscription system billed through Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW). The 'Full Service' tier grants a 190-gallon weekly capacity, generally utilizing 95-gallon Rumpke carts. Meanwhile, the 'Eco-Tier' is designed for households that produce less waste, providing either a 35-gallon or 65-gallon cart. Eco-Tier residents are strictly prohibited from using personal trash cans and must purchase $1 stickers for any overflow bags placed beside their assigned container.
Wildlife Prevention and Strict Bagging Suggestions
Because Forest Park is frequently visited by raccoons and other small foraging animals, the city strongly urges residents to containerize their trash. If left in flimsy plastic bags at the curb, local wildlife often tears them open, leading to scattered street litter. While personal cans are permitted for Full Service customers, renting sturdy, lidded Rumpke carts is highly recommended to protect your garbage and maintain a clean neighborhood aesthetic.
Monthly Municipal Chipper Service
While standard yard waste can be bagged and taken by Rumpke, it will end up in a landfill. For a more eco-friendly disposal of branches, the Forest Park Public Works Department offers a dedicated Chipper Service once a month from April through October. Residents can place unbundled limbs (under 8 inches in diameter) with the cut ends facing the street. The city allocates exactly 10 minutes of chipping service per house, and the wood chips are subsequently repurposed.
Rumpke Haul-it-Away and Advanced Bulk Cleanouts
For massive home cleanouts, basement purging, or moving scenarios, Forest Park partners with Rumpke to offer the specialized 'Haul-it-Away' service. Unlike standard curbside bulk pickup where you have to do the heavy lifting, the Haul-it-Away team can enter basements or garages to retrieve old furniture, construction debris, or appliances directly, ensuring they are recycled, donated, or properly landfilled.
Local Retail Partnerships for Hard-to-Recycle Goods
Forest Park actively redirects hazardous or difficult materials away from the standard trash stream. The city encourages residents to use the local Home Depot on Omniplex Drive, which maintains specific orange drop-off bins behind the Customer Service desk for rechargeable tool batteries, cell phones, and safely bagged Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs).
Drop-off Facilities
Home Depot (Battery & Bulb Drop-off)
1266 Omniplex Dr., Forest Park, OH 45240
Materials Accepted
Rumpke Landfill (Colerain Township)
Struble Road and Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45251
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Full Service and Eco-Tier trash plans?
The Full Service plan ($25/month) provides up to 190 gallons of weekly capacity, generally utilizing 95-gallon containers. The Eco-Tier uses a smaller 35 or 65-gallon container; it strictly prohibits the use of personal trash cans and requires you to buy $1 stickers from the Environmental Office for any extra garbage bags.
How do I throw away a mattress in Forest Park?
You can throw away one large item per week, including a mattress, but you must call Rumpke at 513-742-2900 at least 48 hours before your pickup day to schedule it. For safety reasons, the mattress and box spring must be completely wrapped in a large plastic bag.
Does Forest Park compost my yard waste?
No. Under Rumpke's current contract with the city, all bagged yard waste (leaves, grass, weeds) is sent to the landfill, not a composting facility. Therefore, each bag of yard waste counts as a 'garbage bag' toward your weekly limit.
How does the city's Chipper Service work?
From April to October, the Public Works Department runs a monthly Chipper Service to safely dispose of limbs under 8 inches in diameter. You must leave the branches unbundled at the curb with the cut ends toward the street. The service is limited to 10 minutes of chipping per residence.