Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gahanna
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly on Monday or Tuesday depending on your location: residents west of U.S. 62 / Big Walnut Creek are serviced on Monday, while residents east of U.S. 62 / Big Walnut Creek are serviced on Tuesday.
Recycling
Collected weekly on your scheduled collection day (Monday or Tuesday).
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your scheduled collection day (Monday or Tuesday).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse, recycling, and yard waste services are bundled together with water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater on your monthly City of Gahanna utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, AutoPay, By Phone, Mail, In Person, Drop Box, Pay by Text
Pro Tip / Discount
Residents aged 60 and over who are head of household can sign up for a senior discount on the trash portion of their bill at City Hall. Low-income discounts are also available for water and sewer charges.
Standard Local Waste Services Cart (95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled Monday or Tuesday collection, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Solidified latex paint (dried with cat litter or sand)
City-issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not separate items; place all approved recyclables loosely into the provided recycling cart. Never use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Needles or sharps
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in biodegradable paper bags or rigid containers marked 'Yard Waste Only'. Branches must be cut to 4 feet, tied in bundles, and under 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Shrubs and weeds
- ✓Twigs and small branches (under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled trash day (Monday or Tuesday)
Placement
Set bulk items out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before your service day, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be plastic wrapped)
- ✓ Carpet and padding (cut to 4-ft lengths, rolled and tied)
- ✓ Large household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (refrigerators, AC units)
- ✕ Lead-acid car batteries
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Liquid waste and paint
- ✕ Explosives or ammunition
Standard residential bulk items are included in your city waste collection fee. Extremely large move-out piles or construction debris may trigger a special assessment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your collection day (Monday or Tuesday), service is delayed by exactly one day for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is collected concurrently with standard refuse, meaning it follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as your trash cart.
Because Gahanna collections strictly occur on Mondays and Tuesdays, holidays later in the week (like Thanksgiving) do not cause a delay in local service routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Wrap Upholstery and Mattresses
For the health and safety of the Local Waste Services collection crew, all mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic before being placed at the curb. Unwrapped items will be left behind.
Keep Dirt and Sod Out of Yard Bags
While yard waste includes organic landscaping materials, the composting facilities strictly prohibit dirt, rocks, soil, and sod. Ensure your biodegradable bags only contain clean plant matter, leaves, or grass.
Air Dry Your Latex Paint
Liquid paints can ruin an entire truckload of trash. While oil-based paints must go to SWACO, standard water-based or latex paint can go in your regular trash only if you solidify it first. Leave the lid off until dry, or mix it with cheap cat litter.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - NovemberThe City of Gahanna no longer offers a municipal loose-leaf vacuuming service. All fall leaves must be collected in biodegradable paper yard bags or rigid containers clearly marked 'Yard Waste Only' for regular pickup.
Winter
Late December - JanuaryLive Christmas trees are accepted with yard waste, provided all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and stands are completely removed. The trunk and limbs must be cut down to 4 feet or shorter and tied into bundles before placing at the curb.
Spring
April - MaySpring cleaning often results in heavy bulk set-outs. Remember that large move-out piles are not considered standard weekly bulk items and may be subject to a special pickup fee if they exceed standard residential volumes.
About Gahanna Waste Management
Gahanna's Zoned Two-Day Collection Schedule
The City of Gahanna utilizes a highly streamlined approach to municipal solid waste. Through an exclusive contract with Local Waste Services Ltd., all residential trash, recycling, and yard waste are collected on a single designated day each week. The entire city is divided into two primary collection zones based on Route 62/Johnstown Road and the Big Walnut Creek: residents in the western zone are serviced on Mondays, while those in the eastern zone are serviced on Tuesdays.
Managing Your 95-Gallon Receptacles
By default, every participating Gahanna household is provided with a heavy-duty 95-gallon trash can. The city opted for this large size because it typically accommodates an entire week's worth of refuse, preventing loose bags from cluttering the curb and deterring local wildlife. However, the city acknowledges that single-person households or seniors may find the large carts cumbersome; therefore, residents have the specific option to call Local Waste Services to officially opt out of the 95-gallon cart if needed.
Weekly Curbside Bulk Trash Allowances
Unlike many municipalities that require complex pre-scheduling or additional fees for large items, Gahanna's contract permits bulk waste removal right alongside your standard weekly trash. Whether you are disposing of an old sofa, a dining table, or torn-out carpeting, you simply place it at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your assigned Monday or Tuesday. Just ensure that carpet is cut into 4-foot sections, rolled, and tied tightly.
Navigating Hazardous Waste with SWACO
Because Local Waste Services routes directly to standard landfills, hazardous household chemicals are strictly forbidden in your residential bins. Gahanna residents can utilize the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) to safely dispose of toxic materials. SWACO provides free drop-off services for Franklin County residents at their facility on East 8th Avenue in Columbus, accepting items like oil-based paints, pool chemicals, lighter fluid, and lawn fertilizers.
Drop-off Facilities
SWACO Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off
645 E 8th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
Materials Accepted
Columbus Public Health (Sharps Disposal Information)
240 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What days are trash and recycling collected in Gahanna?
Gahanna divides the city into two collection zones. Residents west of U.S. 62/Johnstown Road (and west of Big Walnut Creek south of Granville St) are serviced on Mondays. Residents east of that dividing line are serviced on Tuesdays.
Does the City of Gahanna offer curbside leaf vacuuming?
No, the city no longer offers curbside loose-leaf pickup. Residents must bag their leaves in biodegradable paper yard bags or place them in a rigid container marked 'Yard Waste Only' for pickup on their normal trash day.
Can I get a smaller trash can if I don't produce much waste?
Yes. While the city provides a 95-gallon cart by default to minimize trips to the curb, you can formally opt-out of the large cart by calling Local Waste Services directly at (614) 409-9375.
How do I dispose of a mattress or box spring in Gahanna?
You can throw away a mattress on your regular Monday or Tuesday collection day. However, city guidelines strictly mandate that all upholstered items, including mattresses and box springs, must be completely wrapped in plastic before being placed at the curb.