Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kent
Trash Day
Trash is collected Monday through Thursday, with collection days divided across four city quadrants.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on your assigned trash pickup day.
Yard Waste
Curbside brush pickup occurs in May and October, and curbside leaf pickup runs from November through mid-December. Residents can also drop off yard waste at the Plum Street Yard Waste Site from spring through fall.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or set out the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash and recycling are contracted through Republic Services and billed quarterly in advance, while city water, sewer, and stormwater services are billed separately by the City of Kent.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Direct Debit), Phone, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A Senior / Disabled Discount Application is available through the City Utility Billing Division for qualifying residents.
Blue or Green (Republic Cart) Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the Republic Services cart with the lid closed, unless utilizing the approved 'Buy the Bag' program with official municipal bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small wrappers
Blue Cart (Light Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the cart. Do not bag your recycling. All containers must be rinsed clean of food or liquids.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Residents can utilize Republic's yard waste services or drop off organic yard materials directly at the Portage County Solid Waste District's dedicated 40-yard dumpster.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Available by request
Placement
Schedule the pickup via phone with Republic Services and place the approved items neatly at the curb no earlier than the night before your scheduled bulk pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors removed, Freon extracted)
- ✓ Large appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Scrap tires
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Large construction or demolition debris
Contact Republic Services (800-247-3644) directly to confirm if your specific item incurs an extra handling fee or is included in your current service tier.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
In a holiday week, each collection day is pushed back by one day. Because normal routes run Monday through Thursday, Friday is utilized as the make-up collection day.
Yard Waste Exception
The CHaRM facility and Solid Waste District offices are completely closed on all federal holidays.
Minor holidays like President's Day or Columbus Day do not impact the Republic Services collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be dropped off at the Portage County Solid Waste District's yard waste dumpster during the post-holiday season. Please ensure all lights and ornaments are fully removed.
Spring
April to MayAs you begin spring cleaning, remember that large quantities of yard waste, branches, and brush can be dropped off locally at the 40-yard yard waste dumpster provided by the District.
Autumn
October to NovemberThe City of Kent typically provides an annual residential leaf collection program. Rake leaves to the tree lawn during designated weeks, ensuring they never block storm drains or spill into the roadway.
Local Tips & Community Info
Republic Services: The Exclusive Hauler for Kent
In the City of Kent, household waste management is centralized through an exclusive municipal contract with Republic Services. If you live in an owner-occupied single-family home, duplex, triplex, or a residential boarding house, you are mandated by the city to establish your refuse service directly with them. This standardized citywide program keeps local neighborhoods clean and uniform, though it does not cover commercial entities or large apartment complexes, which are required to secure their own private commercial dumpsters.
Understanding the Four-Quadrant Schedule
Rather than picking up trash everywhere on the same day, Kent's city limits are divided geographically into four distinct collection quadrants. The residential routes run exclusively Monday through Thursday. To ensure you never miss the truck, you are encouraged to pull your bins to the curb the night before your designated day. Republic Services operates their trucks during a wide window between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., making early placement critical. Remember to retrieve your empty cans from the street by the following evening.
The Economical Buy the Bag Alternative
For smaller households that generate very little garbage, Kent offers a unique Buy the Bag program as an alternative to standard rolling cart rentals. Specially designated municipal refuse bags can be purchased in person at the Kent Finance Office, located at 319 S. Water Street. They are sold exclusively in bundles of ten for a nominal fee of $3.15 per bag. Before purchasing these, residents must first call Republic Services to officially register their address for this reduced-volume tier.
Handling Holiday Route Disruptions
Because the normal city sanitation routes only run Monday through Thursday, Fridays are strategically utilized as make-up days during holiday weeks. Republic Services observes six primary holidays annually: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If a major holiday interrupts your normal collection quadrant, services for the remainder of that calendar week will be pushed back by exactly 24 hours.
Customer Support and Quarterly Invoicing
Since Republic Services handles all daily operational duties, they also manage the resident billing. Homeowners receive invoices on a quarterly cycle, paying for three months of continuous service in advance. Any questions regarding missed pickups, cart replacements, or account balances should be directed to the Republic Services support line at 800-247-3644. If a resident has an ongoing unresolved dispute, the City's Service Department can intervene as a final municipal recourse.
Drop-off Facilities
Portage County Solid Waste District CHaRM
4200 Sunnybrook Rd, Kent, OH 44240
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles the residential garbage service in Kent, Ohio?
Republic Services is the exclusive contracted hauler for all single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and boarding houses within the city limits.
What is the Buy the Bag program?
It is a low-volume alternative to renting a large trash cart. Residents can register with Republic Services and buy specialized trash bags in lots of ten from the Kent Finance Office.
How do holidays affect my normal pickup day?
During weeks containing a major holiday, collection is delayed by one full day. Because standard routes run Monday through Thursday, crews use Fridays to catch up on the delayed routes.