Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lakewood
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, according to your neighborhood collection schedule.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular collection day, with year-round drop-off also available at the Refuse and Recycling Center.
Set Out Time
Between 6:00 PM the evening before and 6:00 AM on collection day.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside refuse and recycling collection for 1-4 unit residential properties is funded through municipal taxes rather than a separate trash fee, though municipal water and sewer services are billed separately.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box, Bank Draft
Pro Tip / Discount
A Homestead Exemption is available for homeowners aged 65 and older or permanently disabled residents who meet annual household income requirements.
City-provided automated refuse cart Bin (Trash)
Place carts next to the street in the driveway apron or at the corner of the driveway apron and tree lawn. The serial number and lid opening must face the street. Set out between 6:00 PM the day before and 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
City-provided automated recycling cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart. Do not put items in plastic grocery bags. The city strictly follows the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District's recycling guidelines.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Dirt or concrete
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Hot ashes
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must not be placed in refuse or recycling carts. Set yard waste out in brown paper yard bags on your regular collection day, or drop it off at the Berea Road facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree limbs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled refuse collection day
Placement
Place bulk items on the tree lawn on your scheduled collection day. Crucially, all mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture MUST be fully wrapped and sealed in plastic mattress bags.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpet (taped or tied in 4-foot rolls)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Dead animals
- ✕ Hot ashes
Mattress bags can be purchased at the Drop-Off Facility for $3 each. A minimum $100 fee may apply if the city has to clean up improperly placed debris or items left behind by contractors.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The Division of Refuse and Recycling does not collect on weekends. If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Curbside yard waste collection follows the same holiday schedule and will experience the same one-day delay as standard refuse and recycling.
If a recognized holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on Friday; if on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday. Always check the official city calendar for precise schedule adjustments.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberThe city's Forestry Unit runs an annual fall leaf collection program. Rake leaves into piles on the tree lawn, ensuring no other yard waste or debris is mixed in, which can damage the leaf vacuums.
Winter
December to FebruaryKeep carts unburied from snow banks and clear of ice. You should shovel a level shelf into the snow bank—no higher than six inches from the ground—for stability and safe lifting, or clear a spot in your driveway apron.
Winter
JanuaryFollowing the holidays, the city conducts an annual Christmas tree collection and recycling program. Ensure all lights, ornaments, and plastic tree bags are completely removed before placing the tree on the tree lawn.
Local Tips & Community Info
Automated Refuse Collection in Lakewood
In Lakewood, Ohio, household garbage collection operates under the city's established Green Refuse and Recycling Initiative. This system utilizes fully automated trucks to ensure efficient and cost-effective neighborhood sanitation. City crews collect household waste Monday through Friday, operating between the hours of 6:00 AM and 2:00 PM. To ensure your street is serviced, you must have your city-provided carts placed properly on the tree lawn before the trucks arrive on your designated route day. Keep the cart at least three feet away from utility poles, parked vehicles, and other obstacles so the automated arm can lift the bin safely.
Mandatory Curbside Recycling Participation
To reduce local landfill dependency and lower disposal costs, the City of Lakewood mandates recycling participation for all properties receiving municipal refuse services. Residents are required to sort clean cardboard, paper, glass jars, aluminum cans, and plastic jugs into their dedicated recycling carts. Recyclables should never be bagged; they must be tossed loosely into the container to prevent jamming the sorting machinery at the processing plant. Combining yard debris or standard garbage into the recycling cart is strictly prohibited and can result in the entire load being rejected.
Proper Disposal of Mattresses and Upholstered Furniture
Health regulations strictly dictate how residents must handle the disposal of plush items to prevent the spread of pests like bed bugs. All box springs, mattresses, taped rolls of carpeting, and upholstered furniture pieces must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic mattress bags before being placed on the tree lawn. If you need a heavy-duty bag, the city sells them at the Drop-Off Facility for just $3 each, payable via cash, debit, or credit. Unwrapped fabric furniture will be left at the curb and could result in additional citations.
Berea Road Refuse and Recycling Center
For items that do not fit in your municipal carts or for excess household waste, residents have access to the public Refuse and Recycling Center located on Berea Road. The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The drop-off center is fully closed on Sundays and all major holidays. Here, locals can safely dispose of excess corrugated cardboard, recyclable materials, and certain larger debris that the standard curbside automated trucks cannot accommodate during their daily routes.
Tree Lawn Violations and Collection Fees
Maintaining the visual appeal of Lakewood's historic neighborhoods is a priority for the Division of Refuse. Residents who improperly set out materials, such as leaving debris scattered on the tree lawn, placing unbundled yard waste in standard cans, or abandoning contractor materials on the curb, face strict penalties. If the city receives a neighborhood complaint and is forced to dispatch a special crew to clean up improperly placed refuse, the offending property owner may be charged a minimum collection fee of $100.00 directly to their account.
Handling Missed Pickups and Construction Waste
If you forgot to bring your bins out by 6:00 AM or if your cart was blocked by a car, the city will not send a truck back to your address. In these situations, you must either hold onto the refuse until the following week or transport it to the Berea Road Drop-Off Facility. Furthermore, Lakewood sanitation crews do not collect any materials or debris left behind by private contractors. Home renovations, roofing jobs, and professional landscaping waste must be hauled away independently by the hired contractor. For more disposal information, residents can contact the Division of Refuse at (216) 252-4322.
Drop-off Facilities
Lakewood Refuse and Recycling Center (Drop-Off Facility)
12920 Berea Road, Lakewood, OH 44107
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash out in Lakewood?
Garbage collection routes operate from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM Monday through Friday [1.1.5]. Your carts should be positioned on the tree lawn early in the morning before 6:00 AM to guarantee pickup.
Where can I buy mattress bags for disposal?
You can purchase approved plastic mattress bags at the Berea Road Drop-Off Facility for $3.00 each using cash, credit, or debit cards.
Can I put yard waste in my recycling bin?
No. Recyclables or yard waste set out in improper containers, such as standard garbage cans or recycling bins, will not be collected by the city crews.