Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lancaster
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.
City-issued Cart (48-gallon or 96-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Set out by 7:30 a.m. at the curb or alley edge. The lid must be completely closed. Remove the cart from the street by 7:00 p.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Dried latex paint (lid removed)
Drop-off Bins Only (No Municipal Curbside) Bin (Recycling)
Since the city does not collect recycling, take items to Fairfield County drop-off sites, such as the LFCAA Recycling Center at 1761 E. Main St.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Newspaper and office paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Glass (at some specific paper-only bins)
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Set out to the STREET (not alley) by 7:30 a.m. Use biodegradable bags or a personal can marked with a bright green ring. Bundles must not exceed 4 ft or 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Brush, tree trunks, and stumps
- ✓Pumpkins, gourds, and bare holiday trees
- ✓Prunings from shrubs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only
Placement
Items scheduled for pick-up must be placed where your regular trash is set for pick-up (curb or alley) and must not be blocked by vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large household goods
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Tires (must be off the rim)
- ✓ Large tree branches
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquids
- ✕ Car batteries
- ✕ Concrete, rocks, and dirt
- ✕ Metal pipes and building materials
A minimum charge of $25.00 applies for the first cubic yard, with an additional $19.25 per cubic yard thereafter. This fee is added to your Lancaster Utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Lancaster follows a unique non-rolling schedule: If your collection day falls ON an observed holiday, your trash is collected on the next business day. NO other collection days in the week are affected.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active season, yard waste follows the exact same holiday shift and is collected concurrently with your delayed trash pickup.
The Lancaster Transfer Station is entirely closed on all city-observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Solidify Your Latex Paint
The Lancaster Sanitation Department will not collect any liquid paint. If you have leftover latex paint, you must dry it out completely by mixing it with an absorbent like sawdust or kitty litter. Once solid, place the can in your trash cart with the lid off.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Yard Waste
If you participate in the seasonal yard waste program, never use plastic garbage bags. You must use biodegradable paper bags or a personal trash can marked with a bright green ring. Using plastic bags will result in a bulk pick-up penalty charge.
Use the Orange Bag for Foam
When dropping off recycling at the LFCAA Center, do not mix Styrofoam or plastic wrap with standard recyclables. These hard-to-recycle items must be sealed inside a specific Hefty ReNew Orange Bag and placed in the designated blue Hefty bin.
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
Late March - Mid-DecemberThe free curbside yard waste program operates strictly during this seasonal window. Outside of these dates, all yard waste must be hauled directly to the Lancaster Transfer Station and is subject to standard drop-off fees.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring the fall season, decorative plant materials such as pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and wreaths are fully accepted as yard waste, provided you remove all plastic, metal wire, and non-compostable decorations first.
Winter
JanuaryBecause the curbside yard waste program ends in mid-December, post-holiday Christmas trees usually need to be taken to the Transfer Station or held for designated community post-holiday chipping events.
About Lancaster Waste Management
Strict Cart Placement and Lid Regulations
The City of Lancaster requires all residential garbage to be placed exclusively inside the city-issued 48-gallon or 96-gallon trash carts. Sanitation crews strictly enforce a 'closed lid' policy; additional bags cannot be stacked on top of the cart. For automated collection to work properly, your cart must be positioned at the street edge or alley with the wheels facing your residence and the lid opening facing the street. You must also leave at least 3 feet of clearance from mailboxes or poles, and 10 feet from parked cars.
The Unique 'Green Ring' Yard Waste Program
Lancaster offers a highly accommodating seasonal yard waste program that runs from late March through mid-December. While residents can use standard 50-pound biodegradable paper bags, the city also allows you to designate your own personal trash can for free yard waste collection. To do this, you simply must paint or securely tape a bright green ring around the middle of a personal container (do not use your city-issued trash cart). Importantly, even if your normal trash is collected in an alley, all yard waste must be placed out on the street.
Navigating Bulk Pickup by Appointment
Unlike some Ohio municipalities that offer free monthly bulk trash days, Lancaster operates its bulk collection strictly by appointment on a fee-basis. Residents must call the Sanitation Department to schedule the removal of large items like furniture, appliances, and rimless tires. The city charges a minimum of $25.00 for the first cubic yard of bulk waste, plus $19.25 for each additional cubic yard, which is conveniently billed directly to your monthly Lancaster Utility statement.
Drop-Off Recycling and the Hefty ReNew Program
Due to funding limitations, the City of Lancaster Sanitation Department does not provide municipal curbside recycling. Instead, residents can subscribe to private haulers for curbside service or utilize the free Fairfield Recycles drop-off bins. The primary drop-off hub is the LFCAA Recycling Center on East Main Street. Lancaster also actively participates in the Hefty ReNew Orange Bag program, allowing residents to bag hard-to-recycle plastics—like Styrofoam and bubble wrap—in special orange bags and drop them off for specialized processing.
Drop-off Facilities
Lancaster Transfer Station
743 S Ewing Street, Lancaster, OH 43130
Materials Accepted
LFCAA Recycling Center (Fairfield Recycles)
1761 E. Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my city-issued trash cart isn't large enough?
You cannot stack extra bags on top of a closed cart. If you have a 48-gallon cart, you can contact the Sanitation Department to upgrade to a 96-gallon cart, which will increase your monthly sanitation rate to $17.50.
How do I use my own trash can for yard waste?
You can use a personal trash can for yard waste (not your city-issued garbage cart) by painting or tightly taping a bright green ring around the middle of it. Make sure to place it at the street edge by 7:30 a.m., even if your normal trash goes in the alley.
Does the City of Lancaster offer curbside recycling?
No, the city's Sanitation Department does not currently provide residential curbside recycling. You can either subscribe to a private hauler or drop off your recyclables for free at Fairfield County sites, like the LFCAA Recycling Center on E. Main Street.
How do I throw away large furniture or appliances?
Lancaster does not have free bulk pickup days. You must call the Sanitation Department at (740) 687-6660 (Option 2) to schedule an appointment. You will be charged a minimum of $25.00 for the first cubic yard, which is added to your monthly utility bill.