Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lima
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday, with pickup days assigned by neighborhood zone across the city.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is collected on the same scheduled weekday as your trash collection.
Yard Waste
Collected on your regular trash day (brush and branches under 2 inches in diameter and 4 feet long must be bundled and tied, or placed in approved yard waste containers; drop-off is also available at the city compost facility).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (containers can be placed out no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before and must be removed by 6:00 PM the day after pickup)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse collection fees are billed together with your city water and sewer services on your monthly municipal utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Night Drop Box
City-provided Cart (35 or 95 gallon) Bin (Trash)
All household refuse must be bagged and placed inside the containers. Extra bags can be placed in a personal garbage can if the city-issued cart is completely full.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
City-provided Cart (35 or 65 gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling material is NOT required to be bagged; keep items loose. Rinse all food residue from cans and bottles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 only
- ✓Steel, tin, and aluminum cans
- ✓Aluminum foil
- ✓Green, brown, and clear glass (no broken glass)
- ✓Newspaper, cardboard, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Reader's Digest magazines
- ✕Broken glass
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be placed at the curb. Limbs must be bundled and tied. Residents can also purchase a dedicated 65-gallon yard waste cart from Customer Service.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree limbs (under 2 inches in diameter and under 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly alongside your regular trash collection
Placement
Place items neatly at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure the bulk pile does not block access to your automated trash and recycling carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large toys and non-freon appliances
- ✓ Rolled carpet
Not Accepted
- ✕ Auto parts and tires
- ✕ Paint and free-flowing liquids
- ✕ Oil
- ✕ Rocks, dirt, and heavy construction debris
If you exceed the generous 3-cubic-yard limit in a single week, Rumpke will still remove the excess material, but a surcharge will be added to your municipal utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Rumpke typically delays service by one day if a major recognized holiday falls on or before your scheduled collection day during the workweek.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is picked up concurrently with standard refuse and follows the exact same holiday delay schedule.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, your standard weekday curbside collection will not be interrupted.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
May - JuneThe City hosts an annual Mayor's Spring Clean-Up spanning several weekends in May and June. Neighborhoods can register to host free dumpsters and receive cleanup tools to dispose of excess neighborhood blight and unwanted bulky materials.
Summer to Fall
April - NovemberFor heavy yard renovations, the Lima Compost Site at 1227 E. Hanthorn Rd is highly active. Residents generating more organic debris than the curbside pickup allows are encouraged to utilize this facility.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring heavy Ohio snow squalls, Rumpke may experience route delays. Keep your carts clear of large snowdrifts at the curb, and check the City of Lima or Rumpke alerts page for any weather-related schedule shifts.
Local Tips & Community Info
Municipal Refuse and Recycling Services in Lima
The City of Lima Utilities Department oversees a highly structured solid waste program designed to maintain pristine neighborhoods. Each eligible single-family and duplex household is assigned specific city-owned containers for daily refuse and recyclables. Depending on property needs, residents receive either a 35-gallon or 95-gallon garbage cart, along with a 35-gallon or 65-gallon recycling receptacle, entirely free of charge. Because these heavy-duty carts belong to the municipality, they are permanently registered to the property address and must not be taken with you if you relocate. All standard household trash must be securely bagged before being placed inside your designated garbage cart, whereas recyclables should be tossed in loose.
Curbside Placement Regulations
Strict guidelines govern how and when your bins should be presented at the street. Carts must not be pushed to the curb before 6:00 p.m. on the evening prior to your collection day. To guarantee that automated trucks can safely grasp the receptacles, you must leave at least three feet of clearance between each cart, ensuring they do not block fire hydrants, mailboxes, or parked vehicles. The metal lift bars must face the street, with the wheels pointing directly back toward your house. Following collection, residents are legally obligated to return their empty bins to their property by 6:00 p.m. the day after pickup.
Generous Bulk Item Allowances
One major benefit of living in Lima is the city's built-in allowance for large bulk waste. Residents are permitted to place up to three cubic yards of bulky materials—such as old couches, broken tables, or mattresses—at the curb alongside their standard bins on their normal collection day at no extra charge. If your pile exceeds the three-cubic-yard limit, the city contractor will still remove the excess, but a supplemental fee will be assessed to your utility bill. For heavy construction debris like brick, broken concrete, or plaster, residents can self-haul up to three cubic yards every three months directly to the local Transfer Station on South Metcalf Street.
Managing Seasonal Yard Waste
Organic debris and yard clippings require specialized preparation to be eligible for municipal pickup. All yard waste must be kept separate from your standard household trash and positioned neatly at the curb. If you are trimming trees or bushes, every limb must be cut to a maximum length of four feet and be less than two inches in diameter. These branches must then be firmly bundled and tied. Homeowners who generate a high volume of organic debris throughout the season have the option to purchase a dedicated 65-gallon yard waste cart by directly contacting the local Customer Service Office.
Navigating Missed Pickups and Specialized Needs
If you experience a missed collection, the city protocol requires residents to immediately contact the contracted hauler, Rumpke, at their toll-free dispatch number. If the issue remains unresolved after one business day, you should escalate the complaint to the Utilities Administration Office. Furthermore, the city offers specialized collection accommodations for the elderly and disabled. Residents who are over 65 years of age, or those possessing a doctor’s note verifying a physical condition that prevents them from moving heavy carts, can qualify for alternative pickup arrangements without hauling their bins all the way to the street.
Drop-off Facilities
Lima Transfer/Recycling Facility
1400 S. Metcalf Street, Lima, OH 45804
Materials Accepted
Lima Compost Site
1227 E. Hanthorn Rd, Lima, OH 45804
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I generate more garbage than my city cart can hold?
If your primary city-issued garbage cart is completely full, you are allowed to place the overflow waste in your own personal garbage bags or secondary store-bought cans and set them out next to the full municipal cart.
Where is the local recycling and transfer facility located?
The city's Transfer and Recycling Facility is located at 1400 S. Metcalf Street. Residents must present a recent paid utility bill and a matching ID to drop off accepted materials for free.
Who do I call first if my bins are not emptied?
You must first call Rumpke directly at 1-800-828-8171 to report the missed service. If they do not remedy the situation by the following day, call the Lima Customer Service Office at 419-221-5252.