Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lima
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-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
!Contamination Tips
No Pizza Boxes or Reader's Digest
Lima's recycling guidelines have a few highly specific exclusions. While most cardboard and magazines are accepted, you are strictly prohibited from placing greasy pizza boxes or Reader's Digest magazines in your curbside recycling bin.
Broken Glass is Hazardous
While whole green, brown, and clear glass bottles are perfectly acceptable in your recycling cart, broken glass is entirely unauthorized. If a bottle shatters, carefully wrap the shards in thick paper and place them in your regular bagged garbage.
Watch Your Plastic Numbers
Rumpke's local sorting capabilities in the Lima area restrict curbside plastics to #1 and #2 only (typically soda bottles, milk jugs, detergent, and bleach bottles). Do not attempt to wishcycle yogurt tubs (#5) or clamshells in your recycling cart.
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.
About Lima Waste Management
Lima's Specialized Backyard Pickup Services
The City of Lima goes above and beyond to support its elderly and disabled residents. If you are 65 years of age or older, or if you have a physical condition that prevents you from wheeling your carts to the street (with a written doctor's statement), you qualify for specialized service. At no extra charge, Rumpke personnel will walk up to your house or garage to collect your trash and recycling carts. Just ensure the containers are easily accessible and not hidden behind fences or enclosed porches.
Incredible Weekly Bulk Trash Allowances
Unlike many neighboring Ohio cities that strictly limit bulk items or require tedious pre-scheduling, Lima offers a highly generous weekly allowance. Residents are permitted to place up to 3 cubic yards of bulky household material at the curb alongside their regular trash containers every single week at no extra charge. If your home cleanout exceeds this 3-cubic-yard limit, Rumpke will still remove the excess, but the city will bill the overage directly to your utility account.
The Metcalf Street Transfer Station Benefits
For materials that are strictly prohibited at the curb, such as heavy construction debris, Lima provides residents with access to the Metcalf Street Transfer Station. By simply presenting a paid utility bill and proper identification, residents can drop off up to 3 cubic yards of brick, concrete, wood, plaster, and waste building materials every three months at absolutely no charge. You are also allowed to drop off up to four used passenger car tires annually.
Strict Bagging Distinctions for Trash vs. Recycling
To maintain a clean community and prevent litter from blowing out of automated trucks, Lima enforces a strict bagging rule for refuse: absolutely all household garbage must be placed inside a bag before it goes into the city-provided trash cart. However, the exact opposite is true for your recycling cart. All approved recyclables must remain completely loose and unbagged so the sorting machinery at the Rumpke facility can process them accurately.
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
Does the City of Lima help seniors or disabled residents with their trash bins?
Yes. Residents who are 65 years of age or older, or those with a doctor's note verifying a physical condition that prevents them from moving their carts, can receive specialized service. Rumpke will retrieve one trash and one recycle cart directly from your house or garage at no extra charge.
Is there a limit to how much bulk trash I can put out?
Yes, but it is quite generous. Lima residents are allowed to place up to 3 cubic yards of bulky materials at the curb each week for free. If you place more than 3 cubic yards, it will still be collected, but you will be charged an overage fee on your utility bill.
Can I throw away construction debris like bricks or concrete?
You cannot place construction debris, rocks, or dirt in your curbside bins or bulk pile. However, as a resident, you can deliver up to 3 cubic yards of brick, broken concrete, wood, and plaster to the Metcalf Street Transfer Station every three months for free by presenting a paid utility bill.
Are there any special rules for bagging my trash and recycling?
Yes. The City of Lima requires that all household refuse be securely bagged before being placed inside your trash cart. Conversely, you must never bag your recyclables; they must be tossed loosely into the recycling cart to ensure they can be sorted properly.