Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Shaker Heights
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly Monday through Friday, determined by your street address.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on the same day as your regular trash.
Yard Waste
Yard waste bags are collected weekly on your regular trash day from April 15 through October 15; loose brush and seasonal leaf collection rotate through neighborhoods every two to three weeks.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash and recycling services are provided by the City Public Works Department and funded through general municipal property and income taxes, with no separate trash utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In-Person
Any Color (Resident-Provided) Bin (Trash)
Containers must be max 32 gallons and weigh under 40 lbs. Place by the garage door, corner of house, or driveway by 7:00 a.m. Driveways must be clear of parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Up to 10 extra 13-gallon bags
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Up to 10 flattened boxes
Green (5-gallon City Buckets or 18-gallon Resident Bin) Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the 5-gallon buckets provided by the City. Do not use plastic grocery bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and clean cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (narrow neck)
Yard Waste Bin
Rake loose leaves to the tree lawn. Do not mix leaves with brush. Tie brush into bundles or use Kraft paper bags for grass.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush and tree branches (tied)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Saturdays only (Drop-off)
Placement
Bring items in a personal car, minivan, SUV, or pickup truck to 15600 Chagrin Blvd on Saturdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Small amounts of building materials
Not Accepted
- ✕ Computers
- ✕ Bricks and rocks
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Insecticides and pesticides
This drop-off service is free for residents but is heavily regulated, allowing only one drop-off trip per household per quarter.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on or before your normal collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one day for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the same holiday delay schedule as regular trash and recycling.
You can subscribe to the City's Holiday Trash Delays iCalendar feed online to receive automatic digital calendar updates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to NovemberThe city conducts loose leaf collection. Rake leaves directly to the tree lawn, avoiding the street and hydrants, and do not bag them in plastic.
Winter
December to MarchIf a major snowstorm occurs, trash and recycling collection may be delayed by one day. You must shovel enough of your driveway for the city's collection scooters to safely enter.
Spring
AprilSpring loose leaf collection resumes briefly in April. During this time, residents can again rake loose leaves directly to the tree lawn without bagging.
Local Tips & Community Info
Shaker Heights Refuse and Recycling Program Overview
Unlike many neighboring communities, the City of Shaker Heights takes pride in maintaining the aesthetic charm of its historic neighborhoods by offering backyard and side-yard waste collection. Instead of dragging heavy carts to the street curb, residents simply place their refuse containers near their garage door, at the corner of their house, or directly on their driveway. City sanitation crews use specialized small scooters to navigate driveways and collect the rubbish. To ensure successful service, all garbage must be bagged and sealed inside rigid, weather-resistant cans with tight-fitting lids. Cans cannot exceed 32 gallons in capacity or 40 pounds in total weight.
Morning Set-Out Times and Driveway Accessibility
For the sanitation scooters to reach your bins safely, accessibility is strictly enforced. Residents must ensure that their trash and recycling receptacles are in their designated spots by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Furthermore, driveways must be entirely clear of parked vehicles by this time so workers can easily access the containers. During the winter months, it is also the homeowner's responsibility to shovel and salt the driveway path. If an obstacle prevents the crew from reaching your waste, they will leave a green tag on your front door. The city allows up to three second-attempt pickups per quarter for obstructed access before suspending return trips for a six-month period.
Using City-Provided Recycling Buckets
The Shaker Heights Public Works Department provides complimentary five-gallon buckets specifically designed for commingled residential recycling. Alternatively, homeowners may purchase their own recycling bins up to 18 gallons in size, provided they are clearly marked with a recycling logo. Acceptable items include clean glass jars, plastic jugs, metal cans, and flattened cardboard boxes. Never place your recyclables inside plastic bags, as the local processing facility will reject them and redirect the material to a landfill. For excess materials, residents with a valid identification can utilize the weekend recycling drop-off center located at the Service Center on Chagrin Boulevard.
Disposing of Oversized Items and Furniture
If you need to discard large household goods like mattresses, appliances, or bulky furniture, the city provides a complimentary Special Bulk Pick Up service. Residents living in single-family or two-family homes can schedule the removal of up to three large items per request either online or by calling the Public Works office. On the scheduled date, the items should be placed outside near the garage, as city employees are not permitted to enter private residences. Soft furniture and mattresses must be wrapped in plastic. You also have the option to drop off bulk items yourself at the Service Center on Saturdays, though this is limited to one visit per household every quarter.
Managing Yard Debris and Brush on the Tree Lawn
Landscaping waste requires a completely different disposal method than household garbage. Between mid-April and mid-October, grass clippings and plant debris must be placed in biodegradable paper yard-waste bags and set directly on the public tree lawn near the street, rather than by your garage. Large tree limbs and woody brush must be cut to lengths of four feet or less, bundled to weigh under 40 pounds, and stacked neatly on the tree lawn. The city suspends standard brush collection from mid-October through mid-December to prioritize the municipal autumn leaf collection program.
Drop-off Facilities
Shaker Heights Service Center
15600 Chagrin Boulevard, Shaker Heights, OH 44120
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I place my garbage bags right on the street curb in Shaker Heights?
No. Shaker Heights utilizes a specialized backyard and side-yard collection system. You must place your bagged trash inside weather-proof cans (32-gallon maximum) near your garage or house corner by 7:00 a.m.
Does the city provide specialized recycling bins?
Yes, the Public Works Department supplies free five-gallon buckets for commingled recyclables. Residents can also purchase their own recycling bins up to 18 gallons in size, as long as they prominently feature a recycling logo.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or broken refrigerator?
You can schedule a free Special Bulk Pick Up for up to three large items by contacting the city online or by phone. Mattresses must be fully wrapped in plastic, and items must be placed near your garage on your scheduled pickup day.