Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Upper Arlington
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.
Standard City-Issued Cart (95-gallon provided free) Bin (Trash)
Trash carts must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the lid is completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste (if not composted at the MSC)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓General solid refuse
Blue City-Issued Cart (65-gallon provided free) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the recycling cart. Never use standard blue or black garbage bags for recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and office paper
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and clear clamshells (with lids reattached)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (metal lids removed)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans (aerosol without tips)
- ✓Shredded paper (in a clear plastic bag only)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Standard plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam and foam containers
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Tanglers (wires, garden hoses, string lights)
- ✕Plastic party cups (e.g., Solo cups)
Yard Waste Bin
Place in biodegradable brown paper bags or rigid containers clearly marked 'Yard Waste Only'. Brush must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 feet by 2 feet.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and weeds
- ✓Branches (under 2 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular trash collection day
Placement
Place items at the curb alongside your standard carts by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday).
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (MUST be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Rolled carpeting (cut to manageable lengths)
- ✓ Standard household appliances (freon-free)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and large auto parts
- ✕ Liquid paints and motor oil
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste and batteries
Standard items are collected at no extra charge. However, appliances containing Freon (like refrigerators) may incur an additional fee. Call Local Waste Services to arrange payment before placing these at the curb.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your designated collection day (Monday-Thursday), your service will be delayed by one day for that week only.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is picked up by Local Waste Services on the same day as your trash, meaning it follows the exact same holiday delay schedule.
If a holiday falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, there is absolutely no delay in collection for any of the four city zones.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Leave Lids on Plastics, But Remove Aerosol Tips
When recycling plastic bottles and jugs in Upper Arlington, you should thoroughly rinse them and securely reattach the plastic lids. However, if you are recycling an empty aerosol can, you must completely remove and discard the plastic spray tip in the regular trash.
Check Your Cardboard for Hidden Styrofoam
Before flattening and tossing large cardboard shipping boxes into your recycling cart, ensure you have completely emptied them. Styrofoam packaging peanuts and foam inserts are strictly prohibited and will contaminate the entire recycling load.
Wrap All Upholstered Items
To protect sanitation workers from potential biological hazards like bedbugs, Local Waste Services mandates that all mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture pieces must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic before being placed at the curb for bulk pickup.
Seasonal Information
Winter (Post-Holiday)
December - JanuaryInstead of throwing away broken strings of holiday lights, take them to the special drop-off bin located at the rear of the Municipal Services Center. Do not put lights in your curbside recycling bin, as they tangle sorting machinery.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf-fall season, yard waste limits apply. Ensure all landscaping debris is securely bagged in biodegradable paper sacks or bundled strictly to the 4-foot by 2-foot dimension limit. Heavy or oversized branches will be left behind.
Year-Round Holiday Overlaps
January - DecemberBecause Upper Arlington's collection routes only run from Monday through Thursday, federal holidays falling on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday will never cause a delay to your residential trash schedule.
About Upper Arlington Waste Management
Upper Arlington's Four-Day Zoned Collection System
To efficiently manage municipal solid waste, the City of Upper Arlington utilizes a streamlined four-day zoned schedule serviced by Local Waste Services. Collections occur exclusively from Monday through Thursday, meaning the city is completely free of garbage trucks on Fridays and weekends. Neighborhoods are divided into four distinct zones delineated by major thoroughfares like Tremont Road, Lane Avenue, and Fishinger Road, ensuring predictable and quiet residential mornings.
The Sole Exception to the Plastic Bag Ban
Upper Arlington strictly enforces a 'no plastic bag' rule for its single-stream recycling program. Residents must place all approved recyclables loosely into their city-provided 65-gallon carts. However, there is one highly specific exception: shredded paper. Because loose shredded paper destroys sorting machinery, residents are permitted—and required—to place shredded office paper inside a clear plastic bag before tossing it into the blue recycling cart.
Effortless Curbside Bulk Item Collection
Disposing of large household items in Upper Arlington is exceptionally convenient. Unlike municipalities that require complex pre-scheduling or charge high fees for standard furniture, residents can simply set bulk items at the curb alongside their regular trash bins by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. Local Waste Services includes the removal of items like tables, chairs, and non-freon appliances in the standard residential service.
Eco-Friendly Drop-Offs at the Municipal Services Center
The city offers innovative supplemental waste programs at the Municipal Services Center (MSC) located at 3600 Tremont Road. Behind the building, residents will find permanent food waste composting containers to help divert organic material from the landfill. Additionally, during the post-holiday season, the MSC hosts a dedicated Holiday Lights Recycling bin, providing a sustainable alternative to throwing tangled copper wiring into the trash.
Drop-off Facilities
Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center (MSC)
3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Materials Accepted
SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio)
Various locations across Franklin County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is my trash collected in Upper Arlington?
Collections occur Monday through Thursday based on four zones. Zone 1 (South of Canterbury/West of Tremont & South of Lane) is Monday. Zone 2 (North of Canterbury, South of Fishinger, West of Tremont) is Tuesday. Zone 3 (North of Lane, East of Tremont/Reed) is Wednesday. Zone 4 (North of Fishinger, West of Reed) is Thursday.
Can I put plastic bags in my recycling bin?
No. Upper Arlington prohibits bagging your recyclables, with one strict exception: shredded paper. Loose shredded paper must be placed in a clear plastic bag to prevent it from damaging sorting machines. All other items must remain loose in the cart.
Does a Friday holiday delay my trash pickup in Upper Arlington?
No. Because Local Waste Services strictly runs routes from Monday through Thursday in Upper Arlington, any holiday that falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday will have no impact on your normal collection schedule.
How do I throw away an old mattress?
You can place your old mattress at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your normal weekly trash day. However, it must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic before pickup. Unwrapped mattresses will be left behind by the collection crew.