Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Westerville
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.
Resident-provided cans (max 35 gallons) or heavy-duty plastic bags Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in watertight cans with two handles and a lid, weighing less than 50 lbs. No limit on the number of containers allowed per household.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Drained food containers
- ✓Cold fireplace ashes
- ✓Securely wrapped broken glass
- ✓Animal waste (must be double-bagged or securely wrapped)
Blue Cart (City-provided) Bin (Recycling)
Do not place recyclables in plastic bags. Items must be tossed loosely into the city-issued blue recycling cart. Additional carts are available upon request.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Use biodegradable paper bags or unlined trash cans. Branches must be cut to 4-foot lengths and bound with biodegradable twine. Collected on Mondays.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and twigs
- ✓Small shrubs (root ball removed)
- ✓Branches (up to 2 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your standard Tuesday trash day
Placement
Stack items neatly at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Ensure all mattresses and upholstered items are individually wrapped in plastic and taped securely.
Accepted
- ✓ Standard household furniture
- ✓ Stoves and washers
- ✓ Upholstered furniture (must be plastic wrapped)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be plastic wrapped)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators and freezers (items containing Freon)
- ✕ Air conditioners
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
Bulk collection for approved items is included in your standard municipal service. Freon appliances must be disposed of via outside private vendors at your own expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a Monday or Tuesday, collections are delayed by one day. For a Monday holiday, yard waste moves to Tuesday, and trash/recycling moves to Wednesday.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected on Mondays, any Monday holiday will strictly shift yard waste collection to Tuesday.
Holidays falling later in the week (like Thanksgiving) do not impact Westerville's Monday/Tuesday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Secure Hazardous Household Debris
For the safety of Rumpke sanitation workers, Westerville requires that any broken glass or animal excrement be securely wrapped in heavy paper or placed in closed, leak-proof plastic bags before being thrown into your standard refuse container.
Ensure Fireplace Ashes are Cold
Never dispose of warm or smoldering fireplace ashes in your trash cans. Hot ashes can easily ignite other refuse inside the collection trucks. Ensure all ashes are completely cold to the touch before bagging them for disposal.
Ditch the Plastic Bags for Recycling
Despite using plastic bags for regular trash, you must never bag your recyclables. Plastic bags easily jam the gears at the Rumpke sorting facility. Always leave your paper, plastics, and glass loose inside the blue recycling cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter (Post-Holiday)
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected at the curb on regular Monday yard waste days. Trees must be cut into 4-foot lengths, completely stripped of decorations and stands, and wrapped with string to compress the branches. Do not place the tree in a plastic bag.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf collection season, remember that yard waste must still be placed in biodegradable paper bags or unlined cans. Do not sweep leaves into the street or gutters, as this clogs municipal storm drains.
Winter Weather
December - FebruaryDuring severe winter weather or heavy snowfall, Rumpke service routes may be delayed. Check the City of Westerville website for official weather updates. Ensure your bins are accessible and not buried behind snowbanks.
About Westerville Waste Management
Westerville's Streamlined Two-Day Collection Schedule
The City of Westerville operates a highly efficient, city-wide collection schedule designed to simplify waste management for all residents. Instead of varying pickup days by neighborhood, the entire city adheres to a strict two-day system. Yard waste is universally collected every Monday, while all residential refuse and recycling are picked up the following day on Tuesday. Residents are asked to place all containers at the curb between 6:00 p.m. the night before and 7:00 a.m. on the day of service.
Unlimited Trash Allowances with Specific Container Rules
Unlike many municipalities that restrict households to a single automated cart, Westerville offers an incredibly generous refuse policy with no limit on the number of trash containers you can set out. However, strict container guidelines apply: residents must use watertight plastic or metal cans with two handles and a lid, and no container may exceed a 35-gallon capacity or weigh more than 50 pounds. Standard plastic trash bags are also acceptable, but small household kitchen cans or loose baskets will be discarded alongside the trash.
Effortless Tuesday Bulk Item Disposal
Getting rid of large, bulky items in Westerville is exceptionally convenient. Residents do not need to call ahead or schedule a special appointment for bulk pickup. Most large items, such as stoves or furniture, can simply be stacked neatly at the curb beside your regular trash on Tuesday morning. However, strict sanitary rules apply to bedding and seating; all mattresses and upholstered furniture must be individually wrapped in plastic and securely taped.
Year-Round Monday Yard Waste Program
Westerville is one of the few Ohio cities to maintain a dedicated, year-round yard waste collection service every Monday. To participate, residents must place grass clippings, leaves, and twigs in unlined trash cans or biodegradable paper yard waste bags. For those undertaking heavier landscaping tasks, branches up to 2 inches in diameter are accepted, provided they are cut into four-foot lengths and bound securely with natural twine or string.
Drop-off Facilities
SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) HHW Facility
645 E. 8th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
Materials Accepted
Westerville Public Service Department
350 Park Meadow Rd, Westerville, OH 43081
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is trash and yard waste picked up in Westerville?
The City of Westerville operates a unified schedule. Yard waste is collected city-wide every Monday, and trash and recycling are collected city-wide every Tuesday.
How many trash cans can I put out each week?
There is no limit on the number of trash containers you can place at the curb. However, each individual trash can must be 35 gallons or less, have two handles and a lid, and weigh less than 50 pounds when full.
Do I need to call ahead to throw away a couch or mattress?
No, you do not need to call ahead for bulk items. You can place furniture at the curb on Tuesday with your normal trash. However, health regulations require that all mattresses and upholstered furniture be completely wrapped in plastic and taped securely.
Can I throw away an old refrigerator on bulk trash day?
No. By law, the city's waste hauler cannot collect appliances containing EPA-monitored refrigerants like Freon. You must hire an outside private vendor to safely dispose of refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning units.