Cleveland Trash Pickup Schedule (2026 Calendar & Holiday Delays)

Source-reviewed schedule

Oct 10, 2026

No regular trash pickup is scheduled for this date.

Trash pickup days: Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection.
Next trash pickup: Oct 12Based on the listed schedule
Recycling days: Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection

Scheduled holiday update: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule.

Schedule snapshot for Oct 10 · reviewed 2026-09-23 · Zone City of Cleveland Curbside Service Area. Check live notices with the service authority ↗

Regular trash pickup & collection details

Regular sanitation services and placement requirements
Service	Collection days	Placement or collection rule
Trash	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly	Placement cutoff: Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection.
Recycling	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday	Single-stream recycling
Bulk waste	The City collects up to three (3) bulk items per home on your regular collection day during the first full week of each month. Mattresses and cloth furniture must be wrapped in plastic to protect workers from bedbugs and pests. Residents may also drop off bulk waste free of charge up to four times per year at the Ridge Road Transfer Station.	Up to 3 items per pickup
Yard waste	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday	Year-round. Residents may set out up to 20 bags of yard waste and up to 20 bundles of brush/tree branches each week. Tree branches must be tied in bundles. Place curbside next to the trash cart without blocking truck arm access.

Trash container requirements

Use city-issued black 96-gallon trash roll cart (holds up to 250 lbs)
Smaller 64-gallon carts available upon request for seniors and persons with disabilities
All household waste must be placed completely inside the cart with lid closed
Place carts at least three feet apart to allow automated truck arms to grip them
Do not lean bulk or yard waste against carts or block cart opening

Cleveland recycling overview

Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Accepted items

Paper: clean mail, magazines, catalogs, newspapers, and office paper
Cardboard: clean corrugated shipping boxes and food packaging boxes (flatten completely)
Glass: clean glass food and beverage jars and bottles
Metal cans: aluminum beverage cans and steel/tin food cans
Plastic bottles: clean plastic bottles and jugs with necks (empty and rinse clean)

Prohibited items

Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and film tanglers (place all recyclables loose in cart)
Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, plates, and takeout food containers)
Hazardous items: batteries, needles, syringes, and electronics
Bulky items: buckets, car parts, garden hoses, and metal chains
Non-recyclable materials: food scraps, yard waste, light bulbs, drinking glasses, and ceramics

Recycling safety alerts: Never place lithium batteries (fire risk), electronics or TVs, or loose shredded paper into residential recycling carts.

Cleveland bulk pickup rules

Bulk waste limits and booking rules for Cleveland
Collection rule	The City collects up to three (3) bulk items per home on your regular collection day during the first full week of each month. Mattresses and cloth furniture must be wrapped in plastic to protect workers from bedbugs and pests. Residents may also drop off bulk waste free of charge up to four times per year at the Ridge Road Transfer Station.
Limit per pickup	3 items
Permitted materials	Furniture, Appliances
Advance notice	Not required under the listed rules.
Dispatch phone	216-664-3711

Mattress bagging rule: Mattresses must be bagged under the listed rules. Confirm the required plastic encasement before pickup.

Cleveland yard & garden waste rules

Yard waste collection schedule and rules for Cleveland
Collection schedule	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Service type	Year-round collection
Curbside rules	Residents may set out up to 20 bags of yard waste and up to 20 bundles of brush/tree branches each week. Tree branches must be tied in bundles. Place curbside next to the trash cart without blocking truck arm access.

Green Organics Cart & Paper Bags

Accepted: grass clippings, leaves, garden weeds, and soft yard trimmings. Place directly inside your green organics cart or heavy 30-gallon brown paper lawn bags. Never use plastic trash bags; plastic tears in compost equipment and ruins finished mulch.

Yard waste disposal guide →

Branch Bundling Guidelines

Cut tree branches to 3 to 4 feet in length and tie into bundles under 40 to 50 lbs. Use natural sisal or jute twine only. No wire or plastic rope; wire damages commercial chippers. Keep limb diameter under 4 inches.

Tree branch disposal guide →

Cleveland Curbside Timing & HOA Fine Protection

Avoid costly municipal code citations ($50 to $100) and neighborhood HOA fines by following the verified set-out and retrieval windows for Cleveland.

Earliest Legal Set-Out Time

6:00 PM the Evening Before

Roll carts to the street after 6:00 PM prior to your scheduled pickup days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday). Ensure carts are set out no later than Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection. collection morning.

Mandatory Cart Retrieval Deadline

7:00 PM on Collection Day

Empty carts must be removed from the curb line and returned to an approved storage location (garage, behind side gate, or screened enclosure) within 24 hours.

HOA Trash Can Rules & Fine Defense

Homeowner Associations frequently target trash carts left at the street with $25 to $100 penalty letters. Keep in mind:

State-Level Protections: Several states protect residents with statutory 24-hour collection grace periods that override restrictive HOA covenants.
Contesting Selective Enforcement: If you receive a fine while neighboring bins are left out unpenalized, document the dates with photos and request a formal hearing in writing within 14 days.
Approved Concealment: Store containers out of sight from the street to remain fully compliant with deed restrictions.

Read complete curbside timing and set-out rules →

Why was my trash skipped in Cleveland?

If your street had pickup today but your cart is still full, work through this quick diagnostic checklist before reporting a missed collection.

1. Check the set-out deadline (Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection.)▼

Cleveland routes begin collection as early as Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection.. If your cart was rolled out after the truck passed, drivers cannot turn around for late set-outs without a dispatcher work order.

2. The 3-foot clearance rule▼

Automated mechanical arms need space to grip your container. Carts placed closer than 3 feet to mailboxes, parked cars, other bins, or low tree limbs cannot be safely grabbed by the truck.

3. Lid closure and overweight bins▼

Carts with lids resting open over 45 degrees or overflowing with extra bags are routinely skipped to prevent trash from spilling across the road. Ensure your cart lid shuts completely flat.

4. Wait until 7:00 PM before reporting▼

Trucks frequently experience equipment issues, heavy loads, or relief driver swaps. Collection often continues until 7:00 PM. Wait until evening before logging a formal missed pickup ticket.

1-Click 311 Missed Pickup Script for Cleveland

If your cart was curbside on time with proper clearance, call dispatch or submit a ticket using this verified wording:

"Hello, my residential trash cart at [Your Address] was placed curbside by Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection. today with 3 feet of clearance and lid closed, but it was skipped. Please log a missed pickup service ticket for route recovery."

Direct Dispatch:216-664-3711·Submit Online Missed Pickup Form →

Cleveland Snow, Ice & Severe Weather Pickup Policy

Heavy snowfall, black ice, and tropical storms can make streets dangerous for 30-ton sanitation compactor trucks. Here is how service suspensions and makeup collections are handled in Cleveland.

The 1-Day Weather Slide Rule

If morning road conditions ground trucks, collection typically slides by one business day for the rest of the week, with Friday routes completed on Saturday. If sub-zero conditions or unplowed roads persist past 48 hours, missed routes are rescheduled for the following regular cycle.

Free Double Bag Set-Out Allowance

When an official severe weather emergency forces the cancellation of a full collection week, haulers generally permit residents to place up to two extra tied garbage bags next to their cart on the next service day without purchasing special overflow tags.

Official Weather Updates & Recovery Rules

During active winter storm warnings or hurricane advisories, monitor the Cleveland emergency alert portal for real-time truck deployment status, or review our national storm delay recovery guide.

Cleveland Seasonal Disposal & Cleanup Calendar

Special city cleanup programs run during key seasonal transitions throughout the year in Cleveland.

January Tree Mulching

Natural Christmas trees are collected curbside during the first two weeks of January. Strip all lights, stands, and tinsel. Cut trees over 6 feet in half and do not bag in plastic.

Tree disposal rules →

Fall Leaf Collection

Rake leaves to the curb edge for vacuum trucks or pack into 30-gallon brown paper lawn bags. Never use plastic bags or rake leaves into bike lanes or storm drains.

Leaf collection guide →

Spring Cleanups

Many county landfills and city yards host free residential dump days in April and May where gate tipping fees are waived for bulky household items and scrap metal.

View transfer stations →

Moving to Cleveland? New Resident Waste Setup Guide

Setting up utilities at a new home can be overwhelming. Here is what you need to know about trash collection, billing, and moving boxes in Cleveland.

Service Model & Hauler

Municipal Public Works (City DPW)

Trash and recycling services are automatically provided and funded through your municipal property taxes.

Carts at Your New Home

Carts Remain With the Property

Wheeled trash and recycling carts are assigned to the street address by serial number. If your home has missing or broken bins upon move-in, contact public works for a replacement.

The Moving Box Blitz: Disposing of 30+ Moving Boxes

Do not leave towering piles of unflattened moving boxes at the curb. Empty all Styrofoam and bubble wrap completely, slit all tape seams flat with a utility knife, and cut boxes to 3x3 foot sections so they fit inside your blue cart.

Read full cardboard recycling rules →New resident waste setup checklist →

Cleveland Broken Cart Repair & Extra Bin Requests

Mechanical lift arms on collection trucks can crack plastic bin bodies or snap wheels off over time. Follow these steps for free cart repairs or ordering a second container.

Free Repairs for Truck Damage

Damaged Wheels, Lids & Bodies

If your cart is damaged by normal collection wear or dropped by the truck arm, public works will repair or replace it at no charge. Locate the 6 to 8 digit serial number hot-stamped on the front of the cart body before calling.

Extra Trash or Recycling Bins

Order a Second Cart

Large households generating extra waste can lease an additional 64 or 96 gallon container. Extra bins typically add an affordable fee ($5 to $12 monthly) to your city utility bill.

Need a repair or extra cart in Cleveland?Contact sanitation dispatch with your street address and serial number, or read our cart replacement guide:

216-664-3711·Submit Cart Ticket Online →

Cleveland Wildlife, Pest & Odor Prevention

Warm summer weather turns outdoor carts into fly breeding zones, while overnight food smells attract raccoons and neighborhood wildlife. Use these verified sanitation practices to keep your property clean.

Summer Maggot & Odor Defense

Pour a kettle of boiling water directly into your empty cart to eliminate fly larvae instantly with zero harsh chemicals. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom to absorb liquids, and double-bag seafood or meat scraps in summer.

Step-by-step cart cleaning guide →

Raccoon & Wildlife Protection

Do not rely on elastic bungee cords, which raccoons easily unhook with their paws. Use heavy-duty ratchet straps or certified mechanical lid latches. Where wildlife is active, roll carts out on collection morning rather than leaving them overnight.

Cleveland Street Sweeping & Parking Ticket Shield

Mechanical street sweepers frequently run on or immediately following residential trash pickup days. Avoid $45 to $85 parking tickets with these curbside rules.

Keep Carts Out of the Gutter

Place Carts Behind the Curb Line

Never place garbage or recycling carts in the street asphalt gutter on street sweeping days. Keep wheels on the sidewalk or parkway grass strip so street sweeping broom brushes can clean curb gutters without tipping carts over.

Alternate Side Parking Alerts

Check Posted Parking Restriction Hours

Verify street signs for posted sweeping hours. Parking enforcement officers routinely ticket vehicles parked on the scheduled curb side during sweeper operating hours ($45 to $85 citation).

Cleveland Area Landfills & Citizen Drop-Off Stations

When you have large renovation loads, dirt, concrete, or bulky waste exceeding curbside limits, self-haul directly to a verified transfer station or county landfill serving Cuyahoga County.

Ridge Road Transfer Stationtransfer station

📍 3727 Ridge Road, Cleveland, OH 44144

Residents may drop off bulk waste free of charge four times per year, up to 4 cubic yards per visit. Open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

View official facility gate rates & hours →

East Side Recycling Drop-Offrecycling center

📍 5600 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103

Drop-off station for residential recyclables. Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

View official facility gate rates & hours →

1. Mandatory Tarp Rule

All open truck beds and trailers must be secured with a tarp. Unsecured loads face an immediate $20 to $50 state fee at the scale.

2. Minimum Scale Charge

Most facilities have a minimum entry fee ($25 to $45) covering up to 1,000 lbs, with prorated per-ton rates for heavier commercial debris.

3. Proof of Residency

To receive discounted residential gate rates, bring a valid state driver license and a current local municipal water or utility bill.

Cleveland holiday trash delays

Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.

Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.

2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Cleveland, OH

Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:

Holiday	Observed Date	Schedule Status	Curbside Adjustment
New Year's Day	Thursday, Jan 1, 2026	1-Day Slide	Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Monday, Jan 19, 2026	1-Day Slide	Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Presidents' Day	Monday, Feb 16, 2026	Not Observed	Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Memorial Day	Monday, May 25, 2026	1-Day Slide	Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Juneteenth	Friday, Jun 19, 2026	Not Observed	Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Independence Day	Friday, Jul 3, 2026	Not Observed	Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Labor Day	Monday, Sep 7, 2026	1-Day Slide	Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Columbus Day	Monday, Oct 12, 2026	Not Observed	Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Veterans Day	Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026	Not Observed	Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Thanksgiving Day	Thursday, Nov 26, 2026	1-Day Slide	Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Christmas Day	Friday, Dec 25, 2026	1-Day Slide	Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.

🦃 Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday pickups push back by 1 day. Thursday routes slide to Friday, and Friday routes slide to Saturday.

🎄 Christmas & Winter Holidays

Christmas Day pickups push back 1 day through the remainder of the service week. Normal schedule resumes the following Monday.

🌲 Christmas Tree Curbside Disposal

Natural evergreen trees can be set out curbside in January. Remove all tree stands, lights, nails, ornaments, and tinsel before placing at the curb.

Personalized Route Reminders & Holiday Push Notifications

Never miss trash day or get surprised by holiday delays. Subscribe directly to your device calendar for free lock-screen alerts at 7:00 PM the night before and automatic holiday schedule shift warnings.

7:00 PM Evening Alerts: Pops up on your phone lock screen before bed

Holiday Shift Warnings: Automatically reschedules on slide holidays

100% Private: Zero accounts, zero apps, zero SMS or email tracking

Step 1: Choose Your Street Collection Day

Showing personalized schedule for each route

🗓️ Monday RoutePersonalized

Trash: Weekly collection (Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet apart with opening facing the street. Remove carts from the curb promptly after collection.)

Recycling: Collected on Monday (single stream)

Holiday Impact: 3 observed holidays delay this route in 2026.