Columbus Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Refuse containers must be placed out for collection by 6:00 am on your scheduled day of collection and removed by 2:00 pm on the day following collection.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Refuse containers must be placed out for collection by 6:00 am on your scheduled day of collection and removed by 2:00 pm on the day following collection. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Free bulk collection must be scheduled online through 311 or by calling (614) 645-3111; items must be placed at the collection location by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled appointment date. | Up to 5 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Year-round. Bi-weekly collection on assigned Zone A or Zone B schedule; place in biodegradable paper bags or 32-gal rigid containers (max 50 lbs); tie branch bundles up to 4 ft long and 2 ft wide (max 4 in branch diameter). |
Trash container requirements
- City-issued wheeled container or dumpster; all common household trash must be bagged and tied inside container
- Place container within 1 foot of curb or alley with lid closed and arrow facing outward
- Keep container at least 3 feet from obstacles, vehicles, mailboxes, and other carts; do not place trash outside container
Columbus recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Paper and cardboard (flattened boxes, office paper, mail, newspapers, magazines)
- Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and cups (empty and dry; lids accepted, straws removed)
- Glass bottles and jars (all colors accepted; rinsed clean)
- Metal cans and cups (aluminum beverage cans, steel food cans; remove aerosol tips)
- Cartons (milk, juice, and broth cartons; rinse and remove lids)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, plastic film, and plastic wrap (take to grocery store drop-offs)
- Batteries, propane tanks, and flammable materials (bring to household hazardous waste)
- Tanglers (hoses, wires, cables, chains, clothing, or electronics)
- Plastic or foam products (Styrofoam cups, plates, meat trays, takeout food containers)
Columbus bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Free bulk collection must be scheduled online through 311 or by calling (614) 645-3111; items must be placed at the collection location by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled appointment date. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 5 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 614-645-3111 |
Columbus 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, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Columbus, 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 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| 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 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Weekend Holiday | Holiday falls on a weekend. Regular weekday curbside routes are unchanged. |
| 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 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Wednesday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| 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. |
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Columbus Department of Public Service, Division of Refuse Collection · municipal dpw
Phone: 614-645-3111
2100 Alum Creek DrColumbus, OH 43207
These collection rules cover Zone Rotating Color Collection Routes (Gold, Gray, Navy, Pink, Ruby).
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Columbus, OH?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Refuse containers must be placed out for collection by 6:00 am on your scheduled day of collection and removed by 2:00 pm on the day following collection.. These rules apply to Zone Rotating Color Collection Routes (Gold, Gray, Navy, Pink, Ruby).
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Columbus?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Rotating Color Collection Routes (Gold, Gray, Navy, Pink, Ruby).
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Columbus?
Free bulk collection must be scheduled online through 311 or by calling (614) 645-3111; items must be placed at the collection location by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled appointment date. The listed limit is 5 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 614-645-3111 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Rotating Color Collection Routes (Gold, Gray, Navy, Pink, Ruby).
What items are accepted for recycling in Columbus?
The listed accepted materials are Paper and cardboard (flattened boxes, office paper, mail, newspapers, magazines), Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and cups (empty and dry; lids accepted, straws removed), Glass bottles and jars (all colors accepted; rinsed clean), Metal cans and cups (aluminum beverage cans, steel food cans; remove aerosol tips), Cartons (milk, juice, and broth cartons; rinse and remove lids). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic film, and plastic wrap (take to grocery store drop-offs), Batteries, propane tanks, and flammable materials (bring to household hazardous waste), Tanglers (hoses, wires, cables, chains, clothing, or electronics), Plastic or foam products (Styrofoam cups, plates, meat trays, takeout food containers). Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Rotating Color Collection Routes (Gold, Gray, Navy, Pink, Ruby).