My trash collection was missed, can you help me?

If your neighbors' trash has already been collected, we may have encountered one of the following situations: a wheeled container was placed out for collection after we already collected the area, your container contained prohibitive materials, a parked car may have been in the way (we will not collect refuse where there is a possibility of damage to the residents' personal property), or your wheeled container was set out at the wrong place. Please call the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111, and we will make every effort to have your refuse collected and prevent future problems. Please provide us with your name, address and telephone number.

How do I purchase an additional container?

Customers with 90-gallon wheeled container service may contact the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111 if they are interested in purchasing a second container. Taking advantage of our recycling programs is another way to help keep your container from overflowing.

If you do not have anyone nearby that would be available to help you (a friend, relative or neighbor,) you can apply for our Exemption Service.  Contact the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111, and we will send you a questionnaire and a doctor's statement to fill out and return. These forms are also available through our website. Click on this link to get the forms. We may have a smaller container that you may be able to handle on your own. We can make arrangements for you to see it, if you would like. Another agency you may wish to contact is Franklin County Senior Options at (614) 462-6200. They provide various services to residents 60 years of age and up.

 

I just moved in, how do I establish service?

Contact the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111.  We will verify that your address is in the city. If needed, a container will be ordered and delivered to your residence.

If the nearest available container is full, use one of the others within the block. We service every alley once each week. If the containers in your area have not been serviced within the past week, please contact the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111 and we will have a supervisor investigate the situation. Taking advantage of our recycling programs can also help keep your container from overflowing.

How do I arrange for a bulk collection (items too large for my container)?

Bulk collection must be scheduled by contacting 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111 or go to 311.columbus.gov  to schedule a collection.

 

The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) administers the collection of hazardous materials. You can call (614) 871-5100 for more information.  You can also visit their website at www.swaco.org

 

Beginning Monday, April 19, 2010, Columbus will partner with Rumpke to provide weekly collection of yard waste for Columbus households that currently receive trash collection from 90 gallon or 300 gallon containers.

Leaves, grass clippings and small branches cannot be placed with household trash. Columbus provides collection of these items from the curb through a private hauler. Yard waste must be placed in paper lawn and leaf bags or in reusable containers marked "Yard Waste." Yard waste will not be collected if it is placed in plastic bags or if it is placed in your City-provided trash container.

Small branches should be tied with twine into bundles no larger than 4 feet long and 2 feet around. Holiday trees are collected, but trees must be completely free of all decorations and, if taller than 8 feet, must be cut in half.

Fruit and vegetables should be bagged and placed with regular trash. Dirt, rocks and sod should be be taken to a site seeking fill dirt.

Yard waste should be placed curbside at least 3 feet from refuse containers, fire hydrants, mailboxes or trees. Contact the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111 or visit the 311 website at 311.columbus.gov to determine your yard-waste collection day.

Returning grass clippings to the yard keeps your grass healthy and saves space in the landfill. In fact, grass clippings contain valuable nutrients that can generate up to 25 percent of your lawn's total fertilizer needs. Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch since grass clippings are 75 percent to 85 percent water and decompose readily.

What is my trash day/color?

Some customers are assigned a color that determines their collection day; some customers are assigned a one or two-day collection window.

Remember, your subscription recycling collection day may be different from your trash-collection day.

To find your window or color, click here.

 

Many of our customers are assigned a Color, which corresponds to the day the trash is collected. Their collection day moves forward one day after each holiday. Color-collection customers, please refer to the monthly color calendar or click here to find your current collection day. Or, for a color-collection calendar with one month per page, click here.

Call the 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111. Customers assigned a color can call (614) 645-your color (i.e. (614) 645-NAVY), The collection color is also published daily on page two of the Columbus Dispatch Metro Section.

 

How do holidays affect the collection schedule?