TownValetColumbus's Division of Refuse Collection (Department of Public Service) empties city-issued wheeled trash containers once a week. Blue-cart recycling is collected weekly, and yard waste every other week for most residents. Bulky items are picked up free if you schedule them through 311.
Trash zones map
12 trash zones in the city’s data, coloured by collection day. Tap a zone to see its schedule.
Holidays: Colour zones move one day later after every observed holiday (already built into the dates shown). For weekday zones the city publishes no standing rule; expect a delay in a holiday week.
Collection schedules at a glance
| Daily collection (downtown) | 1 zone |
| Every Friday | 1 zone |
| Every Monday | 1 zone |
| Every Thursday | 1 zone |
| Every Tuesday | 1 zone |
| Every Wednesday | 1 zone |
| Rotating Gold zone: weekly, moving one day later after each holiday | 1 zone |
| Rotating Gray zone: weekly, moving one day later after each holiday | 1 zone |
| Rotating Navy zone: weekly, moving one day later after each holiday | 1 zone |
| Rotating Pink zone: weekly, moving one day later after each holiday | 1 zone |
| Rotating Ruby zone: weekly, moving one day later after each holiday | 1 zone |
| Rotating schedule: call 311 or use the city’s lookup | 1 zone |
| Every Friday | 2 zones |
| Every Monday | 2 zones |
| Every Thursday | 2 zones |
| Every Tuesday | 2 zones |
| Every Wednesday | 2 zones |
| Every other Friday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Friday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Monday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Monday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Thursday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Thursday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Tuesday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Tuesday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Wednesday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Wednesday (week B) | 1 zone |
Coming up: holidays
| Holiday | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Day | Wednesday November 11, 2026 | Holiday: pickups may change. Check the city’s notice. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday November 26, 2026 | Holiday: pickups may change. Check the city’s notice. |
| Christmas Day | Friday December 25, 2026 | Holiday: pickups may change. Check the city’s notice. |
| New Year’s Day | Friday January 1, 2027 | Holiday: pickups may change. Check the city’s notice. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday January 18, 2027 | Holiday: pickups may change. Check the city’s notice. |
The city says: “There is no trash collection on these city-observed holidays. Your trash collection day moves forward one day after each holiday.” (source). All holidays for the next 12 months.
What goes where
Recycling (blue cart)
- Paper
- Flattened cardboard
- Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs and cups
- Glass bottles and jars (any color)
- Metal cans and cups
- Cartons (rinsed)
Not: Plastic bags, wrap and film; Batteries and propane tanks; Hoses, wires and chains; Clothing and electronics; Plastic or foam plates and food containers; Dirty, unrinsed containers.
No sorting needed; lids, caps and labels can stay on.
Yard waste (every other week)
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Garden stems, roots and leaves
- Branches under 4 feet, tied in bundles
Not: Plastic bags; Food waste, including pumpkins and gourds; Garden fruits and vegetables; Branches over 4 inches thick.
Use paper bags or containers marked "Yard Waste" (32 gallons max, under 50 pounds), set at the curb at least 3 feet from carts, hydrants, mailboxes and trees.
Summarised in our own words from the city’s pages, checked Monday October 26, 2026. The city’s list is the one that counts.
Setting out, and big items
- When to put it outPut your trash container out no earlier than 6 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 6:00 am on collection day; crews work between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bring trash containers back by 2:00 pm the day after collection. Recycling carts go within 1 foot of the curb or alley, arrow facing out, at least 3 feet from other carts, and must be put away within 24 hours of pickup. Source
- Furniture and other large itemsBulk pickup is free, but only if you schedule it through 311 (311.columbus.gov or 614-645-3111). The City takes furniture, mattresses, carpet (rolled and tied, 4 ft by 2 ft) and appliances without refrigerants. It won't take refrigerated appliances, tires, auto parts, building materials, hazardous items, or bags and boxes of loose trash. You can also drop bulk items off free at the Alum Creek and Georgesville Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers. Source
Parking rules and permits
Parking
- Street sweepingCity crews sweep streets from early April through the last week of October, with extra sweeping in high-litter areas. Where sweeping signs are posted, No Parking is enforced on the posted day and times, and cars can be ticketed or towed. Source
- Permit parking zonesIn designated permit zones, mostly busy residential streets, a virtual permit tied to your license plate exempts you from the posted time limit or meter payment. It doesn't exempt you from No Parking Anytime, street sweeping or Ohio State football game-day restrictions. Source
Permits
- Residential parking permitResidents at an eligible address inside a permit zone apply through the online Permit Parking Portal, by mail, or in person at 2700 Impound Lot Rd., with photo ID, proof of residency and the plate number. Permits last one year from purchase, and 24-hour guest passes cost $2 each. Prices vary by zone, and multi-family buildings built after 2008 aren't eligible. Source
- Dumpster, storage container or moving van on the streetPutting a dumpster or storage container in the public right of way needs a 903 Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit. A short-term 906 permit (up to 7 days) covers non-construction uses like parking a moving van or trailer. Apply online at portal.columbus.gov/permits. Source
Sources and freshness
| Dataset | Publisher | Licence | Data updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refuse Collection Zones | City of Columbus, Department of Public Service / GIS | CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication) | — |
| Recycling and Yard Waste Collection Units | City of Columbus, Department of Public Service / GIS | CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication) | — |
| Address Points | City of Columbus, Department of Public Service / GIS | CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication) | 2026-11-02 |
Refreshed Monday November 2, 2026. 409,602 addresses matched to a zone. How this works.