WHY RECYCLING MATTERS
The amount of waste created by central Ohio residents and businesses is staggering. In fact, every resident generates an average of 9-10 pounds of waste each day. With only so much landfill space available, it’s more important than ever that we reuse, recycle, compost or divert as much as we can.
RECYCLING CARTS
The City wants to make proper recycling as easy as possible for you so we provide each resident with a recycling cart to place acceptable items in for recycling. Please place these carts at the curb on your recycling day under the same guidelines as your trash. The City is not responsible for lost or misplaced recycling carts. It is advisable to label the bottom of your cart with your street address. If your recycling cart becomes damaged or if you need an additional cart, please contact the Department of Public Service and Engineering, Utility Billing Division at 614-342-4440.
Download: FAQ Sheet
DON’T JUST RECYCLE. RECYCLE RIGHT.
It’s not only important to recycle. It’s important to Recycle Right. By only recycling materials that are accepted at the recycling facility, your recycling will make more of an impact. Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s (SWACO) “RECYCLE RIGHT” campaign makes proper recycling easy by giving you a comprehensive list of what should and what shouldn’t go in your recycling container. For more information about “RECYCLE RIGHT,” please visit www.recycleright.org.
Still have questions about what’s accepted or not accepted for recycling? View the infographics below or visit SWACO’s Frequently Asked Questions page at www.recycleright.org/faq/. To find the best solution for your unwanted item, use SWACO’s “Reuse and Recycling Tool” at www.recycleright.org/recycle-reuse-search-tool/. For additional information on diversion options like reuse, donation and recycling, please visit SWACO’s website at www.recycleright.org.
COLLECTION SCHEDULE AND GUIDELINES
Yard Waste Collection Day: MONDAY
Trash Collection Day: TUESDAY
Recyclables Collection Day: TUESDAY
Please have your trash, recyclables and yard waste at the curb on your collection day by 7:00am but no earlier than 7:00pm the day before your collection day. Residents with a disability limiting or impairing the ability to walk (per ORC 4503.44) may request carryout service from the contracted hauler. Proof of disability must be provided. If your collection is missed, report it to the Department of Public Service and Engineering, Utility Billing Division at 614-342-4440 by 5:00pm the next day. Items reported after that time must be held until the following week.
If a holiday is the day-of or a weekday before your collection day (holiday on Monday and your collection day is Tuesday), your collection day will be delayed one day that week. If a holiday is a weekday after your collection day or on a weekend, your collection day will remain the same. For a list of holidays observed by SWACO and your local hauler, visit www.rumpke.com/for-your-home/holiday-schedule. SWACO’s holidays can be found at www.swaco.org/DocumentCenter/View/459.
Multi-family living residents (apartments and condos) have their service provided by the property management company. Please contact the property manager to get accurate information regarding your service if you live in a multi-family complex.
Please follow the guidelines below when preparing your materials for proper collection. If materials are not properly prepared, the contracted hauler will not collect your material.
TRASH (REFUSE)
All trash must be placed in bags or approved containers. Residents are responsible for providing their own trash bags and containers. Each bag or container must weigh less than 50 pounds. A rolling trash cart is also available for rent. This charge is independent from your trash service bill and is set up directly with local waste hauler.
Seniors aged 60 and over who are the head of household may sign up to receive a discount on the trash portion of their bill. Sign up by bringing your driver’s license or other official ID to the Department of Public Service and Engineering, Utility Billing Division office at City Hall.
To learn more about what is acceptable in your trash, and how to properly dispose of or recycle items that do not belong in the trash, please visit www.swaco.org and click on the “Diversion” tab.
Bulk Items
Furniture, carpeting, mattresses, box springs and other bulk items will be collected with the regular trash when placed at the curb. Any upholstered items (including mattresses and box springs) must be wrapped in plastic.
Car Batteries
State law bans lead acid batteries from landfill disposal. You can dispose of lead acid batteries at many auto service centers and places where you purchase auto batteries.
Carpet and Padding
Carpeting and padding must be rolled in a tight bundle and TIED OR TAPED to facilitate easy handling. Large pieces must be cut into 4-foot lengths. Residents with carryout service must place all bulk items at the curb.
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Hazardous, corrosive, toxic or ignitable wastes (including medical and hospital wastes, liquids and sludge) cannot be accepted by landfills due to Federal and EPA regulations and are excluded from collection. SWACO provides free household hazardous waste disposal services for Franklin County residents. The drop-off location is located at 645 E 8th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 (at the corner of E 8th Ave and Essex Ave just south of the fairgrounds).
The following are examples of items accepted: oil based paint, motor oil, spray paint, lighter fluid, propane tanks/cylinders, oxygen tanks, pool chemicals, bleach, household cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs (including compact fluorescent lightbulbs CFLs and ballasts), lawn chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, antifreeze and batteries. Please note, asbestos, appliances, tires, ammunition, trash, needles, pharmaceuticals and medical waste are not accepted. SWACO will dispose of latex and water based paint for a fee.
For a complete list of acceptable items, hours of operation and directions and dates of HHW collection events, visit www.swaco.org/195/Household-Hazardous-Waste or call SWACO’s HHW drop-off facility at 614-294-1300.
Needles
For information on how to properly dispose of needles and “sharps”, visit the Columbus Public Health website at www.columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/Alcohol-and-Drug-Abuse/Safe-Needle-Disposal/.
Paint
Paint must be in a solid state before it can be placed in the trash. It can be air dried or solidified using cat litter or sand.
Prescriptions
The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) has launched a program designed to significantly reduce the prescription drugs in homes that are either no longer needed or outdated. Law enforcement is the only entity legally able to accept these medications and process them properly so that they do not fall into the wrong hands. Law enforcement takes control of and destroys drugs on a regular basis as part of their regular operations. For a list of drug drop-off locations and dates of national drug take-back collection events, visit www.swaco.org/196/Pharmaceutical.
Unacceptable Items
Appliances containing freon (refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners), lead-acid batteries (car and motorcycle batteries), liquid waste (including used motor oil and paint), tires, yard waste, explosive items, radioactive waste and other materials that could be dangerous to the workers collecting your trash.
YARD WASTE
Yard waste includes organic waste from gardening and landscaping activities (leaves, grass clippings, shrubs, weeds, brush, twigs and small branches). Yard waste is not accepted at the landfill. Yard waste should be placed at the curb on your normal yard waste collection day. After collection, yard waste is taken to a compost facility to be recycled into mulch and compost.
Residents are responsible for providing their own yard waste bags or containers. Loose material should be placed in biodegradable bags or rigid containers clearly marked “yard waste only”. “Yard Waste Only” stickers can be obtained from the City to place on waste receptacles designated for yard waste. Each biodegradable bag, container or bundle must weigh less than 50 pounds.
Do not place yard waste in plastic bags. Only use biodegradable paper bags (available at hardware and grocery stores) or clearly marked rigid containers.
Branches
Branches less than 8 inches in diameter must be cut to 4 feet or shorter in length and bundled with string or twine. The bundle cannot exceed 2 feet in diameter. Tree trunks must be less than 8 inches in diameter.
Christmas Trees
Please keep trees whole. All decorations and stands must be removed including ornaments, tinsel, garland and lights. Trees in plastic bags will not be collected.
Loose Material
Place loose material (leaves, grass clippings, shrubs, weeds, brush, twigs and small branches) in biodegradable paper bags (paper, kraft, or 100% compostable according to ASTM standards) or rigid containers clearly marked “yard waste only”. Biodegradable paper bags are available at hardware and grocery stores. Please do not line these bags or containers with plastic bags.
Unacceptable Items
Only yard waste is permitted in yard waste bags and containers. Please do not place food waste, pet waste, dirt or rocks, plastic bags or bottles, sod, soil or plastic plant pots into yard waste bags or containers. Please do not use plastic bags to collect yard waste. Keep it loose or use compostable bags.
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