Cleveland Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026

Find your Cleveland trash day, opt-in recycling rules, bulk week schedule, yard waste limits, and 2026 holiday delays for City collection.

City of Cleveland · Division of Waste Collection & Disposal · Updated March 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Cleveland Collection Day

Select your collection day to see your weekly trash service, opt-in recycling, bulk week rules, and 2026 holiday impact.

👈 Select your day above to see your complete Cleveland collection schedule.

⚠ Need your exact route? Use Cleveland 311 for schedule help, missed pickups, cart issues, or bulk pickup requests. See all contact options ↓

At a Glance

Cleveland Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Cleveland provides weekly trash collection and, upon request, weekly opt-in recycling for single-family homes and multi-family homes up to 4 units. Collection is curbside using a 96-gallon black trash cart and, if enrolled, a 64-gallon blue recycling cart. Bulk waste is collected during the first full week of each month, up to 3 bulk items per home.

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Trash

Weekly

96-gallon black cart

♻

Recycling

Weekly

Opt-in, 64-gallon blue cart

🌿

Yard Waste

Weekly

Bagged or bundled

📦

Bulk Waste

Monthly

First full week, 3 items

📞

Missed Pickup

Call 311

After 4:30 p.m.

⚠ Cleveland service eligibility: City-issued carts and curbside collection are for single-family homes and multi-family homes up to 4 units. Larger buildings generally need private or different waste arrangements.

🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how trash collection works across the US? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)

Two-Cart System

Black Cart & Blue Cart — How Cleveland Collection Works

Cleveland provides a black 96-gallon trash cart for weekly trash collection. Recycling is optional: residents must sign up to receive a blue 64-gallon recycling cart and agree to follow the recycling guidelines.

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Black Cart — Trash

All regular household waste must be placed inside the cart. Do not overload above cart height.

Collected weekly by the City.

Weekly • Curbside

♻

Blue Cart — Recycling

Recycling is available by request. Join the City program through 311 to receive a blue cart and weekly recycling service.

Collected weekly for enrolled households.

Weekly • Opt-in program

⏰ Set-Out Rules — Both Carts

Place carts curbside the night before collection, or no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Place carts at least 3 feet apart so the truck arm can grip them.
Face cart openings toward the street.
Do not lean items against carts or place yard waste or bulk waste in front of them.
Please use off-street parking on collection day when possible.

🔗 Related Guide See how the US trash and recycling system compares city to city: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)

Curbside Collection

Cleveland Curbside Collection — What Makes It Different

Cleveland uses a curbside collection system, not an alley-based system. Waste should be placed in the area between the curb and sidewalk, or at the property line where that applies. Trucks run routes from roughly 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the truck may not arrive at the same time every week.

📌 Curbside Placement Basics

Keep carts clear of parked vehicles and obstacles.
Do not place yard waste or bulky waste in front of the carts.
All trash must be inside the cart.
Waste is not considered missed until the end of the day, at 4:30 p.m.

💡 Cleveland routes can vary by weather and volume. Snow, staffing, equipment issues, or unusually heavy set-outs may change pickup timing. Wait until the end of the route day before reporting a missed collection.

Opt-In Recycling

Cleveland Recycling Program — Sign Up Required

Cleveland’s recycling program is opt-in. Residents must request to join and receive a blue recycling cart. Once enrolled, recycling is collected weekly with accepted paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass, cartons, and select cups.

🔵 Enrollment Required

Residents do not automatically receive recycling service. You must contact 311 to join and request a blue cart.

Eligible homes include single-family properties and multi-family homes up to 4 units.

🟢 Weekly Recycling

Once enrolled, your blue cart is collected weekly on your regular waste day.

The City also offers drop-off options for recycling and special materials at designated locations.

💡 Not enrolled yet? Call 311 or 216-664-2000 to sign up for Cleveland recycling and request your blue cart.

Holiday Schedule

Cleveland Holiday Garbage Schedule 2026

Cleveland’s official 2026 Waste Collection Calendar shows that some holidays have regular pickup, while others cause a one-day delayed collection all week. The first full week of each month is marked as Bulk Week.

Holiday	2026 Date	Trash & Recycling	Notes
New Year’s Day	Thu, Jan 1	Regular Pickup	No delay
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19	1-Day Delay	All week delayed
Presidents Day	Mon, Feb 16	Regular Pickup	No delay
Good Friday	Fri, Apr 3	Regular Pickup	No delay
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25	1-Day Delay	All week delayed
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19	Regular Pickup	No delay
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7	1-Day Delay	All week delayed
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26	1-Day Delay	All week delayed
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25	1-Day Delay	All week delayed

💡 Cleveland 2026 rule: not every holiday changes service. New Year’s Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, and Juneteenth have regular pickup, while MLK Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas create a one-day delay all week.

🔗 Related Guide Holiday delays compared across all major US cities: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)

Blue Cart Recycling

Cleveland Blue Cart — What’s Accepted

Cleveland accepts paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, cartons, and select drink cups in the blue recycling cart. The City specifically highlights bottles, jugs, tubs, paper and boxes, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, cartons, plastic fast food drink cups, and paper hot drink cups.

✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart

Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Newspapers, magazines, paper bags, mail, and copy paper
Corrugated cardboard, tubes, cereal boxes, and paper egg cartons
Food and beverage cans
Glass bottles and jars
Milk, juice, wine, and broth cartons
Plastic fast food drink cups
Paper hot drink cups

🚫 Keep These Out

Computers, TVs, and other electronics
Household hazardous waste
Construction and demolition debris
Loose chemicals, solvents, or paint
Items not listed in Cleveland’s accepted materials guide
Overflowing mixed trash or contaminated loads

⚠ Cleveland recycling is opt-in. If your home has not enrolled through 311, you will not have a blue cart or weekly recycling collection.

🚩 Blue Cart Size

The City provides a 64-gallon blue recycling cart upon request. Contact 311 to sign up for the program or to ask about cart service issues.

🔗 Related Guide Learn the most common US recycling mistakes and how to avoid them: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)

Yard Waste

Cleveland Yard Waste & Leaf Collection

Cleveland allows weekly set-out of bagged yard waste and bundled brush or tree branches on your regular collection day. Tree branches must be tied into bundles no more than 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. The City also runs a separate Leaf Removal Program in designated neighborhoods in November and December.

🌿 Yard Waste Rules

Grass clippings and plant debris must be bagged.
Specific yard waste bags are not required.
Branches must be tied in bundles no more than 3 ft. long and 2 ft. wide.
All Cleveland residents may place up to 20 bagged leaves out with the trash on their regular waste day.
Do not place yard waste in front of your carts.

🎄 Leaf Removal Program

In designated high-generation neighborhoods, Cleveland resumes its separate Leaf Pick-Up Program in early November and continues through December. Residents outside those areas can still set out up to 20 bagged leaves on their regular waste day.

🔗 Related Guide Yard waste rules compared across the US: Yard Waste Pickup Rules in the US (What’s Allowed & What’s Not)

Bulky Item Pickup

Cleveland Bulk Waste Pickup — First Full Week of Each Month

Cleveland collects up to 3 bulk items per home on your regular collection day during the first full week of each month. Bulk waste means items that are too large to fit in the trash cart, are not plant materials, and are not hazardous.

📅 Bulk Waste Rules

Wait for the first full week of the month (marked as Bulk Week on the City calendar).
Set out up to 3 bulk items on your regular collection day.
Place items at the curb without blocking carts.
Wrap mattresses and cloth furniture in plastic before set-out.

✅ Accepted Bulk Items

Appliances drained of coolants and fluids
Tables, chairs, and dressers
Mattresses and couches
Large household boxes
Other oversized non-hazardous household items

🚫 Not Bulk Waste

Plant materials and yard waste
Hazardous or flammable materials
Construction and demolition debris
Toilets, tubs, sinks, drywall, brick, wood, dirt, shingles, siding
Electronics and special waste items

⚠ Mattresses and cloth furniture must be wrapped in plastic to protect workers from bedbugs, lice, and other parasites.

🔗 Related Guide How bulk trash pickup works across the US, city by city: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)

Drop-Offs

Cleveland Drop-Offs — Electronics, Tires, HHW & Special Waste

Cleveland offers resident drop-off options at the Carr Center and the Ridge Road Transfer Station. These sites accept different materials, including recycling, computers, yard waste, bulk waste, tires without rims, and household hazardous waste on the first Friday of the month.

⏰ Residential Drop-Off Locations

Carr Center: 5600 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103
Ridge Road Transfer Station: 3727 Ridge Rd., Cleveland, OH 44144
Open Mon–Sat, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Loads limited to 4 cubic yards per visit
Household hazardous waste accepted on the first Friday of each month

✅ Accepted at Drop-Offs

Computers and cell phones at Carr Center
Recycling materials
Bulk waste and yard waste at Ridge Road
Tires without wheels/rims
Household hazardous waste on first Fridays

🚫 Not Accepted in Regular Collection

Oil, cleaners, solvents, and pesticides in regular carts
TVs and e-waste in recycling carts
Construction and demolition debris
Latex paint before it is fully dried out

📌 Latex Paint Rule

Latex paint is not hazardous, but it must be completely dried out before disposal. Residents can air dry it or mix it with an absorbent like kitty litter or oil-dri before putting it in the trash.

Food Scrap Note

Cleveland Food Scrap & Composting Notes

The City of Cleveland waste pages focus mainly on trash, recycling, yard waste, bulk waste, and special drop-offs. Cleveland does not currently present a citywide curbside food scrap collection program on its main waste collection pages, so residents generally need to use private composting options or regional compost resources if they want separate food scrap diversion.

🌿 Best Current Approach

Use Cleveland’s regular recycling and yard waste systems correctly.
Keep food waste out of the recycling cart.
Check local private composting or regional sustainability programs for food scrap options.

Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Cleveland

Check the time. Cleveland routes run until about 4:30 p.m. Waste is not considered missed before then.
Verify correct set-out. Carts should be curbside by 7:00 a.m., 3 feet apart, facing the street.
Check for a holiday delay. Some 2026 holidays shift collection by one day all week.
Confirm Bulk Week if the missed item was a bulky item. Bulk pickup only happens during the first full week of the month.
Call 311 or 216-664-2000 after 4:30 p.m. to report a missed pickup. The waste can then be left curbside for pickup the following day.

Cleveland reminder: trucks may not reach your address at the same time every week. Weather, heavy set-outs, staffing, and equipment can all affect timing.

Local Tips

Cleveland Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Cleveland or Just Moved In?

Make sure you have your City-issued black trash cart first. If you want recycling, remember that Cleveland’s program is opt-in, so call 311 to request a blue cart and enroll.

🧤 Bulk Week Matters

Cleveland does not treat bulk pickup as an anytime curbside service. You only get up to 3 bulk items during the first full week of each month, on your regular collection day.

🚫 5 Mistakes Cleveland Residents Make

Putting bulky items out outside Bulk Week
Forgetting to wrap mattresses and cloth furniture in plastic
Assuming recycling is automatic instead of opt-in
Putting construction debris in regular trash collection
Reporting a missed pickup before 4:30 p.m.

Contact

Contact Cleveland Waste Collection & 311

Contact	Details
Cleveland 311	Dial 3-1-1 or 216-664-2000 — missed pickups, recycling signup, cart issues, disability service enrollment, and general City help
Division of Waste	clevelandohio.gov/waste — collection rules, 2026 calendar, and waste resources
2026 Waste Calendar	Download the official 2026 Waste Collection Schedule
Waste & Recycling Guide	Waste & Recycling Guide PDF — accepted materials, bulk rules, drop-offs, HHW, and set-out guidance
Carr Center	5600 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103 — recycling, computers, shredding, HHW first Fridays
Ridge Road Transfer Station	3727 Ridge Rd., Cleveland, OH 44144 — recycling, bulk waste, yard waste, tires without rims, HHW first Fridays
Illegal Dumping	Call 216-664-DUMP (3867) to report illegal dumping
Dumpster Service	Call 216-664-2162 for dumpster sizes, current fees, or to request a dumpster

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Cleveland Trash Pickup

Your trash day depends on your address, but Cleveland trash collection is weekly for eligible homes. Put your cart out curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day and call 311 if you need route help.

Weekly, but only if you are enrolled. Cleveland recycling is an opt-in program. Residents must request a blue recycling cart through 311 in order to receive weekly recycling collection.

No. Cleveland’s recycling program is opt-in. You must contact 311, request to join the program, and receive a blue cart before weekly recycling service begins.

Bulk pickup happens on your regular collection day during the first full week of each month. You may set out up to 3 bulk items per home.

Bulk waste is too large to fit in the trash cart, is not plant material, and is not hazardous. Examples include appliances drained of coolants and fluids, tables, chairs, dressers, mattresses, couches, and large boxes.

Yes. Mattresses and cloth furniture must be wrapped in plastic before curbside set-out for bulk collection.

Yes, but only some holidays. In 2026, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas create a one-day delayed collection all week. New Year’s Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, and Juneteenth have regular pickup.

Place carts curbside the night before collection or no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Waste is not considered missed until 4:30 p.m.

Cleveland residents can use the Carr Center at 5600 Carnegie Ave. and the Ridge Road Transfer Station at 3727 Ridge Rd. Household hazardous waste is accepted on the first Friday of each month, and the Carr Center accepts computers and cell phones.

Wait until the end of the route day, 4:30 p.m., then call 311 or 216-664-2000. Once reported, the waste can usually stay curbside for collection the following day.

Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

If the Collection Day Finder above hasn’t resolved your question, use the official City of Cleveland waste resources, collection calendar, and 311 support for route help, missed pickups, recycling sign-up, or bulk questions.

🔍 Official Cleveland Lookup & Contact Options

All of the following are official or City-supported resources for Cleveland waste services:

🔍 View Cleveland Waste Resources 📞 Call 311 — 216-664-2000

Division of Waste	clevelandohio.gov/waste — official waste collection page with calendar and guides
2026 Waste Calendar	2026 Cleveland Waste Collection Schedule — holiday delays and bulk weeks
311 Support	Dial 3-1-1 or 216-664-2000 for missed pickups, recycling enrollment, cart concerns, or disability service enrollment
Waste Guide	Waste & Recycling Guide PDF — accepted items, drop-offs, HHW, bulk rules, and set-out details
Drop-Off Locations	Carr Center (5600 Carnegie Ave.) and Ridge Road Transfer Station (3727 Ridge Rd.)

You will leave this website when using any of the links above.

Outside Cleveland city limits? Lakewood, Parma, Euclid, Shaker Heights, and other nearby communities have their own waste collection systems and schedules.

Nearby Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Cleveland

Looking for waste collection information in another Ohio or Midwest city? Here are five nearby guides:

🏭Detroit 🏭Columbus 🏭Chicago 🏭Indianapolis 🏭Cincinnati