Akron Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026

Find your Akron collection day, weekly recycling rules, bulk item pickup, glass drop-off locations, and 2026 holiday delays — City of Akron Public Works Bureau.

City of Akron · Public Works Bureau · Trash & Recycling Collection Division · Updated May 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Akron Collection Day

Akron collects trash and recycling weekly on the same day. Select your day or use the official interactive map to look up your address.

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

⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the official interactive address map at Akron Collection Day Map or call 3-1-1 (landline inside city) or (330) 375-2311. Download the free Akron Recycles app for reminders.  More options ↓

At a Glance

Akron Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Akron’s Public Works Bureau provides weekly curbside trash and recycling collection through city-issued roll carts. Both streams are collected on the same weekday. Recycling is single-stream and weekly. Glass is not accepted in curbside recycling carts — use one of six purple drop-off bins throughout the city. Large items (furniture, appliances) are picked up curbside every week at no extra charge without scheduling. Use the official map or call 3-1-1 to find your collection day.

🗑
Garbage
Weekly
City-issued cart required
♻
Recycling
Weekly
Same day; no glass; loose only
📦
Bulk Items
Weekly, no scheduling
Furniture, appliances, tires weekly
🔋
Glass Drop-Off
6 purple bin locations
No glass in curbside cart
⚠
ReWorks HHW
Thursdays 2–7 p.m.
Jun–Sep, Stow location
⚠ Important: No glass in Akron’s curbside recycling cart. Akron runs a separate glass recycling drop-off program using purple bins at six locations citywide. Glass in your recycling cart contaminates the load and may result in non-collection. Use only the purple bins for glass.
🔗 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

Akron’s Two City-Issued Carts — Trash & Recycling

Every Akron residential address receives two city-issued roll carts: one for trash and one for recycling. Both are collected on the same weekday, every week. You must use city-issued carts — no other containers or trash cans will be emptied. Additional carts are available for a one-time $50 fee (max 2 extra trash carts and 2 extra recycling carts).

🗑

Trash Cart — Dark (Gray/Black)

All non-recyclable household waste. Items not permitted: hot ashes, hazardous waste, roofing material, concrete, plaster, dirt, sand, gravel, bricks, drywall, C&D debris.

Weekly • City cart only
♻

Recycling Cart — Blue

Paper, cardboard (flattened), cans, plastic bottles & jugs only. Loose, never bagged. Caps & lids discarded. No glass. Items must be rinsed.

Weekly • Same day as trash

⏰ Set-Out Rules — Both Carts

  • Do not place carts at the curb until 4:30 p.m. the day before your collection day.
  • Carts should be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
  • Remove carts from the curb by 6:00 p.m. on your collection day.
  • Leave at least 3 feet between your trash and recycling carts.
  • Do not overfill carts — lids must be able to close.
  • All recyclables must be placed loose in the cart — never bagged.
  • Rinse all recyclable items before placing them in the cart.
  • Disability assistance: If a medical condition prevents you from placing carts at the curb, a Trash & Recycling Assistance form is available — call 3-1-1 for information.
💡 Download the Akron Recycles app. The free Akron Recycles app lets residents search any item to find out if it belongs in the trash, the recycling cart, or on the curb as a bulk item. It also provides customized alerts and reminders for your curbside pickup day. Available for iOS and Android.
🔗 Related Guide New to the US waste system? See: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)
Holiday Schedule

Akron Holiday Trash & Recycling Schedule 2026

Akron Solid Waste observes six holidays in 2026 with a one-day delay for the remainder of the affected week. When a holiday falls on your collection day, your pickup shifts one day later that week. Note: Juneteenth is a City holiday but does NOT cause a trash/recycling delay.

Holiday2026 DateCurbside ImpactWhat Happens
New Year’s DayThu, Jan 11-Day DelayThu → Fri  |  Fri → Sat  |  Mon–Wed: normal that week
MLK DayMon, Jan 191-Day DelayMon → Tue  |  All routes that week shift one day later
Presidents’ DayMon, Feb 16NormalNot observed by Akron Solid Waste. All collections on schedule.
Memorial DayMon, May 251-Day DelayMon → Tue  |  All routes that week shift one day later
JuneteenthFri, Jun 19NormalCity holiday, but NO trash/recycling delay. All collections on schedule.
Independence DaySat, Jul 4NormalFalls on Saturday — no weekday curbside impact.
Labor DayMon, Sep 71-Day DelayMon → Tue  |  All routes that week shift one day later
Veterans DayWed, Nov 11NormalNot observed by Akron Solid Waste. All collections on schedule.
Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 261-Day DelayThu → Fri  |  Fri → Sat  |  Mon–Wed: normal that week
Christmas DayFri, Dec 251-Day DelayFri → Sat  |  Mon–Thu: normal that week
💡 Juneteenth does NOT delay trash collection. Although Juneteenth is a City of Akron holiday, trash and recycling collection is NOT delayed. All routes run on their normal schedule on and around Juneteenth. This is explicitly noted in the official 2026 holiday schedule.
🔗 Related Guide Holiday delays confuse millions of US residents every year. For a national overview: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)
Recycling — Blue Cart

Akron Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart (No Glass)

Akron uses single-stream recycling collected weekly in your blue cart on the same day as trash. All items must be loose, rinsed, and dry — never bagged. Caps and lids go in the trash. Glass is never accepted in the curbside cart. The Recycle Right program monitors carts June through August; contaminated carts receive an “Oops” tag and may not be emptied.

⚠ No glass of any kind in the blue recycling cart. Akron removed glass from the curbside program to reduce contamination and equipment damage. Use the six purple glass drop-off bins at parks and community centers throughout the city. Placing glass in the blue cart may result in the entire load being rejected.

✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart

  • Paper products: newspapers, office/school paper (non-shredded), junk mail, phone books, beer & beverage packages, cereal boxes, tissue boxes
  • Cartons: milk, juice, soup, broth, and other food/beverage cartons
  • Plastic bottles and jugs: water/soda/sports drink bottles, milk jugs, iced tea/juice containers, soap/dish liquid/laundry detergent containers
  • Flattened cardboard (do not bundle — flatten only)
  • Aluminum & metal cans: soda/beverage cans, soup/vegetable cans, tomato sauce cans

🚫 Never in the Blue Cart

  • Glass of any kind → purple drop-off bins
  • Plastic bags or plastic wrap → grocery store drop-off
  • Styrofoam & foam containers
  • Food waste or food-soiled items
  • Yard waste
  • Electronics, batteries, cell phones
  • Aerosol cans, full or empty
  • Bottle caps or lids → trash
  • Aluminum foil, pots & pans, tools
  • Clothing, textiles, shoes
  • Medical waste, needles, syringes
  • Pizza boxes, paper towels, napkins, tissues
  • Paint, oil containers, pesticides
  • Auto parts, batteries, mini blinds
  • Shredded paper → trash

📙 Recycle Right Campaign (June–August)

Each year from June through August, the City runs the Recycle Right campaign in partnership with Keep Akron Beautiful. Specially-trained inspectors observe recycling carts and leave “Oops” tags on carts with contaminants. Carts found to contain significant contamination will not be emptied that day. Residents can correct the mistake and return the cart to the curb the following week. Since 2019, Akron’s recycling contamination rate has dropped from 39.3% to a historic low of 12.5%, and clean recycling now generates revenue for the City rather than costing money.

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

Glass Recycling — Six Purple Drop-Off Bins Across Akron

Akron’s glass recycling drop-off program uses purple bins at six convenient locations. Glass is collected by CAP Glass and processed at O-I’s Zanesville facility, where it becomes new glass bottles and jars in as little as 30 days. No appointment needed — just wash, remove caps/corks, and drop in.

🚩 Akron Dog Park499 Memorial Parkway
🚩 Goodyear Heights Metro Park1950 Eastwood Ave.
🚩 Kenmore Community Center (overflow lot)880 Kenmore Blvd.
🚩 Joy Park Community Center825 Fuller St.
🚩 Firestone Metro Park (Little Turtle Pond Lot)2620 Harrington Rd.
🚩 Behind Spaghetti Warehouse510 S. Main St.

✅ Accepted in Purple Glass Bins

  • Glass food jars (pasta sauce, salsa, jams)
  • Spirit and wine, beer, and champagne bottles
  • Non-alcoholic beverage glass bottles
  • No need to remove labels; wash out and remove caps and corks

🚫 Not Accepted in Purple Bins

  • Windows or mirror glass
  • Light bulbs of any kind
  • Solar panels
  • Heat-resistant glass (Pyrex, baking dishes)
  • Drinking glasses or tumblers
  • Computer or TV screens
  • Ceramics, vases
💡 Use the City’s interactive map to find the nearest purple bin. Visit akronohio.gov/trash-and-recycling for a map of all six drop-off locations. In its first year, the program collected 80 tons of glass — turning what was a cost into a revenue generator for the City.
Bulk Item Pickup — Weekly

Bulk & Large Item Pickup — Free, Every Week, No Scheduling

Akron collects large items such as furniture, household appliances, and tires curbside every week on your regular collection day at no extra charge — and with no advance scheduling required. Simply place items next to your trash and recycling carts. The City sends them to local salvage companies to ensure proper recycling and to keep them out of landfills.

✅ Accepted Weekly at Curb

  • Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, beds, desks
  • Mattresses and box springs
  • Household appliances: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, air conditioners
  • Automobile tires (placed next to carts)
  • Other large household items that won’t fit in the cart
  • No scheduling required — place beside carts on your regular day

🚫 Not Accepted as Curbside Bulk

  • Hot ashes
  • Hazardous waste → ReWorks HHW events
  • Roofing material, concrete, plaster, dirt, sand, gravel
  • Bricks, drywall, demolition & construction debris
  • Large volumes of bags/boxes → schedule Special Bulk Volume Pickup
  • Commercial waste
⚠ Large volume of bags or boxes requires a Special Bulk Volume Pickup. Furniture and appliances can go out any week without scheduling. But if you are cleaning out your house, basement, garage, or moving, and have many bags or boxes of trash, you must schedule a Special Bulk Volume Pickup — see the section below.
🔗 Related Guide Bulky pickup rules vary widely across the US. For a full national comparison: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)
Special Bulk Volume Pickup

Special Bulk Volume Pickup — 3 Times Per Year, Pre-Scheduling Required

When you have a large volume of trash that won’t fit in your cart — such as after cleaning out your house, basement, garage, or moving out — you need to schedule a Special Bulk Volume Pickup. Each address is allowed 3 Special Bulk Volume Pickups per year. You must pre-schedule at least one working day before your collection day.

📅 How to Schedule a Special Bulk Volume Pickup

  1. Call the 3-1-1 Call Center by dialing 3-1-1 from a landline phone inside the city, or (330) 375-2311 from a cell phone or outside the city. You must call at least one working day before your collection day.
  2. After your pickup is confirmed and scheduled, do not place the bulk trash at the curb until 4:30 p.m. the day before your collection day.
  3. Place all items on the curb next to your regular carts. Do not block the sidewalk or place items on private property — collection crews cannot enter private property.
  4. Remember: each home is limited to 3 Special Bulk Volume Pickups per calendar year. Plan ahead for moves or major clean-outs.
💡 Weekly bulk vs. Special Bulk — know the difference. Furniture (sofas, chairs, mattresses) and appliances can go out any week without scheduling, just next to your carts. Special Bulk Volume Pickup is specifically for large quantities of bags and boxes of trash, such as after a move or major cleaning, and requires advance scheduling.
Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste — Summit County ReWorks

The City of Akron does not operate its own HHW facility, but Akron residents can use Summit County ReWorks, the Summit-Akron Solid Waste Management Authority. ReWorks operates a seasonal HHW Collection program for Summit County residents. The 2026 season reopened on Thursday, June 4, 2026. During the season, collections run Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 1201 Graham Road, Stow, OH 44224.

⚠ ReWorks HHW Collection Center

1201 Graham Road, Stow, OH 44224

Season: June–September 2026

Hours: Thursdays, 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Summit County residents only • Residential use only • Containers 5 gallons or smaller only • Free

Visit summitreworks.com for the full schedule.

💻 Electronics Recycling

Electronics are not accepted at ReWorks HHW Collections. Summit County residents can use local certified recyclers:

Summit E-Waste — 323 N. Arlington St., Akron, OH 44305 • Data-secure recycling • summitecycle.com

Also: Keep Akron Beautiful maintains a list of local e-waste options at keepakronbeautiful.org

✅ Accepted at ReWorks HHW

  • Automotive: antifreeze, brake fluid, gasoline, motor oil, auto grease
  • Batteries: automotive, rechargeable (NiCad, Li-Ion, Ni-MH), alkaline/lithium single-use
  • Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides
  • Pool chemicals, household cleaners (hazardous)
  • Oil-based paint, thinners, solvents, stains, varnish
  • Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (taped/boxed to prevent breakage)
  • Propane tanks, fire extinguishers, aerosol cans
  • Cooking oil (pour-off, not in container)
  • Asbestos: pieces under 3 ft, wetted, double-bagged, labeled “Asbestos”

🚫 Not Accepted at ReWorks

  • Electronics (TVs, computers, phones) → Summit E-Waste or local recyclers
  • Latex paint → solidify and trash, or donate
  • Radioactive materials or explosives
  • Containers larger than 5 gallons
  • Business, school, nonprofit, or government waste → residential only
  • Regular household trash
💡 Latex paint can be landfilled once solidified. Latex paint is not hazardous once it dries. Solidify it with dirt, kitty litter, or sand. Once hardened, leave the lid off and place it next to your trash cart or in your trash cart for regular collection. Lead paint should be held for HHW events. Usable latex paint can be donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Leaf Collection & Yard Waste

Leaf Collection & Yard Waste in Akron

Akron’s Street Cleaning Division runs a seasonal Leaf Removal Program in the fall. Yard waste is not collected in curbside trash or recycling carts. The City also does street sweeping in spring and summer. Contact the Call Center for the current leaf collection schedule for your area.

🍂 Yard Waste Disposal Options

  • Leaf collection program: Seasonal curbside leaf pickup — watch for City announcements each fall. Check the current program details at akronohio.gov/leaf-collection.
  • Summit County ReWorks: Provides resources for yard waste composting and disposal options. Visit summitreworks.com.
  • Home composting: Plant-based yard materials can be composted at home. Keep Akron Beautiful provides composting resources at keepakronbeautiful.org.
⚠ Yard waste is not collected in curbside trash or recycling carts. Placing yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, branches) in either cart is not acceptable. Use the seasonal leaf collection program, or compost/mulch at home.
Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Pickup Was Missed in Akron

  1. Confirm your collection day using the official interactive map at Akron Collection Day Map or by calling 3-1-1. Verify you have a city waste collection route (not a private hauler).
  2. Check for a holiday delay. Six Akron holidays cause one-day delays: New Year’s, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Juneteenth, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans Day do not cause delays. If your day was a delay day, your collection moved one day later.
  3. Confirm carts were city-issued. Only city-issued carts are emptied — no other containers. Carts must have been at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day, with at least 3 feet between them.
  4. Check for contamination. During June–August, the Recycle Right program may tag and skip contaminated recycling carts. Check your cart for an “Oops” tag.
  5. Report the missed pickup using the online service request at akronoh.citysourced.com, by calling 3-1-1 from a landline inside the city, or by calling (330) 375-2311 from a cell phone.
Local Tips

Akron Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Akron or Just Moved In?

Find your collection day using the official interactive map at akrongis.maps.arcgis.com or call 3-1-1. Your city-issued gray/black trash cart and blue recycling cart should already be at your address — if missing, call 3-1-1. Download the Akron Recycles app for automatic collection reminders. Glass is not accepted in the blue cart — use the purple drop-off bins at parks and community centers.

📦 Weekly Bulk — No Scheduling for Furniture & Appliances

One of Akron’s most resident-friendly features is that furniture, appliances, and tires can be placed at the curb any week alongside your carts at no charge and with no advance scheduling. Only large volumes of bags and boxes (Special Bulk Volume Pickup) require a call to 3-1-1.

🚫 5 Common Mistakes Akron Residents Make

  • Putting glass in the blue recycling cart — glass is never accepted curbside; use the purple bins
  • Bagging recyclables — everything in the blue cart must be loose
  • Putting plastic yogurt cups, sour cream containers, or butter tubs in recycling — plastic containers are not accepted, only plastic bottles and jugs
  • Waiting for Juneteenth to cause a trash delay — it does not
  • Setting out Special Bulk Volume items without scheduling — large volumes of bags/boxes require a prior call to 3-1-1

🏭 Keep Akron Beautiful — Community Recycling Resource

Keep Akron Beautiful partners with the City on the Recycle Right campaign and offers additional recycling education, composting resources, and litter prevention programs. Visit keepakronbeautiful.org for community events, the Greenprint recycling guide, and additional resources for hard-to-recycle items.

Contact

Contact Akron Public Works Bureau

ContactDetails
3-1-1 Call CenterDial 3-1-1 from a landline inside the city • (330) 375-2311 from a cell phone or outside city • Report missed pickups, request carts, schedule Special Bulk Volume Pickup
Online Service Requestakronoh.citysourced.com — report problems or request another cart online
Collection Day MapAkron GIS Collection Day Map — official interactive address-based map to find your collection day
Trash & Recycling Division📞 (330) 375-2801 • Email: trash@akronohio.gov
Public Works Bureauakronohio.gov/trash-and-recycling — full info on recycling, glass drop-offs, bulk pickup, holiday schedules, Recycle Right
Akron Recycles AppFree iOS & Android — search any item for disposal instructions, set collection day alerts, find bulk pickup rules
2026 Holiday Schedule (PDF)Download 2026 Curbservice Holiday Schedule
ReWorks HHW (Summit County)summitreworks.com • (330) 374-0383 • Thursdays 2–7 p.m., June–Sep, 1201 Graham Rd, Stow, OH
Keep Akron Beautifulkeepakronbeautiful.org — recycling education, Greenprint guide, Recycle Right partner
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Akron Trash Pickup

Your collection day depends on your specific address. Use the official interactive map at akrongis.maps.arcgis.com (the Akron Collection Day Map) to find your day, or call 3-1-1 from a landline inside the city or (330) 375-2311 from a cell phone. Download the Akron Recycles app for automatic reminders. Trash and recycling are both collected on the same weekday, every week.
Recycling is weekly in Akron — collected every week on the same day as your trash. All items must be loose, rinsed, and dry in the blue city-issued cart. Never bag your recyclables. Glass is not accepted in the curbside cart — use the purple drop-off bins at six locations around the city.
No. Glass is not accepted in Akron’s curbside blue recycling cart. Instead, use one of six purple glass drop-off bins located at Akron Dog Park, Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Kenmore Community Center, Joy Park Community Center, Firestone Metro Park, and behind the Spaghetti Warehouse. Accepted glass: food jars, wine/beer/spirit bottles, non-alcoholic beverage bottles. Not accepted: mirrors, light bulbs, Pyrex, drinking glasses, ceramics.
Six holidays cause a one-day delay for the remainder of the week: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Memorial Day (May 25), Labor Day (Sep 7), Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). Note: Juneteenth is a City holiday but does NOT cause a trash/recycling delay. Presidents’ Day, Independence Day (Saturday), and Veterans Day also do not cause delays.
Furniture (sofas, chairs, desks, mattresses) and appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, AC units) and tires can be placed at the curb any week next to your carts with no scheduling and no extra charge. However, large volumes of bags and boxes (cleaning out a house, basement, or garage) require a Special Bulk Volume Pickup — call 3-1-1 at least one working day before your collection day. Each home gets 3 Special Bulk Volume Pickups per year.
Special Bulk Volume Pickup is for large amounts of bags, boxes, or trash accumulated after cleaning out your house, basement, garage, or from moving. Unlike regular bulk (furniture, appliances), this requires advance scheduling — call 3-1-1 at least one working day before your collection day. Each Akron residential address is limited to 3 Special Bulk Volume Pickups per calendar year. Do not place items at the curb until 4:30 p.m. the day before the scheduled pickup.
Akron residents can use Summit County ReWorks HHW Collections at 1201 Graham Road, Stow, OH 44224. The 2026 season runs from June 4 through approximately September. Collections are on Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The service is free for Summit County residents using residential materials (containers 5 gallons or smaller). Visit summitreworks.com for the full schedule and accepted materials list.
Akron accepts plastic bottles and jugs only — not plastic containers. Acceptable: water/soda/sports drink bottles, milk jugs, juice containers, soap/dish liquid/laundry detergent containers. Not acceptable: yogurt cups, sour cream or butter containers, plastic tubs or clamshells, Styrofoam, plastic bags (return to grocery stores instead). Caps and lids should go in the trash.
Submit a service request online at akronoh.citysourced.com, call 3-1-1 from a landline inside the city, or call (330) 375-2311 from a cell phone. Before reporting, confirm your collection day using the interactive map, check for holiday delays, and verify your carts were city-issued, at the curb by 6:00 a.m., and not contaminated (recycling).
No. Although Juneteenth (June 19) is a City of Akron holiday, the City explicitly states there will be no trash or recycling delay for Juneteenth. All collections run on their normal schedule that week.
Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

The most reliable way to find your Akron trash and recycling collection day is through the official interactive GIS map. Enter your address to identify your collection zone by color code.

🔍 Official Akron Collection Day Lookup & Contact Options

All of the following are official sources for Akron collection schedule information:

🔍 Open Collection Day Map 📞 Call (330) 375-2311
Interactive Collection Day MapAkron GIS Collection Map — official address-based map. Zoom to your location or type your address; collection zones shown by color in the legend.
3-1-1 Call CenterDial 3-1-1 from a landline inside the city • (330) 375-2311 from a cell phone or outside city • Missed pickups, cart requests, Special Bulk Volume Pickup scheduling.
Trash & Recycling Division(330) 375-2801 • trash@akronohio.gov • Specific questions about trash and recycling services.
Trash & Recycling Websiteakronohio.gov/trash-and-recycling — recycling rules, glass drop-off map, bulk pickup, Recycle Right program, holiday schedule.
2026 Holiday Schedule (PDF)Download 2026 Curbservice Holiday Schedule — official PDF with all 2026 holiday delays.
Akron Recycles AppFree iOS & Android — search any item for disposal instructions, set collection day reminders, find bulk pickup and glass drop-off info.

You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The official Akron GIS map is the most reliable source for address-specific collection day information.

Other Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities

Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides:

🏭 Toledo 🏭 Pittsburgh 🏭 Buffalo 🏭 Rochester 🏭 New York City