Cleveland Trash, Recycling and Bulk Pickup: A Guide for Renters

Trash day is one of the first things to figure out in a new rental, and in the City of Cleveland it comes with a few rules that are easy to miss: recycling is opt-in, bulk items only go out during one week a month, and anything set out the wrong way can earn the address a violation notice.

This guide covers how curbside trash, recycling, bulk items, yard waste and drop-offs work for renters inside Cleveland city limits, based on what the city's Division of Waste Collection publishes. If you rent in Cleveland Heights, the rules are different; see our Cleveland Heights parking, trash, leaf and snow guide instead. City schedules can change, so check the linked city pages if anything here looks different from what you see.

Who Gets City Pickup

The city provides weekly curbside collection for single-family homes and multi-family homes of up to four units. Larger apartment buildings usually use a private hauler arranged by the owner, so if you live in a bigger building, ask your property manager how trash works there.

At a city-serviced home you will find:

• A black 96-gallon trash cart. Residents with physical disabilities can ask 311 for smaller 64-gallon carts and, if they qualify, an exemption service.
• A blue 64-gallon recycling cart, only if someone enrolled. Cleveland's recycling program is opt-in. If your rental has no blue cart, call 311 to enroll. There's no extra cost.

Your lease says who handles trash at your home and whether anything is billed separately. Read that section before you assume.

Finding Your Collection Day

Trucks run Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and they don't reach every street at the same time each week. Look up your day with the address search on the city's waste collection page, or call 311 (216-664-2000).

The city's 2026 waste collection calendar also shows holiday delays. For the rest of 2026:

Holiday	What happens
Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 26)	Pickup runs one day late for the whole week
Christmas (Friday, Dec. 25)	Pickup runs one day late for the whole week

How to Set Out Your Carts

The city's set-out rules are short, and following them keeps your pickup from being skipped:

1. Put carts at the curb the night before, or by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
2. Put all trash inside the cart, with the lid able to close. Nothing taller than the cart.
3. Leave at least 3 feet between carts so the truck's arm can grab them.
4. Turn the opening toward the street.
5. Don't lean anything against the carts or set anything in front of them, including yard waste or bulk items.
6. If you can, park off the street on collection day.

The city says larger, uncontained set-outs can lead to fines or a violation notice. Cleveland 311 also takes reports of carts set out too early or left at the curb after pickup, so bring yours back in once it's empty.

Missed pickup? Waste isn't considered missed until the end of the route day (4:30 p.m.). After that, report it to 311, and you can leave it out for pickup the next day.

What Goes in the Blue Cart

Cleveland focuses on five kinds of recyclables: paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, and plastic bottles. The city's acceptable materials list adds plastic jugs and tubs, and Cuyahoga Recycles lists cartons and clear plastic clamshells for Cleveland too.

A few habits make the biggest difference:

• Put recyclables in loose, never bagged. Plastic grocery bags, film and wrap jam the sorting machines. Many stores take bags back instead.
• Empty and rinse containers. Food scraps go in the trash, not the blue cart.
• Flatten cardboard boxes. Pizza boxes are fine if they're free of food and heavy grease.
• Keep "tanglers" out: hoses, cords, Christmas lights, sheets, clothing and hangers.
• Other common no's: foam, light bulbs, drinking glasses, mirrors, ceramics, pots and pans, batteries, needles and electronics.

Bulk Items: Couches, Mattresses and Appliances

Large items don't go out on any week you like. According to the city, it collects up to three bulk items per home on your regular pickup day during bulk week, the first full week of each month. The 2026 calendar marks the bulk weeks for the rest of the year as Nov. 1–7 and Dec. 6–12.

• Request the pickup through Cleveland 311 at least 24–48 hours before your collection day.
• Wrap mattresses and cloth furniture in plastic. The city requires this to protect workers from bedbugs and other pests.
• Appliances must be drained of coolants and fluids.
• Bulk items must not be hazardous or plant material.

Moving out mid-month? Plan around bulk week, or use a drop-off instead of leaving furniture at the curb, which can get a pile reported. The city's illegal dumping line is 216-664-DUMP (3867).

Yard Waste, Leaves and Tires

Each week the city takes up to 20 bags of yard waste and 20 bundles of branches. Grass clippings, leaves and other plant debris must be bagged. Branches must be tied in bundles no more than 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. Before you start raking, check your lease for who handles yard work at your home.

Old passenger tires (up to four, rims removed) can go out on your regular day if you schedule a tire pickup through 311.

Drop-Off Sites, Paint, Chemicals and Electronics

Cleveland residents can drop off bulky waste free of charge four times a year at the Ridge Road Transfer Station, up to 4 cubic yards per visit. The city says a pickup bed filled to the top is about 2 cubic yards.

Location	What it takes
Ridge Road Transfer Station, 3727 Ridge Rd.	Recycling Mon–Sat, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; regular waste on Saturdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; household hazardous waste the first Friday of each month
Carr Center, 5600 Carnegie Ave.	Recycling, document shredding and computer disposal Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; household hazardous waste the first Friday of each month

• Household chemicals (oil, solvents, pesticides, strong cleaners) never go in the cart. Bring them to a drop-off on the first Friday of the month.
• Latex paint isn't hazardous, but it has to be completely dried out first, either left open to air-dry or mixed with kitty litter, before it goes in the trash.
• Computers and phones go to the Carr Center. For other electronics, search the county's Cuyahoga Recycles site.
• Construction debris such as drywall, shingles, toilets and sinks isn't collected at all. If something at your rental needs repair, report it to your landlord instead of tearing anything out yourself.

Quick Reference: Who to Call

Need	Contact
Missed pickup, new or broken cart, bulk or tire pickup, recycling enrollment	Cleveland 311: 311 or 216-664-2000
Report illegal dumping	216-664-DUMP (3867)
Dumpster rental for a cleanout or event	City Division of Waste, 216-664-2162

For Cleveland Comfort Housing Residents

If you rent from us and your trash or recycling cart is missing or damaged, or you aren't sure who handles trash at your home, check your lease first and then reach us through the maintenance request page, the contact page or (216) 490-0217. For setting up the rest of your services, see our guide to setting up utilities in a new Cleveland rental. For everything else you need on moving day, use the moving checklist for Cleveland renters.