Columbus partners with Rumpke to provide biweekly collection of yard waste for Columbus households that currently receive trash collection from 90 gallon or 300 gallon containers.
Leaves, grass clippings and small branches cannot be placed with household trash. Columbus provides collection of these items from the curb through a private hauler. Yard waste must be placed in paper lawn and leaf bags or in reusable containers marked "Yard Waste." Yard waste will not be collected if it is placed in plastic bags or if it is placed in your City-provided trash container.
Small branches should be tied with twine into bundles no larger than 4 feet long and 2 feet around. Holiday trees are collected, but trees must be completely free of all decorations and, if taller than 8 feet, must be cut in half.
Fruit and vegetables should be bagged and placed with regular trash. Dirt, rocks and sod should be be taken to a site seeking fill dirt.
Yard waste should be placed curbside at least 3 feet from refuse containers, fire hydrants, mailboxes or trees. Contact the City’s 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111 or visit the 311 website at 311.columbus.gov to determine your yard-waste collection day.
Returning grass clippings to the yard keeps your grass healthy and saves space in the landfill. In fact, grass clippings contain valuable nutrients that can generate up to 25 percent of your lawn's total fertilizer needs. Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch since grass clippings are 75 percent to 85 percent water and decompose readily.