Refuse and Recycling Collection

Except for specific holidays, all residential waste is collected Monday-Friday. Your collection day is determined by location. Trash must set at curbside by 5 AM, but no more than 24 hours in advance of the scheduled collection. Tipcarts must be removed from the public right of way within 24 hours following collection.

Yard waste is collected weekly on your scheduled refuse collection day from mid-April through mid-December and during the month of January.

Bulk items are collected every week. Advanced scheduling is required. See Bulk Collection section for additional information on this program.

Collection Schedule

Regular refuse collection occurs Monday through Friday. Use the Refuse Collection Map below or contact Public Works by email or phone at 740-203-1810 to determine your refuse collection day. In some instances, refuse collection is delayed by a day for certain holidays. The QR code applied to the top of all refuse tipcarts will link you directly to this information.

• 2026 Holiday Refuse Collection Schedule(PDF, 174KB)
• Refuse Collection Map

Monthly Fees

Customers are billed for curbside services in the monthly utility bill that also includes billing for water, sewer, and storm water. The current fee is $27 per month and includes residential waste, recycling and yard waste service.

Senior Discount

The City of Delaware offers a 25 percent reduction in monthly refuse collection rates for residents who are 65 years and older. Contact the Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810

Service Exemptions

Refuse collection operators will service refuse and recycling tipcarts placed near the house or garage for residents who are unable to move the containers back and forth to the curb on collection day. Please contact the Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810.

Service Discontinuation and Reactivation

The cost is $13.50 to temporarily discontinue service, and $13.50 to reactivate service. Please contact the Customer Service Request Line at 740-203- 1810.

Additional Refuse and Recycling Tipcarts

Obtain an additional City-provided trash container via 740-203-1810, or pwcs@delawareohio.net. The cost is $15 per month to service an additional refuse tipcart, and an additional $10 per month to service each additional recycling tipcart.

Tipcart Repairs and Replacement

If your City-provided trash container is damaged, lost, stolen, vandalized or defaced, please call Public Works at 740-203-1810, email at pwcs@delawareohio.net. Containers are the property of the City of Delaware and contain a serial number corresponding to the home address. If you move, please leave the container on the property in a safe place.

Bag Tags

Bag Tags are available for purchase and may be affixed to extra bags of household generated refuse that will not fit into the provided tipcart container. Bag tags are $1.50 each and may be purchased at the City Utility Office, Public Works Department, or any Delaware Kroger Store Service Counter. Contact the Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810.

Move in "Welcome" Service

The City will pick up extra bagged refuse for new residential customers as a one-time service available during the first month after establishing refuse service with the city. To schedule extra refuse collection, contact our Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810.

Move Out Service

The City will pick up extra bagged refuse at no charge as a one-time service available for residential curbside customers that have already contacted the Utility Billing Office and scheduled their last day of service. To schedule extra solid waste collection, contact our Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810.

Residential households are provided weekly waste collection service using a blue, 32 or 96-gallon tipcart container. All solid waste must be placed in the tipcart for collection, or next to the tipcart with approved bag tags affixed. Our uniquely designed side-load trucks will enable the driver to lift and dump the containers with a hydraulic arm. The customer is responsible for positioning the container at the curb or edge of roadway, away from trees, signposts, streetlights, mailboxes etc., and must clear snow if piled along the edge of street.

• Only household refuse is allowed in the container.
• Refuse must be bagged and placed within the container.
• Tipcart lid must close completely when full.
• Overloaded tipcarts may not be serviced.
• Please face handle of tipcart toward the house.
• Keep tipcart area clear of snow.
• The container should be placed curbside, but not block pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
• Please place tipcart 4-feet from any obstacles such as mailboxes, trees, fences, poles, and recycling containers.
• Animal waste must be placed in closed plastic bags.
• Ashes must be cool and placed in closed bags, and never loosely dumped into the container.
• Grass trimmings, sticks, sod, soil, rocks and other yard waste materials are not permitted within tipcarts.
• Disposing of construction materials, tires, automotive parts, furniture, etc. are not permitted in tipcarts.

Recycling collection occurs on your regularly scheduled refuse collection day. Delaware residents and businesses are serviced with blue 18-gallon recycling bins or green 64-gallon wheeled tipcarts. All recyclables-glass, plastic, metal, paper, and cardboard can be combined in recycling containers at curbside.

• The container should be placed approximately 4-feet from any obstacles such as mailboxes, trees, fences, poles, and refuse tipcarts.
• Mix all items together - Paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, cans etc.
• Do not bag recyclables in plastic grocery bags
• Empty all bottles, jugs, and cans of food, liquids, ointments, or other contaminants.
• No need to remove labels from cans, jars etc.
• Do not break glass bottles

Permitted Materials

• Plastic clamshell containers
• Glass bottles & jars
• Plastic bottles, tubs & cups
• Metal cans and cups
• Food & beverage cartons
• Aerosol cans (empty/tips removed)
• Paper and cardboard

Prohibited Items

• Plastic bags of any type
• Yard waste
• Batteries of any type
• Light bulbs, window glass
• Medical needles/sharps
• Drinking glasses
• Solo cups
• Ceramics or dishware
• Plastic Straws
• Pots and pans, scrap metal, chains
• Bedding
• Tissues
• Plastic or metal hangers
• Foam packaging, egg cartons, cups
• Garden hoses
• Plastic toys
• Electronics
• Clothing & Shoes
• Car parts
• Diapers
• Food waste/scraps

Recycling Guidelines Printable Flyer(PDF, 622KB)

Christmas String Light Collection

Do you have strands of burned-out lights or you're replacing the old with energy-efficient LED lights?
Don't throw them out! Recycle them by dropping them off at various locations. See this flyer for locations and more information: Recycle Right String Lights(PDF, 893KB)

Hefty Renew Program (Program Ending After February 2027)

The City of Delaware collects the Hefty Renew orange recycling bags on your regularly scheduled collection day. Place the Hefty Renew bags in your container with your other recyclables for collection. The Hefty Renew Program can be used to dispose of some of the materials listed as a Prohibited Item with the City's recycling collection program.

• Hefty Renew Program(PDF, 12MB)
• Hefty ReNew Education Video

Food Scrap Composting Program

The food scrap composting program is a free and voluntary effort. City of Delaware residents can place foods scraps (raw or cooked) meat, bones, oil, coffee grounds, dairy, dirty paper towels and napkins in a plastic food waste container. Full containers must be emptied at Price Farms Organics Ltd., 4838 Warrensburg Rd. Price Farms staff will direct you were to drop off your food scraps. One food scrap container per household may be picked up at:

City of Delaware Public Works
440 E. William St. Delaware, Ohio
(740) 203-1810
Hours: Mon-Fri 7 am-3:30 pm

Price Farms Organics Ltd.
4838 Warrensburg Rd.
Delaware, Ohio (740) 369-1000
Call for current hours of operation.

• Composting Printable Flyer(PDF, 3MB)
• Community Shred Day 2026 Flyer(PDF, 10MB)

• Yard waste collection is provided from mid-April through mid-December and occurs on your regularly scheduled refuse collection day.
• Place loose yard waste in biodegradable paper bags or 32-gallon containers with handles, marked "Yard Waste" disposal.
• Containers, bags or bundles must not exceed 50 pounds each. Bundles must not exceed 4 feet in length and 18 inches in diameter.
• Yard waste stickers to designate cans for yard waste are free of charge at the Utility Billing Office in City Hall, and the Public Works Facility at 440 E William Street, or by contacting the Customer Service Request Line at 740-203-1810.
• Biodegradable paper leaf bags may be purchased at most grocery, hardware, and general merchandise stores.

Acceptable items include:

• Lawn Trimmings
• Bushes
• Vines
• Branches
• Biodegradable Garden Waste
• Grass Clippings
• Leaves
• Brush
• Sticks

Unacceptable items include but are not limited to:

• Non-biodegradable materials
• Plant containers
• Items not in a container or bundled
• Rocks
• Dirt, Topsoil, or Clay
• Treated Wood
• Items not at the curb at time of collection
• Non-Compostable String
• Items in Excess of 50lbs each
• Bundles or individual items too large - Exceeding 4ft in length or 18in in diameter
• Duct Tape
• Plastic bags
• Bio-degradable Plastic Bags
• Compostable Plastic Bags
• Wires
• Pots

Additional yard waste disposal options are available through Price Farms Organics, Ltd., 4838 Warrensburg Road (740-362-4838) or Ohio Mulch, 883 US42 N (740-803-0636).

Christmas Tree Collection Program

• Christmas trees and holiday greenery will be collected on your scheduled refuse collection day during the month of January.
• All trees must be free of stands, lights, decorations, and plastic bags.
• Christmas trees should be set at the curb or tree lawn on your regularly scheduled refuse collection day.

This program provides a convenient and affordable means for City's residential collection customers to dispose of bulky items that do not fit within weekly collection tipcart containers, and who are unable to transport the items to the Delaware County Solid Waste Transfer Station. The program is not for entire household of furniture/appliances generated from e.g. property evictions, abandonments, or the occurrence of fires, flooding or weather events.

Help Documents

• Print and fill out a Bulk Item Collection Request Form(PDF, 207KB)
• Online Payment Portal Account Set-Up Help(PDF, 28KB)
• Bulk Item Request Instructions(PDF, 425KB)

Registration Process

• Bulk collection takes place weekly, typically on Thursdays unless specified otherwise.
• Advanced registration and payment are required and can be made online through our Payment Portal, by mail or in person at 440 E. William St. between the hours of 7 AM - 4 PM Monday - Friday.
• Once you've registered your items and paid the fee, Public Works will review, approve the registration, and set the date for the next available collection.
• Upon approval you'll receive a confirmation email notifying you of the collection date.
• To choose a different collection date, contact our office at 740-203-1810 or email us at pwcs@delawareohio.net and we can set the date for a different Thursday.

Additional Online Registration Information

• When registering for the first time, sign up with your email address first, then you can register for bulk collection online
• When typing in your address, you must type in your full address including your city state and zip code for the map to populate your location
• When selecting items from the drop-down fields, all fields must be completed so even the fields that you don't have items to list, please select "N/A" to fill in the field.
• If the item you have is not listed in the drop-down list, please choose "Other" and contact our office to let us know what your item is and we will let you know if we are able to collect said item.

Cost

• $50 for up to five (5) individual bulk items per stop.
• Additional items are $10 each. Maximum eight (8) total items per stop.
• Payments accepted include credit cards through our credit card portal, or check and cash are accepted in person. In person credit card payments will not be accepted.
• A resident may cancel a scheduled bulk item pickup at any time prior to their scheduled collection day and request a refund
• Refunds do not include any third-party credit card transactions fees.

Collection Date/Time

• Bulk collection takes place weekly, typically on Thursdays unless specified otherwise.

• Items must be placed at the end of the driveway or within the tree lawn area by 5 am on the scheduled collection day, but no more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled collection day.
  • Items must be placed away from other obstacles such as trees, mailboxes, parked vehicles, tipcarts, fire hydrants, etc., to allow for the automated truck to pick up your bulk items.

Excluded Items

• Construction materials or debris: Concrete/masonry block, dry wall, flooring, lumber, sheathing, shingles, insulation, stone, asphalt
• Auto parts, tires, batteries, riding lawn equipment
• Hazardous waste, gas, oil, paint, flammable or explosive materials, propane tanks
• Yard waste, brush, rocks, soil, railroad ties, logs
• The City reserves the right to prohibit other items not specifically listed

Important Information

• Carpeting and padding must be cut and securely bundled with tape or cord into rolls not exceeding 4 feet in length. Up to 18 individual bundles of carpeting will be considered as a single item.
• Mattresses and box springs must be individually wrapped in heavy plastic & securely taped. Unwrapped mattresses and box springs will not be taken. A mattress and box spring set with frame and headboard will be considered a single item.
• Glass must be taped up so that it doesn't break and set aside from the bulk items, or it may be placed in a box, taped shut and marked glass.
• Fluorescent bulbs must be placed in a bag or box, taped shut and marked as fluorescent bulbs.
• Basketball poles (remove backboard from pole). The pole should be cut into 4-foot sections and all weight removed from base.
• All items collected must be items listed on application. Any extra items set out for collection that are not listed on the registration form will not be collected.
• If "Other" is selected from the list of items, contact customer service prior to making payment or submitting your application to insure your item is approved for collection.

Contact Us

For assistance on setting up your Bulk Collection service, you may contact Customer Service at pwcs@delawareohio.net or 740-203-1810. Our office is located in the Public Works Department at 440 E William Street, Delaware, OH 43015.

The City of Delaware provides customizable dumpster collection service to city businesses and large developments. Dumpster service includes recycling at no additional cost, upon request. The city utilizes 2,4,6, and 8 cubic yard steel, rear-load dumpsters.

Benefits of using City refuse collection for dumpster service include:

• No contracts, fuel surcharges or hidden fees
• Customizable collection schedules
• Clean, well-maintained containers
• Recycling is available with all commercial accounts at no additional cost.

Monthly Dumpster Collection Rates

Contact us to begin your new commercial trash service today.
740-203-1810
pwcs@delawareohio.net

Batteries

No type of battery should ever be thrown into trash or recycling containers. They can spark intense fires that are nearly impossible to stop. Battery fires are happening more often. They've destroyed homes, burned down garbage trucks and recycling centers, and tragically taken lives. When a facility goes up in flames, trash and recycling services can be shut down for weeks or even months. The good news? Battery fires are easy to prevent. It only takes 3 Easy Steps to Recycle Responsibly(PDF, 1MB).

Lead acid batteries should be traded in at the retailer or taken to the Transfer Station or Sims Recycling.

Rechargeables can be taken to Batteries Plus (614) 396-5490 or Home Depot Stores. Household (alkaline) batteries may be taken to Household Hazardous Waste drop offs. Tape terminals & place in airtight plastic bag for safety.

Battery Recycling Additional Resources

• Safe Battery Disposal
• Ohio EPA Battery Disposal(PDF, 1MB)
• Home - Recycle Right

Automotive

Automotive batteries, radiators, engines & transmissions, and wheel rims can be taken to Sims Recycling Center at 65 London Rd., Delaware 740-363-9192.

Motor Oil & Filters

Motor Oil can be taken to TSC, Auto Zone, Wal-Mart Tire & Lube in Delaware. Drained oil filters must be sealed in a plastic bag and placed in the regular refuse for disposal. Non-drained oil filters cannot be placed in regular refuse for disposal. Walmart also accepts used oil filters.

Gasoline & Kerosene

Dispose of at Central Ohio Oil, Inc., 795 Marion Rd, Columbus 614-443-9728.

Antifreeze & Other Automotive Fluids

Automotive fluids can be disposed of through a DKMM (Delaware, Knox, Marion, Morrow) Solid Waste District sponsored drop-off event or by appointment.

Go to www.dkmm.org or call 419-751-2290 for more information.

Car and Truck Tires

Recycle at the Delaware County Transfer and Recycling Center (TRC), 892 US42 N 1-800-828-8171 Ext. 2620 for a fee.

Vehicles

Wheels for Wishes will pick up old and broken-down vehicles, at no cost to the owners, and recycle or auction them to benefit Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. 1-877-431-9474 or wheelsforwishes.org. Sims Recycling Center also purchases automobiles 740-363-9192

Latex Paint

Latex or water-based paints may be disposed of properly in your weekly refuse service tipcart. Paint must be dried out by leaving the covers off the containers, or mix with paint hardener, cat litter, floor dry, or sawdust in a plastic bag or lined box. Once it is completely dry, bag it up and place it with your weekly refuse.

Oil Based Paints

Oil-based paints are not permissible in refuse containers but can be disposed of through a DKMM (Delaware, Knox, Marion, Morrow) Solid Waste District sponsored drop-off events or by appointment. Go to www.dkmm.org or call 419-751-2290 for more information.

Household Hazardous Waste

Household cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, gasoline, kerosene etc. can be dropped of at a DKMM (Delaware, Knox, Marion, Morrow) Solid Waste District sponsored drop-off events or by appointment. Go to www.dkmm.org or call 740-393-4600 for more information and a complete list of accepted household hazardous chemicals and products.

Medical Waste

Place needles or syringes in a thick plastic container e.g. laundry detergent bottle, with a screw-on cap. Store the container in a safe place where it won't be disturbed until you are ready for disposal. When full, tape the lid down to the container and mark the container as "Sharps" or "Needles", and place the container on top of your refuse tipcart lid on your collection day.

Prescription Medicine

Unused prescription medicine can be disposed of at no cost at the Delaware Police Department lobby. Prescription medicine should never be thrown away with general refuse or flushed into the sewer where it can impact the downstream water supply.

Major Appliances (White Goods)

Washers, dryers, stoves, hot water tanks, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners can be disposed of through the city Bulk Item Collection program described above. White goods may also be taken to the County Transfer and Recycling Center TRC, 892 US42 North 1-800-828-8171 Ext. 2620 or Sims Recycling Center 740-363-9192 at 65 London Road in Delaware. Both locations charge a fee for items containing refrigerant.

Electronics

Electronics except for TVs and computer monitors can be taken to Sims Recycling Center for a nominal fee 740-363-9192. Contact the Delaware General Health District (740) 368-1700 or DKMM (Delaware, Knox, Marion, Morrow) Solid Waste District (dkmm.org or 419-751-2290) for additional electronic recycling drop-off options throughout the year.

Construction Debris

Construction materials or debris: Concrete/masonry block, gravel, dry wall, flooring, lumber, sheathing, shingles, insulation, wood pallets, stone, asphalt may be taken to the County Transfer and Recycling Center TRC, 892 US42 North 1-800-828-8171 Ext. 2620. Call ahead for fees.

• Delaware County Printable Recycling Guide(PDF, 238KB)