Trash day, bulk pickup, leaf collection and drop-off dates · Cuyahoga County · 2026 schedule, checked against the city's own notices on Thursday, October 29
City crews pick up raked leaves from the tree lawn in designated High Generation Leaf Areas only, in early November through December, at least twice in an eight-week period, weather permitting. Everyone else bags leaves for trash day. The city posts coverage areas, not progress, and had posted no 2026 dates as of October 29.
Check whether your address is in a High Generation Leaf Area with the city's Leaf Area Lookup map. The page lists areas by pick-up station: East 65th, Glenville, Lorain Avenue, Ridge Road and Seville Road.
In a designated area, expect leaf pick-up signs on your street one week before service. Rake leaves onto the tree lawn and park off the street if you can.
Not in a designated area: put out up to 20 bags of leaves with the trash on your regular collection day.
City crews collect weekly, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Carts out the night before or by 6 a.m. Waste is not counted as missed until 4:30 p.m.; report a miss to 311.
Every week on your regular collection day
Black 96-gallon trash cart; all waste inside it, lid not overfilled. Carts 3 feet apart, opening toward the street, nothing leaning on them.
Recycling is opt-in: enroll through 311 or the city's online form to get a blue 64-gallon cart. Paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans and plastic bottles, loose and empty. No plastic bags.
Weekly limits: 20 bundles of brush, 20 bags of yard waste, four tires without rims, and three bulk items in bulk week.
Branches tied in bundles no more than 3 feet long and 2 feet wide; grass and plant debris bagged.
2026 delays: one day late for New Year's Day and MLK Day; one day late all week for Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. No delay for Presidents Day, Good Friday, Juneteenth or Independence Day.
Smaller carts and cart service are available for people with physical disabilities through 311.
Up to three bulk items per home on your regular collection day, during the first full week of each month (the bulk weeks on the city's 2026 calendar).
In 4 days · Mon, Nov 2 to Sat, Nov 7
Bulk means too big for the cart, not plant material and not hazardous: appliances drained of coolant and fluids, furniture, mattresses, large boxes, TVs.
Wrap mattresses and cloth furniture in plastic.
The 311 page also asks you to schedule bulk pickup online at least 24 to 48 hours before your collection day.
Or drop off bulk items free, four times a year, at the Ridge Road Transfer Station: four cubic yards a visit, trailers no bigger than 4 by 8 feet.
All 12 dates for bulk week
Mon, Jan 5 to Sat, Jan 10January bulk week
Mon, Feb 2 to Sat, Feb 7February bulk week
Mon, Mar 2 to Sat, Mar 7March bulk week
Mon, Apr 6 to Sat, Apr 11April bulk week
Mon, May 4 to Sat, May 9May bulk week
Mon, Jun 8 to Sat, Jun 13June bulk week
Mon, Jul 6 to Sat, Jul 11July bulk week
Mon, Aug 3 to Sat, Aug 8August bulk week
Tue, Sep 8 to Sat, Sep 12September bulk week (Labor Day delay)
Drop off oil, cleaners, solvents, pesticides and other household chemicals on the first Friday of each month at the Carr Center (5600 Carnegie Ave.) or the Ridge Road Transfer Station (3727 Ridge Road).
Latex paint is not hazardous: dry it out (open the can, or mix in kitty litter) and put it in the trash.
No hazardous waste, construction debris or electronics in the black cart.
