Single Family Home Trash and Recycling

CoMo Recycle and Trash App

Curbside recycling and trash collection guidelines

View the trash and recycling guidelinesopens PDF file

Trash collection

The City of Columbia Solid Waste Utility provides weekly collection of trash for residential customers with curbside service.

All refuse to be collected must be placed in a City-provided roll cart.

All refuse must fit inside the cart with the lid closed.
The cart will not be emptied if the cart is overflowing or has trash placed on top of the lid.
Bags left on the curb will not be picked up.
Only regular household trash and yard waste can be put into the carts.

Although it is not required, the City recommends that customers place their trash in a bag or container to prevent litter from blowing around.

Instructions for your roll cart

Carts shall be placed at the curb no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before the customer’s scheduled collection day and no later than 6:30 a.m. on the collection day. Carts must be removed from the curb no later than 10 p.m. on the customer’s collection day.

The carts are property of the City. The carts are not to be altered or decorated in any way. Carts are assigned to a specific address. The refuse carts will have barcodes so that a missing or stolen cart can be brought back to its assigned location.

Need to request a different size cart?

For more information, visit the program page at BeHeard.CoMo.gov or visit our FAQ page.

Collection of bulky items and major appliances must be made through the CoMo Recycle and Trash app or by calling 573.874.2489opens phone dialer.

Please note

City of Columbia Utilities is getting many requests from the public through City Council members regarding the transition to automated collections. Particularly as it relates to refuse collections staff performing manual collection at the curb.

Unfortunately, things do not always go as planned. When it was decided to begin the transition to automated collection, it was with the knowledge that the three smaller automated collection trucks would not be delivered. The 10 large, automated collection trucks would be sufficient to begin the transition.

There are a total of nine large truck collection routes and two small truck collection routes each day. Without the small trucks available, it was realized that rear-loading trucks that are equipped with cart tipping mechanisms would have to be used for these routes.

While the rear-loading trucks are equipped with cart tipping mechanisms that are capable of tipping the carts, many of the collection staff choose to pull the bags out of the roll cart and manually place the bags in the truck. Some of the collection staff choose the manual collection method because that is more familiar to them.

The residential curbside refuse collection operation requires the use of two rear-loading trucks that are equipped with cart tipping mechanisms. These two trucks are utilized to collect the large bulky items that cannot be collected with the automated side-load trucks. These two rear-loading trucks are also being used with the initial implementation to augment the automated collection operation by collecting refuse carts that were not properly placed the day prior.

Many customers are placing bags next to the carts, and many requests for skipped collection service are being received. These staff are also addressing these requests for skipped collection.

Additionally, there have been multiple occasions when some of the automated trucks have had mechanical issues and were not available. When this happens, it requires the use of additional rear-loading trucks. Again, these trucks have the ability to mechanically tip the carts. Some collection staff choose to pull the bags out of the roll cart and manually place the bags in the truck.

Solid Waste has also received more than 1,400 customer requests to switch to a larger size roll cart. It will take some time to switch out these carts, and there will continue to be issues until the changes are complete.

It should also be noted that the automated residential curbside refuse collection operation is brand new. It will take several weeks for both the collection staff and customers to become familiar with this new operation. We ask for customer’s patience and understanding as we work through the challenges for both staff and customers.

Residential recycling

Residential curbside recycling is on an every-other-week schedule. Routes are divided into Green Routes and Blue Routes.

Customers can verify their schedule by entering their address into the Utility’s Recycling Routes map.

Collections will be on your regularly scheduled refuse pickup day. Mixed containers should be in a blue recycling bag, and mixed fibers should be bundled in a box or paper bag. To ensure glass is recycled, customers can utilize the glass-only purple bin at the State Farm Parkway recycling drop-off center.

Recycling drop-off centers

You also can download the CoMo Recycle and Trash app for updates and notifications.

Vouchers

For residential curbside collection, the City of Columbia issues vouchers that may be redeemed for recycling bags.

In the January 2024 mailing, customers will receive two vouchers for blue recycling bags.

Redeeming your vouchers:

The vouchers are perforated. You will need to separate them and redeem only the one(s) you need.
Take your voucher to a local retail store (Columbia locations only) and present the voucher at checkout.
Vouchers for blue recycling bags can be redeemed at:
- Hy-Vee (Nifong and Broadway locations)
- Menards
- Moser’s (N. Keene location)
- Schnucks (Forum location)
- EatWell
- Utility Customer Service at City Hall

You will not be charged for the bags if you have a voucher. Vouchers are redeemable one time only and are tracked by bar code and therefore cannot be duplicated.

What should I do if I did not receive vouchers?

If you expected to receive vouchers and did not, please contact WasteZero, Inc. (1.800.866.3954). New residents moving to Columbia should automatically receive a voucher within about three weeks of signing up for utility service.

What if I need additional vouchers?

If more blue recycling bags are needed, Columbia residents may request additional vouchers at no cost through our vendor, WasteZero Inc. (1.800.866.3954).

Household hazardous waste

Yard waste

You can place yard waste inside your roll cart to be collected on your regular collection day. Yard waste can also be taken to drop-off centers. To learn more, visit the Yard Waste Disposal page.

Large item collection

Collection of large items will be provided for residential customers receiving curbside collection.

To arrange a pickup of bulky items or major appliances, complete the online request form through the opens in a new windowCoMo Recycle and Trash app. For more information, call 573.874.2489opens phone dialer or visit the Large Item Collection page.

Holiday Recycling and Trash Collection

Recycling and trash collection may be delayed one day during the week of a City-observed holiday. Please download our CoMo Recycle and Trash app to get reminders for your collection day. The calendar on this app is adjusted for the holidays. To learn more about holiday trash collection, including information on disposing Christmas trees and other holiday materials, visit the Holiday Recycling and Trash Collection page.

Special assistance for customers with physical limitations

People with physical limitations who cannot take their trash & recycling to the curb may request assisted trash collection at no additional cost. They will need a note from their physician, on official letterhead, stating that the person would benefit from assisted service due to age, illness and/or ability status. The note must also contain the resident’s name, address and the convenient location, outside the residence, where they would prefer to place their cart for collection. The physician’s office can fax the letter to 573-449-9641, Attention: Damon Crum. The letter can also be emailed to or mailed to: Solid Waste Division P.O. Box 6015, Columbia, MO 65205.

Safety for trash and recycling collectors

For your safety and the safety of the collection crew, please wrap broken glass, hypodermic needles, sharp metal, etc., and place them in a disposable container that will resist punctures. This container may then be placed in your roll cart. Thank you for helping prevent injury to refuse collectors!

The Health Department also offers a Red Box Program for the disposal of needles. For more information, call 573.874.7781opens phone dialer.

Improperly placed materials

The City Ordinance states an additional collection fee for trash and recyclables improperly placed curbside before 4 p.m. on the day preceding normal collection will be billed to the account holder or property holder. For residents who are unable to place trash out for collection on the normal day, please make alternate arrangements with a friend or neighbor. This policy does not affect individuals with certified medical problems who have prior arrangements for trash collected at the house.

If you have questions, please call the Contact Center at 573.874.2489opens phone dialer. To report improperly placed materials electronically, submit a report form. Please help us keep Columbia clean.

Map of public locations at the landfill

Looking for a specific area within the landfill? This map of the landfillopens PDF file details areas where the general public may need to conduct business. Please use caution and watch for heavy truck traffic when at the landfill.