Single Family Home Trash and Recycling

Table of Contents

CoMo Recycle and Trash App

Curbside recycling and trash collection guidelines

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.

opens PDF file

Instructions for your roll cart

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.

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.

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.

Residential recycling

Residential curbside recycling is scheduled to resume on an every-other-week schedule starting March 18. Routes have not changed.

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.

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 opens in a new window[email protected]create new email 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.