A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Cincinnati, including the 311Cincy bulk pickup system (up to 5 items per request), 3 small items free with regular collection, biweekly seasonal yard waste, Hamilton County recycling drop-offs, the dwelling-unit-only rule, and what to do when paid hauling isn't an option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Cincinnati offers free scheduled bulk pickup through 311Cincy with up to 5 items per request, no per-year cap, just schedule and wait for your assigned date. Up to 3 small items can also go out with regular collection without scheduling. The system is simple and well-organized but has a hard rule: only properties meeting the “dwelling” definition (4 or fewer units) qualify. Buildings with 4+ units are commercial entities and must use private waste haulers. Cincinnati also has the unusual 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. previous evening set-out window. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
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Cincinnati residents have free scheduled bulk pickup through 311Cincy (up to 5 items per request), free 3-small-item pickup with regular collection (no scheduling), free biweekly recycling, free biweekly seasonal yard waste collection, free Hamilton County yard trimming drop-off locations, and donation pickup programs. The Department of Public Services (DPS) provides services for residential dwellings with 4 or fewer units. Buildings with 4+ units are considered commercial and must contract with a registered private waste hauler.
Scheduled Bulk Pickup via 311Cincy (up to 5 items per request)
Free with serviceCincinnati provides scheduled curbside bulky item collection for eligible city-served addresses. Residents can schedule up to 5 bulk items per household per request. Submit through 311Cincy.com, the 311Cincy mobile app, or by calling 311 (or 513-765-1212). A scheduled pickup date is assigned at the time the request is submitted, check your email confirmation.
Eligibility: Properties eligible for City of Cincinnati trash collection (residential dwellings with 4 or fewer units).
Limit: 5 items per request. No annual cap on requests.
How to schedule: 311Cincy.com, 311Cincy mobile app, or call 311 (or 513-765-1212). Pickup date assigned at submission.
Set-out time: Place items at curb the night before scheduled date but no sooner. Items must be at curb by 6 AM. Crews have until 5 PM, do not call to report missed until after 5 PM.
Important: Different items may be picked up by different trucks. Wait until the end of the route window before reporting an item as missed.
Items accepted: Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs, dressers), appliances. NOT accepted: TVs/electronics, hazardous waste, construction debris, tires, automotive parts.
Up to 3 Small Items with Regular Collection (no scheduling)
Free with serviceFor small or light household items that can be lifted easily (under 45 lbs or approximately less than 4'x4'x4'), up to 3 items can be placed out for regular collection without scheduling. This means small bulk items don't need a scheduled pickup, just put them out with your trash.
Limit: 3 small items maximum per regular collection day.
Size limit: Under 45 lbs OR approximately less than 4'x4'x4' (i.e. small items, not large furniture/appliances).
When to use: Small chairs, end tables, kitchen items, small bookshelves, small storage bins.
When NOT to use: Sofas, large appliances, large furniture, those need scheduled bulk pickup.
Hamilton County Yard Trimming Drop-off Locations
Free for residentsHamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste offers free yard trimming drop-off locations for county residents. Three permanent locations across the county for residents who can't use the biweekly curbside service or have larger amounts than allowed.
West location: Oakdale Elementary, 3850 Virginia Court, Green Township.
North location: Rumpke Landfill, 3800 Struble Road, Colerain Township.
East location: Bzak Landscaping, 3295 Turpin Lane (off Rt. 32), Anderson Township.
Cost: Free for Hamilton County residents.
Set-Out Service for elderly/disabled residents
Free, by applicationFor Cincinnati residents who are elderly OR have a medical condition (verified by a doctor) that prevents them from moving trash carts to the curb, the city offers Set-Out Service. Crews come to your designated location to pick up trash. Limited to 1 trash cart or 5 bags per week. To request an application, call 311.
Eligibility: Residents who are elderly OR have a doctor-verified medical condition preventing cart movement.
Limit: 1 trash cart OR 5 bags per week per household.
How to apply: Call 311.
Resident responsibility: Keep walkways and driveways clear so crews can access pickup location.
Cart Exemption for residents with access challenges
Free, by applicationCart exemptions are granted for residents with disability, topography challenges (long stairs), or lack of cart storage space. Exempt residents can use up to 8 plastic bags (heavy-duty 3 mil, under 25 lbs each) instead of a cart.
Eligibility: Disability, long-stair topography, or lack of storage space for cart.
Limit: Up to 8 plastic bags. Bags must be heavy-duty 3 mil and weigh less than 25 lbs each.
NOT acceptable: Cardboard or paper containers, light-duty plastic bags, grocery bags.
How to apply: Call 311 to request an application.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties and select municipal partnerships. Cincinnati partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Cincinnati: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Donation-pickup programs
FreeCincinnati-area nonprofits offer free pickup for items in usable condition.
The Salvation Army: Free pickup of clothing, furniture, household items. Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Cincinnati: Multiple Cincinnati-area locations. Free pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Cincinnati: Donation pickup for larger items in the Cincinnati metro area.
St. Vincent de Paul: Cincinnati-based charity. Free pickup of furniture, clothing, household items for area families in need.
Dwelling-only rule. Cincinnati Department of Public Services (DPS) provides garbage, yard waste, and bulk collection for residential properties that meet the definition of “dwelling” under Ord. No. 41-2013, properties with 4 or fewer dwelling units. All other dwelling units (5+ units) are considered commercial entities and are required to enter into a contract with a City of Cincinnati registered waste hauler for waste disposal. Proof of contract (the “certificate of commercial waste collection contract”) needs to be provided upon request.
Weekly garbage, biweekly recycling and yard waste. Garbage is collected weekly. Recycling is collected every other week. Yard waste is collected biweekly seasonally (every other week, beginning April 20, 2026, through the second week of January) on the same day as your recycling. Each resident is assigned a collection day Monday through Thursday and a recycling/yard waste week.
Set-out window. Garbage carts, yard waste containers, scheduled bulk items, and recycling carts should be placed at the curb no later than 6 AM on collection day but no earlier than 5 PM the previous day. Avoid placing carts around obstructions, mailboxes, low-hanging wires. Don't park in front of carts on collection day. Carts must be removed from the curb by midnight on the day of collection.
Single-stream recycling. Cincinnati uses single-stream recycling, all recyclables in the green cart together, no sorting. Accepted: paper, cardboard (flattened), cartons, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles/jugs/tubs/cups. Plastic bags are NOT accepted in curbside recycling.
Yard waste rules. Yard waste must be in clearly marked cans with handles, paper bags designed for yard waste, or bundled with heavy twine or cotton rope. Containers/bags exceeding 25 lbs will not be collected. Yard waste in city garbage carts, recycle bins, or plastic bags will NOT be collected. Loose grass or leaves must be in containers with lids or closed bags to prevent blowing. Sticks/branches: bundles no more than 3 feet long and 2 feet diameter. No tape, plastic rope, or metal wire for bundling. Branches with stickers, spines, or other hazards must be in bags or cans to avoid injuring collection personnel. Branches must be no thicker than 6 inches diameter.
Holiday slide rule. When a city holiday affects curbside service, the rest of that week shifts one day later (the “slide”). Always verify your address-specific date in the 311Cincy Collection Schedule tool.
Composting. Cincinnati does NOT have citywide curbside food scrap collection, but the Office of Environment & Sustainability promotes community composting and drop-off options. Residents can use neighborhood-based composting opportunities and participating drop-off sites.
What's NOT in regular trash or bulk pickup. Hazardous waste, electronics, batteries, construction debris, tires, automotive parts. These require separate special programs, retailer take-backs, or county/regional programs.
Department of Public Services. Service requests through 311Cincy.com, the 311Cincy mobile app, or call 311 (or 513-765-1212). cincinnati-oh.gov/public-services.
Cincinnati's donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don't work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you're unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
For households who exceed 5 items per scheduled bulk request frequently, can't wait for the assigned scheduled date, live in 5+ unit buildings (commercial under city rules), need same-day service, or have items the city won't take (electronics, construction debris, tires), paid options are available. Note: 5-items-per-request with no annual cap means most residents can use the city system for free if they can plan ahead.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For households who need same-day service, exceed 5 items per request during cleanouts, live in 5+ unit buildings (which are commercial under Cincinnati rules), or have items the city won't take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Cincinnati with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What's included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes, crew handles in-home pickup.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
When this beats waiting: Move-outs, real estate timelines, large multi-item cleanouts, items the city won't accept.
Other paid services in Cincinnati: Rumpke residential trash service (call 48 hours before pickup), 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, comparison-shop for larger jobs.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book a Cincinnati pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Different items have different rules in Cincinnati. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.
Cincinnati residents have access to Hamilton County household hazardous waste programs for paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil, and other HHW. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications. The Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District also operates regional drop-off events and permanent facilities.
To report illegal dumping in Cincinnati, call 311 (or 513-765-1212) or use 311Cincy.com or the 311Cincy mobile app. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Cincinnati actively investigates dumping reports through code enforcement. If you're considering dumping because of cleanout volume, please use the 311Cincy bulk pickup system, 5 items per request with no annual cap means most cleanouts can be handled free over multiple requests if you can plan ahead. For urgent timelines, paid haulers like LoadUp at $80+ are dramatically cheaper than illegal dumping fines.
Is there really free junk removal in Cincinnati?
Yes, Cincinnati offers free scheduled bulk pickup through 311Cincy with up to 5 items per request and no annual cap on requests. You can also place up to 3 small items (under 45 lbs each) at the curb with regular collection without scheduling. Free biweekly recycling, free seasonal yard waste collection, and free Hamilton County yard trimming drop-offs round out the system. Donation pickup through Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, and St. Vincent de Paul is also free for usable items.
How does 311Cincy bulk pickup actually work?
Submit a bulk pickup request through 311Cincy.com, the 311Cincy mobile app, or by calling 311 (or 513-765-1212). At the time you submit your request, the system assigns you a scheduled pickup date, you don't pick the date, the city assigns it based on routing and capacity. You'll get a confirmation email with the date. On your scheduled date, place items at the curb the night before but no sooner. Different items may be picked up by different trucks, so don't panic if some items disappear before others, wait until 5 PM before reporting any items as missed.
Why do small items not need scheduling?
Cincinnati's system distinguishes between “small or light” items that can be lifted easily (under 45 lbs or approximately less than 4'x4'x4') and “bulk” items that require special handling. Small items (small chairs, end tables, small bookshelves, kitchen items) can go out with regular trash collection, up to 3 per collection day, no scheduling. Bulk items (sofas, large appliances, mattresses, large furniture) need scheduling through 311Cincy for special pickup. The split lets the city handle most small items efficiently with regular routes while routing big items to dedicated bulk trucks.
I live in a 6-unit apartment building. What are my options?
Cincinnati Department of Public Services only collects from residential properties meeting the “dwelling” definition under Ord. No. 41-2013, that's 4 or fewer units. Buildings with 5+ units are commercial entities under city rules and must have a contract with a City of Cincinnati registered waste hauler. The hauler may or may not include bulk service, ask your property manager. Call (513) 591-6000 for a list of registered haulers if you need to research alternatives. This gap is exactly why Freemoval exists: residents of multi-family low-income housing often have the fewest free options.
How do I qualify for Freemoval in Cincinnati?
Freemoval works through partner communities, typically affordable housing operators, public housing authorities, and select municipal partnerships. We’re actively expanding partnerships in Cincinnati through 2026. If your property is part of the program, your property manager will provide a booking code. If you operate housing or work in a city department in Cincinnati, contact us to discuss adding your community.
Why won't my yard waste be collected?
Cincinnati has strict yard waste rules. The most common reasons items are rejected: yard waste in regular plastic bags (use paper bags or marked containers only), yard waste in the city garbage cart (must be separate), bags or containers over 25 lbs each, branches not bundled properly (bundles must be 3 feet or shorter, 2 feet or less diameter, no tape/plastic rope/metal wire for bundling), branches over 6 inches diameter, branches with stickers/spines/hazards not in bags or cans (these can injure collection personnel). Yard waste containers must be clearly marked “Yard Waste” and have handles. Loose grass/leaves must be in closed bags or lidded containers to prevent blowing.
How do I report illegal dumping in Cincinnati?
Call 311 (or 513-765-1212) or use 311Cincy.com or the 311Cincy mobile app. Include location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
Freemoval is actively onboarding Cincinnati partner properties through 2026. Reach out to prioritize your community.
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