Trash & Recycling in Columbia, SC (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Columbia limits when trash and recycling receptacles can sit on city streets or sidewalks, bars hazardous materials from curbside pickup, and lays out how the solid waste division handles small dead animals. The rules sit in City Code Chapter 19, enforced by the director of public services and chief sanitarian, with violations charged as misdemeanors.
Columbia Sets Curb Placement Hours for Trash Pickup
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-41(a), (c)-(d)
(a)Receptacles on streets or sidewalks. All receptacles for business or commercial establishments shall be made available to the collectors not later than 7:00 p.m. All receptacles placed on city streets or sidewalks shall be removed not later than 9:00 a.m. following collection, and no receptacles shall be placed on any sidewalk or street between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday thr...
Bin Placement Rules
Columbia tells residents exactly when a roll cart can sit at the curb and where it has to go the rest of the time. City Code § 19-35 sets an 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. curbside window and requires carts to be screened from the street front when not out for collection.
Columbia Cart Set-Out and Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-35(b), (e)
(b)Placement at curb. Roll carts and, in those areas designated by the city, recyclables containers are to be placed at curbside no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of the collection and removed no later than 7:30 p.m. on the day of collection. Special exceptions to this requirement may be granted when the superintendent of solid waste determines that there is no person living in the house who i...
Bulk Item Disposal
Columbia won't collect furniture, appliances or bedding with the regular roll cart route. City Code § 19-37(b) requires residents to call the sanitation division and schedule special collection, then set the items out only on the agreed pickup day.
How Columbia Handles Bulky Item Pickup
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-37(a)-(b)
(a)Excess waste. Materials resulting from normal household use, other than garbage, in quantities too great to be placed in roll carts may be placed contiguous to the front of the household premises off of the paved portion of the street right-of-way, but not in median strips or in front of property of another without consent.(b)Bulky waste. Appliances, furniture, bedding and other bulky items ...
Recycling Requirements
Columbia does not put every household on curbside recycling automatically. City Code § 19-35 makes recyclables containers available only in city-designated areas, and only after a resident asks for one, so participation is voluntary rather than mandatory citywide.
Columbia's Curbside Recycling Is Opt-In Only
Light RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-35(a), (d)
In those areas designated by the city, every person producing or having recyclable materials to be collected by the city may, on a voluntary basis and upon request to the city, keep on the premises or property occupied or used by him recyclables containers as specified in this article, in locations accessible using normal collection methods, to handle accumulations of recyclable materials on th...
Illegal Dumping
Columbia makes it unlawful to dump, throw, drop, deposit or discard litter or solid waste on any public or private property or in city waters, whether from a vehicle or on foot, unless the material goes into a location the city has designated for disposal or a proper litter receptacle.
Columbia Illegal Dumping Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-231
(a)No person shall dump, throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter or other solid waste upon any public property in the city or upon private property in this city or in the waters of the city, whether from a vehicle or otherwise, including but not limited to any public highway, public park, beach, campground, forest land, recreational area, trailer park, highway, road, street...
Yard Waste Collection
Columbia keeps yard debris out of the regular trash stream. City Code § 19-37(c) requires shrubbery trimmings, grass clippings, leaves and tree limbs to be separated from household garbage and staged at the curb, with limbs capped at six feet long and eight inches in diameter.
Columbia's Rules for Yard Waste and Tree Limbs
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-37(c)
(c)Tree trimmings and yard waste. Shrubbery trimmings, tree trimmings, grass clippings, leaves and other outdoor vegetation shall be kept separate from all other garbage, rubbish or other household materials and be placed contiguous to the front of the premises off of the paved portion of the street right-of-way, but not in median strips or in front of property of another without consent. Tree ...
Dumpster Rules
Businesses without rear access can't leave a dumpster or roll cart at the curb all day in Columbia. City Code § 19-39 limits curbside placement to a 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. window and caps small businesses at two roll carts before bulk container service is required.
Columbia's Placement Rules for Business Dumpsters
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-39(a)-(b)
(a)Retail and commercial establishments not required to furnish bulk containers will utilize roll carts. Each establishment will be furnished one roll cart by the city. Businesses will have the option to purchase one additional roll cart. Businesses generating refuse in excess of the capacity of two roll carts must convert to bulk container service as specified by the director of public service...
Collection Schedule
Columbia caps residential collection at one garbage pickup and one trash pickup per week under City Code § 19-40. Households in a designated recycling area get a combined garbage-and-recyclables collection plus one trash collection, the same one-plus-one weekly structure.
Columbia's Weekly Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-40
Except in those areas designated by the city for the recycling of recyclable materials, not more than one garbage collection and one trash collection shall be provided per week for residential property. In those areas designated by the city for the recycling of recyclable materials, one garbage and recyclable materials collection and one trash collection shall be provided per week for residenti...
Recycling Rules
Once a Columbia household has curbside recycling, City Code § 19-36 spells out what must go in the bin: recyclable materials belong in the city-issued recyclables container, and glass and plastic must have their lids removed before they go in.
What Columbia Requires in the Recycling Bin
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 19-36(a)-(b)
(a)Garbage and rubbish must be placed in refuse roll carts or bulk containers as specified in this article. In those areas designated by the city, recyclable materials, in order to be recycled, must be placed in recyclables containers. Glass and plastic shall have all lids removed prior to being placed in the recyclables container. Other material resulting from normal household use also should ...
Looking for Richland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Richland County →