Cincinnati, OH Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Weight threshold
- Over 40 pounds
- Length threshold
- Over 48 inches
- Total-dimension threshold
- Over 100 inches combined
- Pre-approval required
- Call city before curbside placement
- Set-out window
- 5 p.m. day before to 6 a.m.
- Penalty
- $75 fine, Class A Civil Offense
Summary
Cincinnati defines 'bulk refuse' as acceptable waste too big for regular pickup, items over 40 pounds, longer than 48 inches, or exceeding 100 total inches, under § 729-1-B, and residents must call the city for pre-approval under § 729-93 before setting bulk items at the curb for a scheduled special collection.
"Bulk refuse" shall mean acceptable waste that requires special collection arrangements due to size, weight, or shape. Bulk refuse is individual items that weigh more than 40 pounds, exceed 48 inches in length, or exceed 100 inches in overall dimension (the total of length plus width plus depth), which cannot reasonably be divided or disassembled into smaller items. Bulk refuse is not a large container filled with smaller items or a large pile of small items, and these items are not eligible for collection pursuant to Section 729-93. ... To request a special collection of bulk refuse, the owner of or person responsible for the bulk refuse must call the city for a determination that the bulk refuse qualifies for special collection prior to placing bulk refuse at the curb for collection. If the bulk refuse is eligible for special collection, the city will make an appointment for the collection of the bulk refuse. The bulk refuse must be placed at the curb no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day preceding the scheduled collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 48 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
' The definition expressly excludes 'a large container filled with smaller items or a large pile of small items', bulk status attaches to individual oversized objects, not accumulated trash. Section 729-93 lets the director of public services offer special collection of bulk refuse beyond the regular schedule, but only on request: the resident must call the city so it can confirm the item qualifies before anything is placed curbside. on collection day, kept physically separate from, not commingled with, regular waste. Items that don't meet the size or weight thresholds, or that were never called in for approval, are not eligible for collection under this process and can simply be left uncollected by city crews.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 729 has no bulk-specific penalty section; an unapproved or improperly set-out bulk item falls back on the general Chapter 729 penalty in § 729-99: a Class A Civil Offense under § 1501-3, carrying a $75 fine for a first citation that rises to $150 if delinquent and $175 if sent to collections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as bulk refuse in Cincinnati?
Do I need to schedule bulk trash pickup in Cincinnati?
When can I put bulk items at the curb?
What happens if I set out bulk items without calling first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cincinnati
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