Columbia, SC Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Section 19-40 sets the frequency ceiling for residential service directly: "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 residential property." In both cases residential property gets exactly two weekly pickups, one for garbage (combined with recyclables where the program operates) and one for trash.

That schedule sits on top of the mandatory service structure the rest of Chapter 19 builds: § 19-32 puts collection under the director of public services, § 19-34 requires occupants to remove non-household waste and packing materials themselves rather than waiting on the weekly route, and § 19-38 makes it unlawful to bring refuse generated outside the city in for collection by city crews, so the weekly allotment is reserved for waste actually produced within Columbia. Service itself is largely free for residential customers under § 19-43, which lists 'no charge' for single-family or multifamily buildings of six units or fewer subject to ad valorem tax, while tax-exempt residential property is billed $175.00 per year for the same weekly schedule.