Omaha, NE Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum frequency
- At least once a week
- Set-out deadline
- 6:00 a.m. on collection day
- Cart limit
- 192 gallons combined per unit
- Service status
- Compulsory for every property
Summary
Omaha makes solid waste collection compulsory for every property and requires the city or its contractor to pick up at least once a week, with carts curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day.
The collection, removal and disposal of solid waste within this city under the provisions of this article is hereby made compulsory and universal for the maintenance of the health and sanitation of the city. ... solid waste shall be collected, removed, and disposed of at least once a week.
Full Breakdown
City code makes solid waste collection, removal, and disposal compulsory and universal for every property in Omaha: it is not an opt-in service (OMC § 33-21). The public works director's contractor must collect solid waste at least once a week, though non-putrescible recyclables can be picked up less often (§ 33-25). Each single residential unit gets one 48- or 96-gallon cart for trash and one for recycling, capped at 192 gallons combined (§ 33-46). Containers must be out by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day, no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before, and pulled back off the right-of-way by 10:00 a.m. the next day, or 7:00 p.m. if weather delays pickup (§ 33-49).
Violations & Fines
Setting containers out early or leaving them past the pickup window, or exceeding the cart volume limit, lets the city refuse collection and bill the excess as litter under a special assessment (§ 33-28).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is trash collection optional in Omaha?
How early can I put my cart out in Omaha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Omaha
Compare Omaha to another location·View the Nebraska trash & recycling overview
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