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Marion, OH Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified October 2026

Key Facts

Compactor ram face
At least 29 inches by 53 inches
Compactor capacity
At least 1.9 cubic yards
Approval needed
Prior written approval of the Safety/Service Director
Switch to private hauling
30 days notice to the municipality
Commercial rate floor
Not less than actual cost of collection and disposal
Maximum penalty
Third-degree misdemeanor, $100 fine, 60 days

Summary

In the City of Marion, Ohio, the municipality is the sole collector of domestic refuse, and a commercial establishment can use a private hauler only through a § 943.03 exception: an approved stationary hydraulic compactor of at least 1.9 cubic yards, or an existing contract with a hauler licensed under § 943.13. The code prints no dumpster placement distances.

MECHANICAL CONTAINER. Includes any detachable metal container designed or intended to be mechanically dumped into a loader/packer type of garbage truck. ... No person other than the municipality or its agents or employees (i.e. the collector) shall collect, transport or haul over or through any alley or street, or dispose of, any domestic refuse within the municipality except as follows: ( ... A) Commercial establishments or public institutions that have qualified for an exception by installing on their premises the stationary hydraulic refuse compactor with a ram face size of at least 29 inches by 53 inches and a rated capacity of at least 1.9 cubic yards. The Safety/Service Director shall give prior written approval to use such equipment provided such equipment conforms to specifications on file with the office of the Safety/Service Director and open to public inspection. ... (B) Any commercial establishment or public institution which has an existing contract with a private hauler duly licensed and qualified under § 943.13 of this chapter.

Full Breakdown

Marion's code does not regulate dumpsters and roll-offs by size or setback. It regulates who can collect from commercial establishments and what equipment qualifies for private hauling. Section 943.01 defines a mechanical container as any detachable metal container designed or intended to be mechanically dumped into a loader/packer type of garbage truck, and § 943.04 leaves dwelling units whose waste is collected by mechanical container outside the residential pickup mandate.

Section 943.03 makes the municipality or its agents or employees the only collector who can collect, transport or haul domestic refuse over or through any alley or street, with exceptions. Under (A), a commercial establishment or public institution qualifies by installing on its premises a stationary hydraulic refuse compactor with a ram face size of at least 29 inches by 53 inches and a rated capacity of at least 1.9 cubic yards. The Safety/Service Director must give prior written approval, and the equipment must conform to specifications on file with the Director's office. The private hauler needs suitable equipment and a license under § 943.13, and the equipment must be completely enclosed and leakproof. Under (B), a business or institution with an existing contract with a duly licensed hauler qualifies. Under (C), one now served by the municipality can elect private hauling on 30 days notice. Under (D), all commercial establishments or public institutions must apply to the Director for a waiver of the chapter's requirements.

Other rules reach commercial sites. Section 943.06(A) makes each commercial establishment responsible for maintaining a suitable container for its refuse, and § 943.06(D) locates containers curbside as the Director's rules prescribe. Section 943.16 sets commercial charges at no less than the actual cost of collection and disposal.

Violations & Fines

Section 943.03 carries a penalty cross-reference to § 943.99. Collecting or hauling domestic refuse through city streets or alleys without qualifying for an exception is punishable as a misdemeanor of the third degree: a fine of not more than $100, imprisonment of not more than 60 days, or both, with each successive day a separate offense. The same clause covers any rule of the Safety/Service Director made under Chapter 943.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Marion business hire a private hauler?
Yes, but only through a § 943.03 exception. A commercial establishment or public institution can qualify with an approved stationary hydraulic refuse compactor, or by having an existing contract with a private hauler duly licensed under § 943.13. Establishments served by the municipality can elect private hauling on 30 days notice to the city.
What compactor qualifies a business for private hauling in Marion?
Section 943.03(A) requires a stationary hydraulic refuse compactor with a ram face size of at least 29 inches by 53 inches and a rated capacity of at least 1.9 cubic yards. It needs the Safety/Service Director's prior written approval and must conform to specifications on file with the Director's office.
Does Marion set dumpster setbacks or screening rules?
The sections of Chapter 943 read here print no setback, screening or distance rule for dumpsters or roll-offs. Section 943.06(D) locates containers curbside as prescribed by the Safety/Service Director's rules, and § 943.02(A) authorizes the Director to prescribe the size, type and location of containers.
How does a business waive the city collection requirements?
Section 943.03(D) says all commercial establishments or public institutions shall be required to apply for a waiver of the requirements of this chapter, and the application is made to the Safety/Service Director. A hauler working under an exception also needs a license from the Director under § 943.13.

Sources & Official References

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