Waking up to an overflowing trash bin is never an ideal start to the day, especially when it's the result of a missed collection day. To prevent this, Columbus residents need to be aware of their designated trash collection days, which for some is determined by a "color" zone system. According to the City of Columbus's website, the zones—navy, pink, ruby, gold, or gray—each have their own set schedule, and that schedule is adjusted post-holidays.
The system is set up to conveniently move the collection day forward one day after every observed holiday. It means, for instance, if you usually drag your bins out on a Tuesday and Monday was a holiday, now you should plan to quickly pivot and remember your new trash day is Wednesday. For those of us occasionally scratching our heads the night before, confirmations on your next pickup date can be obtained by calling the Color Collection hotline, which runs 24/7.
But it's not just about the trash—you've got to consider recycling and yard waste, too. Recycling is picked up weekly on the same day, making it a tad easier to remember. However, yard waste requires a bit more attention. It's a bi-weekly affair, with residences assigned to either Zone A or Zone B, alternating weeks. A holiday week plays the same rules as trash—any collection day following the holiday will similarly be delayed by one day, and yes, Friday's collection pushes to Saturday. Then everything snaps back to the regular schedule post-holiday.
Here's a quick breakdown of who you can call to confirm your color zone schedule: for Navy customers, dial (614) 645-NAVY (6289); Pink zone residents should call (614) 645-PINK (7465); Ruby's go-to is (614) 645-RUBY (7829); Gold can reach out to (614) 645-GOLD (4653); and Gray zone inhabitants need to only dial (614) 645-GRAY (4729). For all the particulars on your recycling and yard waste schedule, Columbus's website seeks to offer all the information you might need.
