Columbia, SC trash pickup schedule

Columbia trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 147,035 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked October 30, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	The city collects City of Columbia Public Works, Solid Waste & Recycling Division collects garbage, recycling and yard trash with city crews inside the corporate city limits; curbside roll-cart service goes to residential and small commercial locations, and only city-furnished containers are collected. Unincorporated Richland County is served by the county's own curbside program, not the city.¹²
How often	Trash weekly²
Set out	set-out time not published; carts must be removed from the curb by 7:30 p.m. on collection day (city ordinance); place carts 3 ft from trees, mailboxes, vehicles and the recycling cart²
Your pickup day	Address lookup: publicworks.columbiasc.gov. App: Columbia, SC Solid Waste (free, iPhone/Android)¹⁷¹⁶
Holidays	No further 2026 holidays are on the city’s list. See the 2026 table.

Bulk items: set-days: bulk items (e.g. furniture, clothing, rigid plastics) are part of curbside 'yard trash', which is collected separately from the garbage cart on scheduled route days; frequency and set-out rules not published. During May 1-July 31, 2026 the city also offered expedited pickup of move-out piles within 24-48 hours of a call to the Solid Waste office. (details). Drop-off sites: 3 listed (hours and fees).

Columbia holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	No standing holiday rule is published. The city announces collection changes holiday by holiday in news releases (and in the Columbia, SC Solid Waste app). In 2026 so far: weekday holidays that close the routes push the affected routes one day later (e.g. MLK Day: Monday routes on Tuesday, Tuesday on Wednesday; New Year's Day on Thursday: Thursday on Friday, Friday on Saturday), while Memorial Day, Juneteenth and the observed Independence Day (July 3) had no change. Thanksgiving 2025 was handled differently (Thursday routes collected the day BEFORE, Wednesday; Friday regular), so each holiday must be checked against its notice.¹³¹⁶
Official notice	columbiasc.gov⁸⁹

City’s rule

No standing holiday rule is published. The city announces collection changes holiday by holiday in news releases (and in the Columbia, SC Solid Waste app). In 2026 so far: weekday holidays that close the routes push the affected routes one day later (e.g. MLK Day: Monday routes on Tuesday, Tuesday on Wednesday; New Year's Day on Thursday: Thursday on Friday, Friday on Saturday), while Memorial Day, Juneteenth and the observed Independence Day (July 3) had no change. Thanksgiving 2025 was handled differently (Thursday routes collected the day BEFORE, Wednesday; Friday regular), so each holiday must be checked against its notice.¹³¹⁶

Official notice

columbiasc.gov⁸⁹

Columbia trash pickup on holidays, 2026
Holiday	Date	Pickup	What the city says
New Year's Day	Thu, Jan 1, 2026	Delayed one day	Thursday garbage, recycling and yard trash collected Friday, Jan. 2; Friday collected Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.¹⁵
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19, 2026	Delayed one day	Monday routes collected Tuesday, Jan. 20; Tuesday routes Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.⁹
Presidents' Day	Mon, Feb 16, 2026	Not on the city’s list	Not on the city’s list for this year
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25, 2026	No change	City offices closed; collection on regular schedule.¹⁰
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19, 2026	No change	City offices closed; garbage and recycling on regular schedule.¹¹
Independence Day (Fourth of July)	Fri, Jul 3, 2026	No change	Observed Friday, July 3, 2026: city offices closed; garbage and recycling on regular schedule.¹²
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day	Mon, Oct 12, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Veterans Day	Wed, Nov 11, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: 2026 City of Columbia Holiday Schedule (city offices), City Offices to Close in Observance of Martin Luther King …, City Offices to Close in Observance of Memorial Day (May 2…, City Offices to Close in Observance of Juneteenth (June 15…, City Offices to Close in Observance of Independence Day (J…, City Offices to Close in Observance of the Thanksgiving Ho…, City Offices to Close in Observance of the New Year’s Holi…, Solid Waste Holiday Schedule (Dec 11, 2023) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Columbia

How it works	set-days: bulk items (e.g. furniture, clothing, rigid plastics) are part of curbside 'yard trash', which is collected separately from the garbage cart on scheduled route days; frequency and set-out rules not published. During May 1-July 31, 2026 the city also offered expedited pickup of move-out piles within 24-48 hours of a call to the Solid Waste office.²⁴¹⁵¹⁹
How to request	no booking published for regular bulk/yard trash; for the seasonal move-out program, call the Solid Waste main office (803) 545-3800 to report a pile¹⁹
Limits	Not published by the city (official page)
Fees	building materials (bricks, concrete) are subject to a charge and must be separated from yard waste; tree removal and lot-clearing debris are also subject to a charge; amounts not published⁴
Not accepted	electronics (computers, monitors, printers, TVs) - not accepted curbside; take to Public Works⁵

Sources: Garbage Collection, Yard Trimmings, Drop Off Locations, City Offices to Close in Observance of the New Year’s Holi…, Expedited Collection Services for Summer Move Out Piles (A… Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Columbia

Pickup	Not published by the city (official page)
Type	Not published by the city (official page)
Glass	Not published by the city (official page)
Plastics	Not published by the city (official page)
Cart	separate curbside recycling cart (city mentions 'the recycling cart'); accepted-materials list is a printable PDF²³

Accepted

Not published by the city (official page)

Not accepted

Not published by the city (official page)

Programs

Used cooking oil recycling (Southern Fried Fuel): drop off at City of Columbia Public Works, 2910 Colonial Drive, or Fire Station 16, 131 Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; oil must be free of water, soap suds and food scraps⁶
Electronics, bulbs (incl. string lights) and non-leaking batteries: drop off at City of Columbia Public Works, 2910 Colonial Drive (GPS: 3000 Harden St.), Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; electronics are not collected curbside⁵
Waste Wizard (ReCollect) item search for disposal instructions⁵

Sources: Garbage Collection, Recycling, Drop Off Locations, Cooking Oil Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	Yes⁴
Season	Not published by the city (official page)
How often	Not published by the city (official page)
Rules	loose or bagged leaves; branches under 6 ft long; grass clippings; routine yard maintenance waste; keep out of the garbage cart; bricks/concrete/building materials, tree removal and lot clearing are subject to a charge⁴
Food scraps	Not published by the city (official page)
Christmas trees	Not published by the city (official page)
Leaf collection	Fall 2026 leaf collection containers for BAGGED LEAVES ONLY at city parks, rotating weekly; Week 1 (10/30/2026-11/5/2026): Greenview Park (6700 David St.), Pinehurst Park (2300 Pinehurst Rd.), MLK Park (2300 Greene St.), Earlewood Park (1113 Recreation Dr.), Heathwood Park (800 Abelia Rd.); later weeks announced in weekly city news releases¹⁸
Cleanup events	Annual Free Compost Giveaway (2026: Saturday, April 4, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 123 Humane Ln, Columbia, SC 29209; residents only)²⁰ Summer move-out expedited pile collection, May 1-July 31, 2026¹⁹

Sources: Yard Trimmings, City of Columbia Solid Waste Division Leaf Collection Loca…, Expedited Collection Services for Summer Move Out Piles (A…, Annual Free Compost Giveaway (Mar 4, 2026) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

City of Columbia Public Works (e-waste, bulbs, batteries, cooking oil)

Type	Recycling center
Run by	The city
Address	2910 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203 (GPS: 3000 Harden St.) · Map⁵
Hours	Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (cooking oil 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)⁵
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)
Accepts	computers, monitors, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, phones, cameras, stereo equipment and anything that plugs in; bulbs incl. CFLs and string lights; non-leaking batteries; used cooking oil⁵

City of Columbia compost facility (Humane Lane)

Type	Compost / yard waste site
Run by	The city
Address	Humane Lane off Shop Road, across from the Animal Shelter, Columbia (127 Humane Ln on the city map link) · Map⁴
Hours	call 803-545-3800 to schedule a compost pickup⁴
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)

Richland County C&D Landfill Drop-Off Center (Caughman Rd.)

Type	Landfill
Run by	The county
Address	1070 Caughman Road North, Columbia · Map²¹
Hours	Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sat 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Sun closed²¹
Fees	free for Richland County residents; commercial fees (call 803-576-2390)²¹
Who can use it	proof of residency required; items from primary residence; max four visits per month; trailers over 8 ft use the C&D Landfill site²¹
Accepts	yard waste and land-clearing debris, C&D waste, bulk items (mattresses only at this location, furniture, appliances), e-waste (limit 5), scrap metal, tires (limit 5), latex paint (limit 5 gal), fluorescent bulbs, motor oil/filters, antifreeze, lead-acid batteries; NO household garbage²¹

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: Yard Trimmings, Drop Off Locations, Drop-Off Centers (Richland County Solid Waste and Recycling) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	Not published by the city (official page)
Phone	Solid Waste Division (803) 545-3800, Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 2910 Colonial Dr., Columbia, SC 29203; email [email protected]; Public Works Administration (803) 545-3780¹²
311	Not published by the city (official page)
Official website	publicworks.columbiasc.gov¹

Sources: Solid Waste & Recycling (City of Columbia Public Works), Garbage Collection Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

All South Carolina cities: South Carolina trash pickup schedules.

Columbia trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Columbia?

Trash is collected weekly. Columbia does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (publicworks.columbiasc.gov) or the Columbia, SC Solid Waste (free, iPhone/Android) app.

Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Columbia?

New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday garbage, recycling and yard trash collected Friday, Jan. 2; Friday collected Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

How do I get rid of bulky items in Columbia?

set-days: bulk items (e.g. furniture, clothing, rigid plastics) are part of curbside 'yard trash', which is collected separately from the garbage cart on scheduled route days; frequency and set-out rules not published. During May 1-July 31, 2026 the city also offered expedited pickup of move-out piles within 24-48 hours of a call to the Solid Waste office. no booking published for regular bulk/yard trash; for the seasonal move-out program, call the Solid Waste main office (803) 545-3800 to report a pile Fees: building materials (bricks, concrete) are subject to a charge and must be separated from yard waste; tree removal and lot-clearing debris are also subject to a charge; amounts not published.

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Columbia?

call Solid Waste Division (803) 545-3800, Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 2910 Colonial Dr., Columbia, SC 29203; email [email protected]; Public Works Administration (803) 545-3780.

Sources

1
Solid Waste & Recycling (City of Columbia Public Works)City · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
2
Garbage CollectionCity · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
3
RecyclingCity · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
4
Yard TrimmingsCity · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
5
Drop Off LocationsCity · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
6
Cooking OilCity · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
7
Waste WizardCity · publicworks.columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
8
2026 City of Columbia Holiday Schedule (city offices)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
9
City Offices to Close in Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 12, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
10
City Offices to Close in Observance of Memorial Day (May 22, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
11
City Offices to Close in Observance of Juneteenth (June 15, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
12
City Offices to Close in Observance of Independence Day (June 29, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
13
City Offices to Close in Observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday (Nov 24, 2025)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
14
City Offices to Close in Observance of the Christmas Holiday (Dec 23, 2025)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
15
City Offices to Close in Observance of the New Year’s Holiday (Dec 29, 2025)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
16
Solid Waste Holiday Schedule (Dec 11, 2023)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
17
City of Columbia Adjusts Solid Waste Schedule due to Impacts of Winter Weather (Feb 1, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
18
City of Columbia Solid Waste Division Leaf Collection Locations (Oct 29, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
19
Expedited Collection Services for Summer Move Out Piles (Apr 28, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
20
Annual Free Compost Giveaway (Mar 4, 2026)City · columbiasc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
21
Drop-Off Centers (Richland County Solid Waste and Recycling)County · richlandcountysc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
22
City of Columbia Code Ch. 19 Art.City · library.municode.com · checked October 30, 2026

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Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.