Columbus-area apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: even without a formal apartment recycling mandate in the City of Columbus, your communities sit in a region that is rapidly tightening expectations around waste, recycling, and contamination. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is engineered to align with Columbus City Code Title 13 (Refuse Collection), SWACO’s multifamily recycling programs, and the universal recycling ordinance in the City of Bexley, so you can stay ahead of policy changes and inspector expectations.
Within the City of Columbus, recycling cart service is automatically provided only to single-family homes and buildings of four attached units or fewer, or to condominium and apartment communities that already use 96-gallon trash containers serviced by the City under the Division of Refuse Collection rules.
Larger multifamily communities typically rely on private haulers or voluntary programs such as SWACO’s Multifamily Recycling Program and county drop-off network. Inside Franklin County, the City of Bexley goes further and requires onsite single-stream recycling service at all commercial, institutional, and multifamily properties under Bexley Codified Ordinances Chapter 1060, Section 1060.16, with penalties for non-compliance under Section 1060.99.
- Protect NOI & Risk Profile: Reduce the risk of solid-waste, nuisance, and illegal-dumping citations by aligning your trash & recycling program with Columbus Title 13, SWACO guidance, and the stricter Bexley universal recycling ordinance.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep collection keeps residents out of dark enclosures, reduces overflow and contamination at centralized containers, and supports renewals and online reputation across Columbus, Bexley, and surrounding cities.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, service frequencies, and education materials designed around Columbus Refuse Collection Code, SWACO’s Multifamily Recycling Program, and Bexley’s minimum recycling-capacity standards.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We coordinate with haulers and city/county programs, train residents, and maintain documentation so your team can focus on leasing and operations while staying “inspection ready.”
At a Glance: City of Columbus vs. Bexley & Franklin County Cities
City of Columbus (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: No dedicated apartment recycling mandate. Recycling access at apartments is driven by eligibility for city cart service or by voluntary service agreements with haulers and SWACO-supported programs.
- Applicability Threshold (City Service): City recycling cart service is available to single-family homes and buildings of four attached units or fewer, or to condominiums/apartments that already use 96-gallon trash containers serviced by the City.
Columbus – How to Dispose or Recycle - Owner / Property Manager Duties:
- Contain acceptable waste and recyclables under Title 13 Refuse Collection Code and the Division of Refuse Collection Rules and Regulations.
- Use city-issued containers or a licensed commercial hauler; prevent overflow, littering, and illegal dumping around enclosures.
- Maintain safe, sanitary conditions in and around trash and recycling areas for residents.
- Program Reality: Many mid- and large-size multifamily communities are not covered by city recycling carts and instead rely on private haulers, SWACO drop-off sites, or SWACO’s Multifamily Recycling Program to provide residents with recycling options.
- Key City Links:
Columbus City Code – Title 13 Refuse Collection · Refuse & Recycling Service Eligibility · About Refuse Collection (Illegal Dumping & Resident Responsibilities)
Bexley & Other Franklin County Cities
- Bexley Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling service for commercial, institutional, and multifamily properties. Section 1060.16 requires onsite single-stream recycling with minimum service standards, enforced under 1060.99 Penalty.
Bexley Code – §1060.16 Recycling Service · Bexley Code – Chapter 1060 Garbage & Rubbish - Bexley Applicability Threshold: Applies to all multifamily residential properties (more than one dwelling unit) as well as commercial and institutional sites. Properties must meet minimum recycling-capacity standards and provide at least weekly collection.
- Other Franklin County Cities: Dublin, Gahanna, Hilliard, Westerville, Whitehall, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Worthington, Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, and other suburbs generally:
- Treat apartments as commercial solid-waste accounts.
- Promote recycling via residential cart programs and SWACO drop-off sites.
- Do not currently have a codified apartment recycling mandate requiring onsite recycling service for residents.
- SWACO’s Regional Role: The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) operates a Multifamily Recycling Program, a county-wide recycling drop-off network, and a Recycling Convenience Center serving all Franklin County residents.
SWACO – Multifamily Recycling Program · SWACO Multifamily Recycling Pilot Announcement · SWACO 2020 Impact Report – Multifamily Planning - How National Doorstep Helps: We design valet trash & recycling programs that:
- Meet or exceed Bexley’s universal recycling requirements.
- Align Columbus-area communities with SWACO’s best practices and guidebook recommendations for multifamily recycling.
- Prepare properties in other Franklin County cities for potential future mandates.
Franklin County Cities & Apartment Recycling Mandates
Only the City of Bexley within Franklin County currently has a codified universal recycling requirement that explicitly covers multifamily housing with its own section and penalty clause. The City of Columbus and other Franklin County cities operate under general solid-waste, nuisance, and property-maintenance rules without a dedicated apartment recycling mandate, but they still expect clean, well-managed enclosures and responsible waste handling.
| City | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Recycling cart service is provided to single-family homes and buildings of four attached units or fewer, or to condominiums/apartments that use 96-gallon trash containers serviced by the City. Larger communities are treated as commercial accounts and typically arrange trash and recycling via private haulers, supported by SWACO programs. Solid-waste behavior is governed by Title 13 Refuse Collection Code, the Division of Refuse Collection Rules & Regulations, and general nuisance and littering provisions. Key local links: Columbus Code – Title 13 Refuse Collection · Refuse & Recycling – Eligibility & Rules |
| Bexley | Yes – Universal recycling ordinance |
All commercial, institutional, and multifamily properties must be provided with onsite single-stream recycling collection service under §1060.16, with at least weekly collection and minimum recycling-capacity standards per property type. Compliance is enforced through §1060.99 Penalty in Chapter 1060. Property managers must maintain containers, meet capacity standards, and keep areas clean and accessible for residents. Key local links: Bexley Code – §1060.16 Recycling Service · Bexley – Commercial & Multifamily Recycling |
| Dublin | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Dublin provides strong residential recycling and partners with SWACO on drop-off and education. Multifamily communities are generally treated as commercial customers; recycling service is offered via contract with private haulers or voluntary programs rather than a citywide obligation. Key local links: City of Dublin – Refuse & Recycling |
| Gahanna | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Gahanna offers residential recycling and works with SWACO, but does not currently impose a specific requirement that all multifamily properties provide onsite resident recycling. Apartments typically arrange service with contracted haulers and are expected to maintain clean enclosures. Key local links: City of Gahanna – Service & Streets |
| Hilliard | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Hilliard participates in SWACO programs and residential recycling, but multifamily properties are handled under commercial collection rules. Recycling access for residents is typically provided voluntarily through hauler contracts or onsite containers, not a formal multifamily mandate. Key local links: City of Hilliard – Trash & Recycling |
| Westerville | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Westerville promotes recycling and offers curbside programs but does not currently require apartment properties to provide onsite recycling. Communities should partner with haulers or SWACO resources to give residents recycling options and to prevent nuisance conditions at enclosures. Key local links: City of Westerville – Refuse & Recycling |
| Whitehall | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Whitehall’s code regulates solid waste and property maintenance but does not impose a dedicated apartment recycling requirement. Multifamily properties are expected to maintain adequate collection and prevent overflow and illegal dumping; recycling services are typically voluntary. Key local links: City of Whitehall – Official Site |
| Grove City | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Grove City offers residential recycling and enforces general solid-waste standards. Apartments coordinate recycling through private haulers or SWACO-supported programs rather than a specific municipal ordinance aimed at multifamily recycling. Key local links: City of Grove City – Official Site |
| Reynoldsburg | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Reynoldsburg provides residential services and abatement tools for nuisance conditions but does not have a codified apartment recycling mandate. Property managers should maintain adequate trash and consider adding recycling to reduce overflow and complaints. Key local links: City of Reynoldsburg – Official Site |
| Worthington | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Worthington partners with SWACO and offers recycling to residents, but multifamily recycling is not mandated by a dedicated ordinance. Communities rely on hauler contracts and SWACO drop-offs to provide recycling access for residents. Key local links: City of Worthington – Official Site |
| Upper Arlington | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Upper Arlington maintains robust residential recycling and enforces property-maintenance rules but has no specific multifamily recycling code section similar to Bexley’s. Apartment communities are expected to manage waste responsibly and may voluntarily provide onsite recycling. Key local links: City of Upper Arlington – Official Site |
| Grandview Heights & Other Small Cities/Villages | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate (current) |
Grandview Heights, New Albany, Canal Winchester, and other Franklin County communities follow the common pattern: strong emphasis on residential recycling and basic solid-waste codes but no standalone apartment recycling mandate. Multifamily recycling access is provided via haulers, SWACO programs, or voluntary property-level initiatives. Key regional links: SWACO – Recycling Drop-Off Sites · SWACO – Multifamily Recycling |
Columbus & Bexley Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Columbus – Title 13 Noncompliance & Littering: Violations of refuse-collection rules, illegal dumping, or littering may be enforced under Title 13 Refuse Collection Code (including Chapter 1313 “Littering Penalty” and Chapter 1399 “Noncompliance Penalty”) and related provisions. Fines are assessed as code violations and can escalate based on severity and duration of non-compliance.
- Columbus – Each Violation Can Add Up: Failing to contain waste properly, allowing chronic overflow or illegal dumping, or ignoring notices of violation can result in repeated citations. While there is no specific fine schedule for “no recycling at apartments”, poor waste management can still trigger penalties and re-inspections.
- Bexley – Penalties Under §1060.99: In Bexley, failure to provide required onsite recycling service, meet minimum recycling-capacity standards, or maintain containers as required in §1060.16 exposes property owners and property managers to enforcement under §1060.99 Penalty in Chapter 1060. The official code sets the fine structure for these violations.
- Regional Risk: Across Franklin County, overflowing dumpsters, uncontained waste, and nuisance conditions can also trigger property-maintenance and public-health violations, increasing fine exposure and scrutiny from inspectors and neighbors—even in cities without a formal multifamily recycling ordinance.
- Risk Management Tip: Build a defensible file: keep signed hauler agreements, service logs, photos of enclosures, SWACO participation records, and resident education materials. This documentation shows good-faith efforts if a complaint, inspection, or code case arises.
Columbus & Franklin County Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Guidance | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction, Units & Current Service | Verify whether your community is inside the City of Columbus, inside Bexley, or in another Franklin County city. Confirm total dwelling units and whether you receive city-provided carts or rely on a private hauler. In Bexley, assume that multifamily recycling requirements apply if you have more than one dwelling unit. | Columbus Code – Title 13 · Bexley – §1060.16 |
| ☑ Align With City / County Expectations |
In Columbus, make sure containers, set-out practices, and enclosure design follow Refuse Collection Rules & Regulations and that overflow and illegal dumping are promptly addressed. In Bexley, verify that your recycling service meets §1060.16 requirements for onsite single-stream service, minimum capacity, and weekly collection. |
Columbus – Refuse Collection Overview · Refuse Collection Rules (PDF) |
| ☑ Engage a Hauler & SWACO Resources | If your community does not currently offer recycling, work with a licensed commercial hauler and SWACO’s Multifamily Recycling Program to add appropriately sized recycling containers. For properties in Bexley, ensure the contract explicitly covers the universal recycling requirements. | SWACO – Multifamily Recycling Program · SWACO – Drop-Off Locations |
| ☑ Design Resident-Friendly Collection Points | Place recycling containers in visible, well-lit, and convenient locations relative to trash. For valet-style programs, clearly mark doorstep collection rules so residents know how and when to set out material. The goal is to reduce contamination, overflow, and trips to distant enclosures or off-site drop-off centers. | OSU/SWACO Guidebook on Multifamily Recycling |
| ☑ Resident Education & Signage | Provide simple, recurring education for residents at move-in and throughout the year: what can be recycled, how to prepare it, where to place it, and any valet trash rules. Use signage at enclosures, leasing offices, elevators, and digital channels to reinforce best practices and reduce contamination. | SWACO – “Do You Want Recycling at Your Multifamily Complex?” |
| ☑ Document Service, Issues & Improvements | Maintain a file with hauler contracts, SWACO correspondence, service schedules, photos of container areas, contamination notes, and resident communications. This record supports good decision-making and shows inspectors and owners that you are actively managing waste and recycling. | SWACO – Planning for the Future |
Want to future-proof your Columbus-area community against stricter recycling rules? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Columbus & Franklin County property. We’ll review your current trash and recycling setup, right-size containers and service, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the inspector-ready documentation you need to show alignment with Columbus Title 13, SWACO best practices, and Bexley’s universal recycling requirements.
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
