FAQ
Where do I put my waste and when will it get picked up?
The collection schedule is posted above. Click here to look up your collection days, download the calendar, and sign up for reminder emails.
Household garbage goes in your personal city issued 90 gallon green can.
Items that DO NOT go in the regular trash include:
Recyclable items
Yard Waste
Furniture or pieces of furniture
Construction materials
Household Hazardous Waste (Please visit the city’s Household Hazardous Waste page for disposal options for these items.)
Tires, car batteries, and other automobile parts
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
Refrigerated appliances (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, heat pumps, water coolers and air conditioners)
Dead animals
Cooking oils and grease
Recycling should be placed in your 64 gallon city issued blue can and wheeled to the rear of your property along alley for the bi-weekly pick-up. Find out what can be recycled here.
It is recommended to bring your cans inside by 2:00pm the day after scheduled collection. Leaving carts in the alley can result in damage or theft, and also makes it difficult for neighbors to drive through the alleys to and from their garages. Replacement carts can be purchased from the city at your expense.
If your City-provided trash container is missing, stolen, vandalized or defaced, please call the 311 Service Center at (614) 645-3111.
If your container is damaged in the collection process or from normal wear and tear, please call the 311 Service Center (614) 645-3111. Please have your serial number ready. It can be located on the side of the container.
Yard Waste must be placed in front of your property along the curb in biodegradable (paper) bags or plastic or galvanized metal containers with handles that are marked no more than thirty-two (32) gallons in size and not more than fifty (50) pounds in weight marked "Yard Waste". For more disposal options for these items, click here.
Bulk Collection Many bulk items will be picked up by the city as a free service to its residents. However bulk waste pickup MUST be scheduled and oversized items should never be deposited in 300 gallon cans. Schedule a pick-up by contacting 311, you will be given a date to expect pick-up. Please place item(s) at the rear of your property the evening before your scheduled pick-up and not before.
Some items cannot be collected by the City of Columbus. For these items, please call a private hauler. This includes, but is not limited to:
Hazardous, flammable or explosive materials;
Auto parts and tires;
Excavating and building materials (fences, shipping pallets, concrete, etc.);
Refrigerated appliances (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, heat pumps, water coolers and air conditioners);
Furnaces, Pianos, Spas, Hot tubs or pool tables
Who do I contact about Historic Register Guidelines?
It is true that making alterations and or additions to the exterior of your home requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Columbus Historic Resources Commission. You can find more information about that process here. Guidelines for Old Oaks.
What can 311 help me with?
The city of Columbus provides a wide range of resident support via their 311 Customer Service Center.
Most frequently used in Old Oaks for:
Refuse schedule
Missed trash/recycling/yard waste pick-up
Damaged or missing trash cans
Replace recycling bin
Scheduling bulk trash pick-up
Report illegal dumping
Safety concerns (traffic, sidewalks, street lighting, illegal activity, etc.)
Animal care and control
Code concerns (structural safety, high grass/weeds, vacant property issues)
Abandoned vehicles
How do I submit a service request with 311?
You can call the service center at 614-645-3111, send an email to 311@Columbus.gov or you can utilize their recently updated online portal and mobile application. You can find more on how to navigate the online tool here.
Who should I contact for more immediate safety concerns?
There are times when we need assistance that is not an emergency requiring a call to 911 but does need attention more immediately than a service request to 311. In those instances you can contact the Columbus Police Non-emergency helpline at 614-645-4545. You can also reach out to our CPD Community Liaison - 12 Precinct Officer Roundtree #1081 (614) 645-1412 or email him at srountree@columbuspolice.org.
Who is responsible for litter on or around my property?
If you live in Old Oaks or any number of urban neighborhoods you will have to deal with the unfortunate reality of litter. Even if you were not the one who left the trash, it is your responsibility if on your property. There will also be instances of litter in roads or alleys that are common spaces - we are expected to keep those parts of the neighborhood clean as well. Periodically we plan community clean-up days were we all come together as a neighborhood to tackle larger projects. One driver of litter are loose items tossed in overflowing open or lidless trash cans or recycling carts. Keeping cans closed is a good practice.
How do I get involved in the community?
Attend monthly Old Oaks Civic Association (OOCA) meetings! Become a member of OOCA. Run to be a member of the Board of Directors. Contact us at oldoakscivic@gmail.com for more info. If you are interested in our broader community you can also attend meetings of the Livingston Avenue Area Commission (LAVA-C). Check out the Columbus Department of Neighborhoods website or contact Liaison Jesus Ovalle at JDOvalle@columbus.gov.
Why become a OOCA member?
Attendance at Civic Association meetings is not limited to members but to vote on motions brought by the Board of Directors membership is required. Joining allows you to have a voice in the direction of your community. Our residents are made up of a diverse group of people and while we may be a geographically small neighborhood - street to street our needs may vary. In order for our Civic Association to best serve all of us, broad participation is essential.
How do neighbors stay connected?
We have a private Facebook page that residents can request to join. For those who do not use Facebook we also have a Google group we use to communicate via email. To request to be added contact us at oldoakscivic@gmail.com.
What is WOTP?
Wednesdays on the Porch! It's a time for neighbors to get together and take advantage of our large front porches and yards to create a sense of community and visibility in the neighborhood. This event started over 25 years ago and has been featured in several news and print publications. One neighbor hosts the community each Wednesday, 6 to 8 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.