Recycling Guidelines

• Recycling is collected once a week on the same day as trash. The same rules apply on when the cart can be set out and must be retrieved.

• Curbside recycling is offered at no additional charge to residents by the City. Businesses and owners of multi-unit residential complexes (5 or more units) must contract with Rumpke by calling (800) 828-8171. 

• Size: Residents are provided a green, 65-gallon wheeled recycling cart. You can request a larger or smaller cart by calling Rumpke at (800) 828-8171 or e-mailing covington@rumpke.com. Note: If you move, leave the cart for the next owner.
• Missing Cart: Each cart has a unique serial number that is assigned to your address. Please record this number and use it to try to track down your missing cart. (If you don’t have the number, Rumpke can supply it.) If you’re unable to find your cart, fill out this FORM and return it to Rumpke using instructions on the form.
• Damaged Cart: Contact Rumpke at (800) 828-8171 if your cart is damaged. They will either fix it or replace it.

• Single stream material acceptability reference guide and FAQs,  HERE. 
• Rumpke now accepts cups! Read more, HERE.

• Rigid plastics – like kids’ toys and laundry basket
• Light bulbs
• Mirrors
• Coat hangers
• Clothing
• Pots and pans
• Plastic “clamshell” food containers (and any Styrofoam) 
• Straws
• Loose plastic caps (any size)
• Scrap metal
• Garden hoses
• Plastic single-use disposable items like colored solo cups, plates and plastic forks, spoons, and knives.
• Compostable/biodegradable items do not go in your recycling cart.
• Batteries.

The City is among communities now participating in a program adopted by Hefty^® Brand and Rumpke Waste & Recycling that will keep foam take-out containers, straws, candy wrappers, plastic utensils, and other hard-to-recycle plastics out of landfills.

How it works?

1. Purchase Hefty® ReNew™ bags in Kroger stores and online.
2. Collect hard-to-recycle plastics.
3. Tie up the full orange bag and place in your curbside recycling cart.

Orignal press release, "New program targets hard-to-recycle plastics"

• The only plastic bags that should be put in your recycling cart are the orange Hefty® ReNew™ bag or clear bags with shredded paper.
• Flatten down cardboard boxes and plastic bottles.
• Remove foam and plastic from cardboard.
• Do not leave cardboard out in the rain.
• Empty and rinse out containers.
• Reattach plastic lids on bottles, jugs, tubs and cups.
• Metal lids should be placed loose in recycle bin.
• Do not stack tubs.

• Hard-to-recycle materials: HERE.
• The Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub: HERE.
• Another Styrofoam vendor, HERE.
• Beauty products: HERE.

Recycling can reduce your weekly trash volume and may be able to lower your monthly bill and it’s the right thing to do! Learn more about acceptable items and how to recycle properly in the  #NKYSolidWasteResourceGuide in the link below. 

• NKY Solid Waste Resource Guide