Solid Waste

The mission of the Solid Waste and Recycling Division is twofold: One, to provide quality waste management services to our citizens and businesses safely, professionally, and at a reasonable cost. And two, to develop an evolving recycling program that helps protect the environment for future generations.   

The City’s service provider is Rumpke Waste & Recycling, reached at (800) 828-8171.

• To arrange for new service, residents should call Rumpke.
• Collection schedule:
  • Trash is collected once a week based on the schedule in the map below. To view a larger map click, HERE.
  
  

   

  • On holidays, collection follows normal schedules except Christmas and New Year’s Day. During those weeks, the collection schedule is pushed back a day starting with the holiday itself.
• Commercial accounts: All businesses must contract with Rumpke for waste collection and recycling services. For additional details related to waste collection at commercial buildings, see HERE. 
• Multi-family residential accounts: All multi-family residences with five or more units must contract directly with Rumpke for waste collection and recycling services.
• New development: Note that any developer building a new commercial building or multi-family complex (or substantially renovating an existing site) must submit a waste management plan to the City and Rumpke for approval.

• Guidelines 
  • Schedule.
  • Billing and rates.
  • Carts
  • Bulk items.
  • Special pickup.
  • Dumpster rentals.
  • Yard waste.
  • Hazardous waste/chemicals.
  • Paint.
  • Tires.
  • E-waste.
  • Food waste.
• Video featuring Rumpke’s trash collection procedure.

Curbside recycling service is offered at no additional charge to residents with solid waste accounts. To sign up, call Rumpke at (800) 828-8171.

• Guidelines 
  • Schedule 
  • Billing & Rates 
  • Carts 
  • What can be recycled 
  • What can’t be recycled 
  • Tips 
  • Third-party recycling options

• Video featuring Rumpke’s recycling facility.

• Rumpke Waste & Recycling.
• Keep Covington Beautiful.
• Northern Kentucky Household Hazardous Waste Action Coalition.
• Kenton County Solid Waste Management.
• Northern Kentucky Solid Waste Management Area.

• Adopt-A-Spot: Volunteers “adopt” a street, a park, flower planter, or other “spot” and make it beautiful. Previous coverage.
• E-waste event: Drop off problematic electronic “waste” and confidential papers (for shredding) at this annual event. Previous coverage.
• Household hazardous event: Annual regional event sponsored by NKHHWAC helps you clean up the average home’s version of fuel rods from a nuclear reactor: Dangerous waste like aerosol cans, used antifreeze, dead batteries, and left-over pesticides. Previous coverage.
• RiverSweep: Thousands of volunteers scour the muddy banks of the 981-mile-long Ohio River of trash, debris, and very odd discoveries. Previous coverage.
• Great American Cleanup: Every April, an army of volunteers pick up trash, plant flowers, spread mulch, paint signs, etc. throughout #LoveTheCov. Previous coverage.
• Christmas tree recycling: Want to get rid of that natural Christmas tree in a “green” manner? Every year, we help. Previous coverage.
• Trash the Cig, Not the City: Efforts to keep discarded cigarette butts off the street.
  Previous coverage.
• Tires: In 2020, the City and Rumpke held their first free tire drop-off event. Previous coverage. Stay tuned for details about tire drop-offs in 2021.
• Yard waste: In 2020, the City and Rumpke will hold their first joint yard waste drop-off event. Previous coverage. Stay tuned for details about yard waste drop-off in 2021.

• City of Covington Solid Waste & Recycling Division, (859) 292-4417.
• Sheila Fields, Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator, sfields@covingtonky.gov, (859) 292-2121.
• Stephanie Bacher, Solid Waste & Recycling Supervisor, sbacher@covingtonky.gov, (859) 292-4419.