Where does junk actually go in Cincinnati?

The short answer

Usable items can go to donation, metals and appliances go to recyclers, and what is left goes to landfill. The big in-county landfill is Rumpke Sanitary Landfill on Struble Road in Colerain Township, which accepts household trash, construction debris, mattresses, furniture and appliances. At JunkRabbit we try to donate usable items when local charities accept them and recycle whatever we can; disposal is included in every flat price.

The landfill on Struble Road

Rumpke Sanitary Landfill sits at 3800 Struble Road in Colerain Township, a township organized in 1794. Rumpke is the region's dominant trash company, the city hauler in Newport, and the operator of this landfill. It accepts municipal solid waste, which is ordinary household trash, plus construction debris like drywall, brick and concrete, wood and demolition debris, and mattresses, furniture and appliances. It prohibits hazardous waste, liquids, lead-acid batteries, whole tires and fluorescent lamps. Rumpke does not publish its hours, small-hauler policy or tipping fees for the site, so anyone hauling their own load should call first. Most households never visit a landfill at all; whoever hauls their trash handles that end of the job.

What goes to donation

Donation is the best outcome for usable furniture and household goods, but it depends on what charities will accept on a given day. Most inspect items and turn away anything stained, damaged, upholstered with wear, or hard to resell. Solid wood furniture, working small appliances, clean housewares and unopened supplies are the most likely to be accepted. Mattresses are often refused. When a JunkRabbit crew picks up a load, items that look usable are set aside and offered when local charities accept them. We never promise a specific item will be donated, because that is not something we control. What we can say is that a usable dresser from a Hyde Park downsizing has a real chance of a second home.

What gets recycled

Metal is the easiest material to recycle, and a lot of junk is metal. Washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, bed frames, filing cabinets, metal shelving, grills and exercise machines all have scrap value. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners can be recycled once their refrigerant is properly recovered, which is why Newport and other Rumpke areas require a technician's sticker before curbside pickup. Electronics go to electronics recyclers. Cardboard from moving boxes can be recycled if it is dry. Clean wood and some construction materials can be recycled too, depending on the facility. We recycle whatever we can.

What ends up in landfill

Worn-out upholstered furniture, used mattresses that nobody will take, particleboard furniture that has fallen apart, mixed bags of household junk and most remodel debris usually end up in landfill. That is not a failure; it is just what happens to things at the end of their useful life. The goal is to make sure only those things go there. Separating metal, appliances and usable furniture from the rest is the practical way to do that. If you are clearing an estate in College Hill or a basement in Westwood, setting aside the good pieces before the crew arrives makes the sorting easier.

What the City program does with bulk

When the City of Cincinnati's claw truck collects a couch or a mattress from your curb, it leaves as waste, not as a donation. The City takes bulk items by appointment only, up to five per appointment, from the curb, set out the night before. A claw truck is built to lift and load quickly, not to sort out the pieces worth saving, so a good sofa set at the curb is unlikely to get a second life. Appliances like refrigerators, washers and water heaters are on the City's accepted list. If you want your usable furniture to have a second life, give it away or donate it before you schedule an appointment. Use the appointment for what is genuinely worn out.

Disposal is in the price

There is no separate dump fee, fuel charge or stairs fee. The price shown before you book is the price, and it only changes if you approve. The order minimum is $100.

How you can help it go to the right place

Tell us when something is in good shape, so it can be set aside. Keep hazardous materials out of the load; hazardous waste is not standard and is handled case by case, so ask first. Take loose batteries out of electronics. Drain fuel from mowers and other gas equipment. Keep paint lids sealed; we accept paint, a one-gallon can for $30. Disconnect appliances properly before pickup. And if you have a large amount of clean metal, mention it when you book. Small steps like these make sorting easier and mean less goes to the landfill.

Frequently asked questions