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More than 1,100 Cincinnati 311 complaints have been reported since Sept. 8 after trash collection was delayed across much of the city. The city attributed the delays to multiple Public Service Department employees calling out sick for several days.
Pickup for some garbage in the city was delayed across much of the city last week after several Public Service Department workers called out sick for multiple days.
The complaints about it have now topped 1,100, with some residents saying they have gone nearly two weeks without collection.
Staffing shortage delays trash collection
The City of Cincinnati attributed last week’s missed collections to a staffing shortage within the Department of Public Services.
Several workers called out sick for multiple days, affecting trash collection in nearly every neighborhood, according to the city.
The delays came after Labor Day, when the city’s regular holiday schedule already pushed some collections back by one day. The city’s 2026 holiday schedule says collections following Labor Day were delayed one day for the remainder of the week.
In Oakley, residents said their normal Wednesday collection did not happen Thursday or Friday, according to a report by WCPO.
Kate Ruttkay, an Oakley resident, told WCPO that residents began submitting complaints as the missed pickup continued.
Residents said trash remained along sidewalks for days, creating unpleasant odors and making some sidewalks more difficult to use.
More than 1,100 missed-pickup complaints
The city’s 311 service map showed more than 1,100 complaints about missed trash collection across Cincinnati since Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The number represents complaints rather than necessarily 1,100 unique residents or households.
Some residents said they were unaware of the broader service disruption until they or their neighbors contacted 311.
Ruttkay told WCPO that residents had to seek out information about the delay rather than receiving a proactive notification from the city.
Local 12 also reported that some residents learned about the missed collection only after calling 311.
City says delayed trash will be collected
The city told WCPO that all trash will be collected this week as scheduled, including garbage that does not fit inside residents’ cans.
The city did not provide an answer when asked what steps it was taking to prevent another widespread collection delay.
Cincinnati provides weekly garbage collection to eligible residential properties through the Department of Public Services. Residents can report a missed collection through the city’s 311 system when properly prepared trash is not collected on the scheduled day.
Residents with a missed pickup are instructed to keep their cans at the curb after submitting a 311 request until the items can be collected.
When is the usual garbage collection?
According to the city’s website, the DPS collects the garbage on a weekly basis, including yard waste, and the scheduled bulk items collection for residential properties that meet the “dwelling” under Ordinance No. 41-2013.
For residential recycling, the city provides bi-weekly recycling pickup for residents through the Office of Environmental Quality.
Each household is assigned a designated collection day which is Monday through Thursday, on an alternating week schedule for recycling and yard waste.
For commercial waste, businesses operating in Cincinnati must contract with a city-registered trash hauler for waste disposal and be prepared to show proof of this agreement if requested by the DPS.
However, during holidays, the city said that trash will be collected the following day.
“Collections for the remainder of the week will be delayed one day,” the city said on its website.
View the list of 2026 holidays here.
The Cincinnati Exchange already sent an email to the city to ask what would the government do to avoid events like this in the future, as well as in addressing the staff shortage.
However, as of the time of publishing, the city has not yet replied to the inquiries.
FAQs
Why was Cincinnati trash pickup delayed?
The city said several Department of Public Services employees called out sick for multiple days. The staffing shortage affected trash collection in nearly every Cincinnati neighborhood.
How many missed trash complaints were reported?
Cincinnati’s 311 service map showed more than 1,100 complaints about missed trash collection since Sept. 8. The complaint total does not necessarily represent the number of unique residents or households affected.
How can residents report a missed trash pickup?
Residents can report properly prepared trash that was not collected through Cincinnati’s 311 system. The city’s 311 guidance says residents should keep their cans at the curb after submitting a missed-collection request until the trash is collected.
