Moving out in Columbia? How to get your trash picked up faster
College move-out season is nearly here for Columbia’s many student renters. That also means curbs across the city will soon be filled with old couches, plastic lamps and the variety of other trash that often gets tossed during a move.
To prepare for the higher volume of garbage, the city of Columbia is offering faster pickup of bulk items to help clear the “move out piles” during the peak season, promising to collect curbed trash within 24-48 hours.
How to get your move-out pile picked up
- Put your bulk items out in a pile on the street curb for collection.
- Call the City of Columbia Solid Waste main office at (803) 545-3780 to report the pile.
- After it’s reported, Solid Waste says it will collect the pile within 24–48 hours, depending on when the report is made.
When the expedited pickup runs
May 1 through July 31
What can go in a move-out pile
Movers can curb a variety of items, including;
- Clothing
- Dishes, kitchen tools and utensils
- Furniture
- Bedding
- Storage bins
- Artwork or wall hangings
- Mops, brooms or other cleaning tools
- Bulky plastics (i.e. coolers, buckets or bathroom garbage pails)
City officials are also encouraging movers to donate usable items. “Items listed above that are in good condition can have a new life and stay out of the landfill by donating these to a local nonprofit in need,” a city press release states.
