The City of Columbia offers commercial (non-residential) recycling services. The City provides roll carts or dumpsters for no cost when recycle collection service is added to an account. Monthly rates are based on material type, container size and collection frequency. (see charts below)
New customers should complete a Property Damage Waiver (sign, print, return).
What we collect
***Commercial recycling rates are added to the monthly utility bill. When add recycling, please consider reducing trash services!
Commercial Recycling Services-2018 Commercial Recycling Incentive-2018
Mixed Container Collection:
- All Plastics (#1-7), except Styrofoam and plastic film/bags
- Aluminum Cans
- Glass Bottles and Jars
- Metal Food Cans
Mixed Container Rates
| CUBIC YARDS | 1X PER WK | 2X PER WK | 3X PER WK | 4X PER WK | 5X PER WK | 6X PER WK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $86.15 | $135.50 | $193.42 | $262.88 | $342.89 | $433.46 |
| 4 | $96.78 | $169.91 | $260.63 | $368.93 | $494.83 | $638.29 |
| 6 | $112.70 | $214.39 | $342.45 | $496.88 | $677.71 | $884.91 |
| 8 | $125.94 | $254.18 | $417.58 | $616.17 | $849.93 | $1,118.87 |
| ROLL CART | $21.54 | $33.63 | $48.36 | $65.72 | $85.72 | $108.37 |
Mixed Fiber Collection:
- Cardboard
- Office Paper
- Newspaper and Inserts
- Catalogs and Magazines
- Phone Books
- Brown Paper Bags
- Boxboard and Chipboard
Mixed Fiber Rates
| CUBIC YARDS | 1X PER WK | 2X PER WK | 3X PER WK | 4X PER WK | 5X PER WK | 6X PER WK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $86.15 | $135.50 | $193.42 | $262.88 | $342.89 | $433.46 |
| 4 | $96.78 | $169.91 | $260.63 | $368.93 | $494.83 | $638.29 |
| 6 | $112.70 | $214.39 | $342.45 | $496.88 | $677.71 | $884.91 |
| 8 | $125.94 | $254.18 | $417.58 | $616.17 | $849.93 | $1,118.87 |
| ROLL CART | $21.54 | $33.63 | $48.36 | $65.72 | $85.72 | $108.37 |
Cardboard-only Collection:
- > 90% Cardboard
- < 10% Mixed Fibers
Cardboard Rates
| CUBIC YARDS | 1X PER WK | 2X PER WK | 3X PER WK | 4X PER WK | 5X PER WK | 6X PER WK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $81.08 | $126.59 | $182.04 | $247.42 | $322.72 | $407.96 |
| 4 | $91.09 | $159.91 | $245.30 | $347.23 | $465.72 | $600.74 |
| 6 | $106.07 | $201.78 | $322.30 | $467.65 | $637.84 | $832.86 |
| 8 | $118.53 | $239.22 | $393.02 | $579.92 | $799.94 | $1,053.06 |
| ROLL CART | $20.27 | $31.65 | $45.51 | $61.86 | $80.68 | $101.99 |
Food Waste Collection:
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Bread and Grains
- Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags
- Meat Products
- Eggs and Dairy
- Garden and Yard Waste
Food Waste Rates
| CUBIC YARDS | 1X PER WK | 2X PER WK |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $86.15 | $134.50 |
| 4 | $96.78 | $169.91 |
| ROLL CART | $21.54 | $33.63 |
***Only food waste! (no compostable or biodegradable napkins, plates, cups, etc.)
Commercial Recycling FAQ
Yes. --The commercial recycling services cost 15-20% less than commercial trash services. When a business adds recycling, they are reducing the amount of waste entering their trash dumpster. Therefore, they can reduce the size of the trash dumpster or the number of collects per week to offset the cost of recycling. A business can even save money on their solid waste bill if most of their waste generated is recyclable. Please call the Contact Center for more information: (573) 874-6291.
The most common recycling service that businesses choose is cardboard-only. This dumpster can include some office paper and newspapers, but > 90% of the material should be cardboard. This service costs less than other types of recycling because the material is mostly pre-sorted. The mixed container recycling is popular for restaurants and bars, and food waste recycling is a new option that we are promoting. Please keep in mind that you can always change the dumpster size or collection frequency at no cost. Some businesses experiment with different recycling options for 1-2 weeks before deciding on a more permanent service.
No. --The City of Columbia recycles all plastics except Styrofoam and plastic film/ bags. This means that if you can identify those two exceptions, it does not matter what type of plastic you are trying to recycle.
The caps or lids on glass bottles/ jars are made of metal. These are not recyclable and should be disposed as trash. This is different from plastic bottles, where the caps should be left on the container to recycle both items. The plastic bottle and cap are often different types of plastic, but they can now be separated mechanically at the processing facility. --The labels can remain attached to glass or plastic containers.