Louisville Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your Louisville Metro collection day, recycling week, yard waste rules, large item pickup, and Haz Bin drop-off information for Urban Services District residents.
Louisville Metro Government · Public Works Solid Waste Management Services · Updated April 2026
Find Your Louisville Collection Day
Select your trash pickup day to instantly see your full schedule — garbage, recycling week, yard waste, large item pickup, and 2026 holiday impacts for Urban Services District residents.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Louisville collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day yet? Use the address lookup at louisvilleky.gov/solid-waste, the Recycle Coach app, or call Metro311 at (502) 574-5000. All contact options ↓
Louisville Waste Collection — Quick Facts
Louisville Metro Public Works Solid Waste Management Services provides curbside collection to residential buildings with eight or fewer units, condominiums, and qualifying small businesses within the Urban Services District (USD) — the former city of Louisville boundary. Service is funded through property taxes at no additional per-pickup charge. Garbage and recycling use 95-gallon carts; recycling is collected every other week on an A/B rotation.
Louisville’s Three Carts — Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste
Every Urban Services District household receives three collection services on designated weekdays: weekly garbage, biweekly recycling, and weekly (or seasonal biweekly) yard waste. Garbage and recycling carts are 95-gallon City-provided roll-out carts. Yard waste uses paper bags or approved reusable containers — never plastic bags.
Garbage Cart
All household waste. Must be inside cart with lid closed. Max 200 lbs. Weekly collection. Free to residents.
Weekly • 95-gal • FreeRecycling Cart
Single-stream. Paper, cardboard, cans, glass, plastic bottles & tubs. Loose, never bagged. Every other week (A/B).
Biweekly • 95-gal • FreeYard Waste
Paper bags or approved reusable containers. No plastic bags. Branches bundled under 2″ diameter, under 4 ft. Seasonal schedule applies.
Weekly (seasonal) • Paper bags only⏰ Set-Out Rules
- Place carts curbside or at alley no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before collection.
- Everything must be set out by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
- At least 3 feet from other carts, buildings, or objects.
- Cart arrow must point toward the street or alley.
- All items must be inside the cart with lid fully closed. Maximum cart weight is 200 lbs.
- Syringes and broken glass must be placed in a rigid container with a tight-fitting lid before placing in the cart.
- Animal waste should be in a plastic bag inside the cart.
- Carts are City property — the serial number is tied to a specific address and must remain there if you move.
Louisville Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Louisville Metro observes eight holidays that cause a one-day delay for all collection services in the Urban Services District. When a holiday falls on a weekday, that day’s collection shifts one day later and all remaining collections that week also shift one day. For example, if Monday is a holiday, Monday routes move to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, and so on. If a holiday falls on a weekend, check louisvilleky.gov or the Recycle Coach app for alerts.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later (Mon → Tue through Fri → Sat) |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Not a Metro-observed holiday. Collection as scheduled. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later (Mon → Tue through Fri → Sat) |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat | Mon–Thu: normal that week |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. Check Recycle Coach for alerts. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later (Mon → Tue through Fri → Sat) |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat | Mon–Thu: normal that week |
Louisville Recycling — What Goes in the Cart
Louisville uses single-stream recycling — all accepted items go together in one cart. Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as garbage, on either a Week A or Week B rotation. Use the Recycle Coach app or official address lookup to confirm your next recycling week. All recyclables should be empty but do not need to be washed. Place items loose — never in plastic bags.
✅ Accepted in the Recycling Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, phone books, catalogs, paper bags
- Cardboard — flatten boxes to save space
- Aluminum and steel/tin cans
- Glass bottles and jars — remove metal lids and recycle both separately
- Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and containers (rinsed)
- Keep plastic lids attached to plastic containers
- Food and beverage cartons
- Empty aerosol cans
🚫 Never in the Recycling Cart
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off (e.g., Kroger)
- Styrofoam / polystyrene food containers → black cart (clean blocks: Foam Fabricators)
- Food or food-soiled items → garbage
- Batteries → Haz Bin (7501 Grade Ln)
- Electronics → Waste Reduction Center
- Chemicals, paint, motor oil → Haz Bin
- Tanglers: hoses, cords, wire hangers, clothing
- Construction or demolition debris
🚩 Recycling Drop-Off Locations
In addition to curbside service, Louisville maintains staffed Recycling Drop-Off locations throughout the city. These accept the same items as the curbside cart. Hours vary by location — find your nearest drop-off at louisvilleky.gov/public-works/recycling or via the Recycle Coach app. Motor oil and antifreeze can also be dropped off at these staffed locations.
Louisville Yard Waste Collection — Rules & Seasonal Schedule
Yard waste has a seasonal collection schedule that changes based on time of year. No plastic bags — yard waste must be in paper bags or approved reusable containers. Yard waste collected curbside is composted. During winter pauses, free drop-off is available at the Waste Reduction Center.
📅 Seasonal Collection Schedule
- March through December: Yard waste collected weekly on your designated yard waste day.
- January & February (winter): Yard waste collected every other week on the opposite week from recycling.
- Winter drop-off: During weeks without curbside yard waste collection in winter (Jan–Feb), residents can drop off yard waste for free at the Waste Reduction Center (636 Meriwether Ave, entrance on Bland St) during operating hours.
- Check the Recycle Coach app or official address lookup for your exact yard waste day and current week’s schedule.
🌿 Accepted Yard Waste & Preparation Rules
- Leaves, twigs, straw, pine needles
- Shrubbery and hedge trimmings
- Grass clippings
- Wood ash
- Branches and tree trimmings — must be less than 2 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet long, tied into bundles with twine
- Christmas trees (seasonally) — remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands
- Place in paper bags or approved reusable containers — never plastic bags
Tree trunks and material not meeting the size guidelines: drop off at the Waste Reduction Center (fees apply for loads).
Louisville Large Item Pickup by Appointment
Louisville Metro offers free curbside large item pickup by appointment for Urban Services District residents. You may schedule pickup for up to 4 large items, once per week. Schedule online or by calling (502) 574-5810. You will receive a pending confirmation email with an appointment date, typically within 5 days. Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled date.
📅 How to Schedule Large Item Pickup
- Check if items are still usable. Consider donating to Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, or listing for free on Nextdoor before scheduling a pickup. All items must come from the household where they are set out.
- Schedule an appointment online through the Metro311 app or website at metro311.louisvilleky.gov, or call (502) 574-5810.
- Wait for a pending confirmation email with your appointment date (typically within 5 days). Do NOT put items out without confirmation.
- Place items at the curb or alley by 6:00 a.m. on the confirmed appointment date. Items may be set out from 4:00 p.m. the evening before.
- Keep large items intact — do not break them into smaller pieces. Broken small pieces that fit in a cart will not be collected by the large item crew.
✅ Accepted Large Items (Free, USD Residents)
- Furniture: couch, chair, table, buffet, bed, dresser, box spring, mattress, floor lamp, crib, playhouses
- Metal items: washer, dryer, stove, hot water tanks, bicycles, bed frames
- Carpet rolls
- Toilets, sinks, and bathroom fixtures
- Sectional couches and multi-piece bed frames count as one item
🚫 Not Accepted in Large Item Pickup
- Appliances containing Freon → Waste Reduction Center (free, up to 4)
- Electronics (TVs, computers, microwaves) → Waste Reduction Center
- Household hazardous waste → Haz Bin
- Construction/demolition debris → Waste Reduction Center (fees apply)
- Tree debris and yard waste → curbside yard waste collection
- Bags or boxes of small items → regular garbage cart
- Items from other properties
Louisville Haz Bin & Waste Reduction Center
Louisville operates two key special waste facilities: the Haz Bin for household hazardous materials and the Waste Reduction Center for large items, electronics, and bulk drop-off. Both are free for Louisville/Jefferson County residents. Both are closed on all Metro Government holidays.
🚩 Haz Bin — Household Hazardous Waste
7501 Grade Lane, Louisville, KY
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Free for Louisville/Jefferson County residents. Business waste not accepted. Closed all Metro holidays. Special closures: Oaks Day closes at 1 p.m.; day before Thanksgiving closes at 1 p.m.
🚩 Waste Reduction Center
636 Meriwether Avenue — ENTRANCE ON BLAND STREET
Tue–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. • Sat 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Free for residents: up to 4 large household items, 4 tires, and 3 electronics per day. Freon appliances free (up to 4). Fees apply for larger loads (debit/credit only, no cash).
✅ Accepted at Haz Bin (Free, Residents)
- Oil-based paint and lead paint
- Batteries: auto, household, and rechargeable
- Gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids
- Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, fertilizers
- Solvents, degreasers, mineral spirits, turpentine
- Fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers
- Pool chemicals, driveway sealers
- Propane tanks (1 lb and 20 lb grill tanks)
- Asbestos floor tiles (under 25 lbs)
🚫 Not Accepted at Haz Bin
- Latex / water-based paint (dry it first, then trash)
- Business or commercial waste
- Containers larger than 5 gallons or 40 pounds
- Radioactive materials, including smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
- Freon → Waste Reduction Center
- Electronics → Waste Reduction Center
Outside the Urban Services District — What Are Your Options?
Louisville Metro Solid Waste services only apply within the Urban Services District. The larger Jefferson County area includes many separate small cities and unincorporated areas that are NOT served by Metro Solid Waste.
🏠 Who Provides Your Service Outside the USD?
- Small home-rule cities within Jefferson County (such as Shively, St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Middletown, Hurstbourne, Lyndon, and others): Contact your city administrator for waste collection details, as each small city arranges its own service.
- Unincorporated Jefferson County areas: Residents must contract directly with a private waste collection company such as Rumpke, Waste Management (WM), ecotech LLC, or Hometown Hauling.
- Not sure if you’re in the USD? Use the address lookup tool on louisvilleky.gov or call Metro311 at (502) 574-5000.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Louisville
- Confirm your collection day and recycling week (A/B). Use the address lookup at louisvilleky.gov, the Recycle Coach app, or call Metro311 at (502) 574-5000. Confirm your address is in the Urban Services District.
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all cause one-day delays. When a holiday is early in the week, the entire week’s remaining collections shift one day later.
- Verify set-out rules: cart out by 6:00 a.m. (set out from 4 p.m. the prior evening); lid fully closed; all items inside cart; 3 feet from obstacles; arrow pointing toward street. Check that cart weight does not exceed 200 lbs.
- Report the missed pickup by calling (502) 574-5810 (Public Works) or (502) 574-5000 (Metro311). Also available online at metro311.louisvilleky.gov or through the 311 app. Report on your collection day or by noon the following business day.
- Leave your cart at the curb after reporting. The crew will return to complete the missed pickup.
Louisville Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Louisville or Just Moved In?
Use the address lookup at louisvilleky.gov to confirm you are in the Urban Services District and find your exact garbage, recycling, and yard waste days. Download the free Recycle Coach app for a personalized calendar with automatic holiday alerts. Garbage and recycling carts are provided free by the City — if they are missing, request them through Metro311. The serial number on the cart is tied to your address and must stay there if you move.
🏔 Kentucky Derby Season (Oaks Day)
Louisville observes Oaks Day (the Friday before the Kentucky Derby) as a local special occasion. The Haz Bin and Waste Reduction Center both close at 1:00 p.m. on Oaks Day. Regular curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection is not typically affected, but always check louisvilleky.gov for any alerts in early May.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Louisville Residents Make
- Putting items outside the garbage cart — all items must be inside with the lid closed (except scheduled large items and yard waste)
- Using plastic bags for yard waste — only paper bags or approved reusable containers are accepted
- Not knowing that MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Labor Day all cause one-day collection delays in Louisville
- Setting out large items without an appointment — the appointment system is required; unsanctioned setouts can result in violations
- Forgetting recycling is every other week — always confirm your current A/B week with the Recycle Coach app
Contact Louisville Solid Waste Management
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Public Works — Solid Waste | 📞 (502) 574-5810 — missed pickups, large item scheduling, cart requests, all solid waste questions |
| Metro311 | 📞 (502) 574-5000 • metro311.louisvilleky.gov • Free iOS & Android 311 app — all City services, missed pickup reports, large item appointment scheduling |
| Address Lookup & Collection Schedule | louisvilleky.gov/solid-waste — find your garbage, recycling, and yard waste days by address |
| Recycle Coach App | Free iOS & Android app — personalized Louisville collection calendar, A/B recycling week, holiday alerts, What Goes Where lookup |
| Haz Bin (HHW) | 7501 Grade Lane • Tue–Sat 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. • Free for Jefferson County residents • Business waste not accepted |
| Waste Reduction Center | 636 Meriwether Ave (entrance on Bland St) • Tue–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. • Sat 8 a.m.–3 p.m. • (502) 574-2888 • Free: 4 large items, 4 tires, 3 electronics per day |
| Recycling Drop-Off Locations | Multiple staffed locations citywide • Find nearest at louisvilleky.gov/public-works/recycling • Accept same items as curbside cart + motor oil & antifreeze |
| kNOw Waste Louisville | Solid Waste Education Department • Outreach, What Goes Where tool, community programs • louisvilleky.gov |
Frequently Asked Questions — Louisville Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder above hasn’t resolved your question, use the official Louisville Metro Public Works resources below. Enter your address in the official address lookup to find your exact garbage, recycling, and yard waste days, confirm you’re in the Urban Services District, and schedule large item pickup.
🔍 Official Solid Waste Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are official Louisville Metro Government resources for address-based schedule information:
🔍 Find My Collection Day 📞 Call Metro311: (502) 574-5000| Address Lookup (Solid Waste) | louisvilleky.gov/solid-waste — find your garbage, recycling, and yard waste days; confirm USD service area |
| Recycle Coach App | Free iOS & Android app — personalized calendar, A/B recycling week, holiday alerts, What Goes Where tool. Highly recommended. |
| Metro311 Phone | (502) 574-5000 — all City services, missed pickup reports, general questions |
| Public Works — Solid Waste | (502) 574-5810 — missed pickups, large item scheduling, cart requests |
| Metro311 Web & App | metro311.louisvilleky.gov — large item pickup scheduling, missed pickup reports, service requests |
| Recycling Info | louisvilleky.gov/public-works/recycling — recyclable materials, drop-off locations, special programs |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The louisvilleky.gov address lookup is the most accurate source for schedule information within the Urban Services District.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides: