Knoxville Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Yard Waste 2026
Find your Knoxville collection day, sign up for free curbside recycling, learn yard waste rules, and check the holiday schedule for 2026.
City of Knoxville · Waste & Resources Management · Waste Connections · Updated 2026
Find Your Knoxville Collection Day
Knoxville garbage is collected weekly and curbside recycling every other week — both on the same day. Your day depends on your address. Select your day below for schedule details, then use the official address lookup to confirm.
👈 Select your day above to see your full Knoxville collection schedule.
⚠ Not sure of your day? Use the official address-based lookup at knoxvilletn.gov or call 311 (or 865-215-4311). See all contact options ↓
Knoxville Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Knoxville provides free weekly garbage collection to single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and quad-plexes within city limits — paid for by city taxes with no monthly bill. Curbside recycling is available free but requires sign-up. Yard waste is collected biweekly March–October by city crews.
Gray Garbage Cart & Curbside Rules
Every eligible Knoxville home is assigned a dark gray 95-gallon garbage cart at no cost. Service is paid by city taxes — there is no account to set up and no monthly bill. Automated arm trucks have been in use since January 2017, so correct cart placement is critical.
Gray Cart — Garbage
Weekly. All garbage must go inside the cart in bags. Lid must be completely closed. No bags on top.
Weekly • Free • No billBlue/Orange Cart — Recycling
Every other week. Free sign-up required. Biweekly, same day as garbage. Single-stream. Cart provided by Waste Connections.
Every other week • Free sign-upYard Waste Pile
No cart needed. Place brush/leaves at curb unobstructed. City crews collect every other week (brush: Mar–Oct; leaves: Nov–Feb).
Every other week • Biweekly⏰ Cart Placement Rules (Critical for Automated Arm)
- Set cart at curb by 7:00 AM on your pickup day. Set out the night before (after 6:00 PM) to be safe.
- Retrieve empty cart from curb by 9:00 PM on your pickup day.
- Place cart within 1 foot of the curb (or alley asphalt, if applicable).
- Wheels facing your home; lid opening toward the street.
- At least 3 feet of clearance from vehicles, poles, mailboxes, and other carts.
- Lid must be completely closed — bags on top or propping the lid open will not be picked up.
- No loose bags next to the cart. Overflow garbage cannot be picked up — see options below.
🗒 Overflow Trash Options (When Cart Is Too Full)
- Sign up for free curbside recycling — recycling materials removed from trash frees up cart space significantly.
- City Solid Waste Facility, 1033 Elm Street — first Saturday of each month is free for city residents; fees apply other days.
- Knox County Convenience Centers — seven locations where city residents can dispose of trash and recycling for free.
- Rent a second cart — orange and blue additional garbage cart available from Waste Connections for a monthly fee. Call 865-522-8161 Ext. 2.
Knoxville Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are the only two planned days when curbside trash and recycling are not collected. All other holidays throughout the year — including New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day — are normal collection days for Waste Connections.
When Thanksgiving or Christmas falls on or before your regular collection day that week, collection shifts one day later, and sanitation workers run through Saturday to catch up. The following Monday, regular service resumes.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Garbage & Recycling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Normal | Waste Connections runs regular routes |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | Regular collection, no delay |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Regular collection, no delay |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Normal | Regular collection, no delay |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Normal | Regular collection, no delay |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | Regular collection, no delay |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | No Collection | Routes on/after Thu shift 1 day later; crews work Sat to catch up |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | No Collection | Fri routes shift to Sat; Mon–Thu that week: normal |
Free Curbside Recycling in Knoxville — Sign-Up Required
Over 35,000 Knoxville households (more than 50% of eligible homes) are signed up for free curbside recycling. Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as your garbage, by Waste Connections. Sign-up is required — recycling is not automatically started with garbage service. Call 311 or sign up online at knoxvilletn.gov.
📝 How to Sign Up for Free Recycling
Call 311 (or 865-215-4311) or sign up online at knoxvilletn.gov. Waste Connections will deliver a blue and orange recycling cart to your address. Recycling is single-stream (commingled) — no sorting required. Collected recyclables are processed at WestRock’s materials recovery facility near downtown Knoxville.
✅ Accepted in the Recycling Cart
- Paper: newspapers, inserts, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, loose paper, paperboard
- Flattened corrugated cardboard
- Plastic bottles and containers #1–7 (rinsed)
- All plastic lids and caps
- CD/DVD cases
- Aluminum cans (rinsed)
- Steel and tin cans (rinsed)
- Glass bottles and jars — clear, brown, or green (rinsed)
🚫 Never in the Recycling Cart
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off
- Styrofoam / polystyrene
- Plastic wrap
- Food or food-soiled items
- Electronics → drop-off centers or recycling supercenter
- Batteries → recycling supercenter drop-off
- Hazardous materials
- Items bagged in plastic bags (recyclables must be loose)
Yard Waste & Leaf Collection in Knoxville
Yard waste is collected by City of Knoxville Public Service Department crews (not Waste Connections) on a different schedule from garbage and recycling. Collection is biweekly and seasonal, with two programs running different times of year.
🌿 Brush Collection (March–October)
Every other week on a pre-set fixed schedule. Pile must be no larger than 6’ × 6’ × 6’. Place brush in an unobstructed area next to the street, separate from trash. Equipment needs clear access.
Use the address lookup at knoxvilletn.gov to find your brush collection dates.
🍂 Leaf Collection (November–February)
During leaf season, brush pickup is suspended. City crews vacuum loose leaves from the curb multiple times per neighborhood. Rake leaves to the edge of the street in piles — not rows, not to the alley, and never in plastic bags.
Leaves collected separately from garbage and recycled into mulch.
🟢 Yard Waste Set-Out Rules
- Place yard waste next to the street in an unobstructed area, separate from garbage, recycling, and bulky waste.
- Brush piles: maximum 6 feet × 6 feet × 6 feet. Equipment cannot collect oversized piles.
- Leaves: rake loose leaves to the curb edge in piles — never bag in plastic bags. Bagged leaves placed next to the trash cart will not be collected as bulky waste.
- Bagged leaves that fit inside your gray garbage cart will be collected with regular trash.
- Do not mix yard waste with garbage, recycling, or bulky items.
Bulky Waste Pickup in Knoxville
Bulky waste is collected on your regular garbage pickup day at no additional charge. Place bulky items next to your gray garbage cart by 7:00 AM. No scheduling is required for standard bulky items.
✅ Accepted as Bulky Waste
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, shelving
- Mattresses and box springs
- Appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves)
- Televisions and large electronics
- Tires (limited — confirm with 311)
- File cabinets
- Other approved large household items
🚫 Not Accepted as Bulky Waste
- Extra garbage bags that didn’t fit in the cart
- Construction or demolition debris
- Hazardous materials → HHW drop-off
- Bagged leaves (not bulky waste; rake loose to curb)
- Commercial or business waste
- Items from rental properties managed by a landlord
City Solid Waste Facility — 1033 Elm Street
The City of Knoxville operates a Solid Waste Management Facility at 1033 Elm Street (off the I-275 Baxter exit) where residents can drop off excess trash, recycling, and more.
📅 Free for City Residents — First Saturday of Each Month
The first Saturday of every month (unless it falls on a holiday) is “Free for City Residents” day at the Solid Waste Facility. Fees apply on all other days. This is for City of Knoxville residents only — no contractors, no commercial loads, no shingles.
♻ Recycling Drop-Off Centers (Open 24/7)
The City of Knoxville, in partnership with Goodwill Industries and Kroger, operates Recycling Supercenter drop-off sites open 24/7/365. Accepted items include all curbside recyclables plus books (soft and hardcover) and household batteries.
- Kroger at 4440 Western Avenue
- Goodwill at 225 W. Moody Avenue
- Goodwill at 210 Alice Street
- Goodwill at 314 Parkvillage Road
- Downtown Recycling Center at 227 Willow Avenue
Knox County Convenience Centers — Free for City Residents
Knox County operates seven Convenience Centers throughout the county where City of Knoxville residents can dispose of both trash and recycling for free. These are self-service drop-off facilities. Hours and locations vary — contact Knox County Solid Waste at 865-215-5927 for current hours and the nearest center to your address.
📍 Knox County Convenience Centers
There are seven locations throughout Knox County. City of Knoxville residents may use all seven for free. Contact Knox County Solid Waste at 865-215-5927 or visit knoxcounty.org/solid_waste for the current list of all seven locations, hours, and accepted materials.
Accepted at Convenience Centers: household trash, bulky items, recycling, and more. HHW and electronics have separate requirements — check with Knox County before visiting.
Household Hazardous Waste in Knoxville
Many common household items — paint, batteries, motor oil, pesticides, electronics — cannot go in the regular gray garbage cart. The City of Knoxville provides dedicated disposal options through the Solid Waste Facility and Knox County programs.
✅ Accepted at HHW & Drop-Off Programs
- Paint (latex and oil-based)
- Household batteries (at Recycling Supercenters)
- Motor oil and automotive fluids
- Pesticides and household chemicals
- Fluorescent bulbs and CFL
- Electronics and e-waste
- Propane tanks (small)
🚫 Never in the Gray Garbage Cart
- Motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids
- Paint (wet or in significant quantity)
- Batteries (loose, outside device)
- Pesticides or herbicides
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Medical sharps or needles
- Electronics
💻 Electronics Recycling
Electronics can be dropped off at Knox County Convenience Centers or the City’s Solid Waste Facility. Knoxville’s Recycling Supercenters accept computers, monitors, TVs, and other electronics for proper recycling. For a complete list of current accepted items and drop-off locations, visit knoxvilletn.gov or call 311.
What to Do If Your Trash Was Missed in Knoxville
- Leave your cart at the curb. Do not bring it back to your house. Drivers occasionally work late, and missed carts may be collected the next day by a catch-up crew.
- Check for a holiday delay. Only Thanksgiving and Christmas cause delays. All other holidays are normal collection days. Confirm your rescheduled day using the guide above.
- Verify cart placement: lid fully closed, within 1 foot of the curb, wheels facing home, lid opening toward the street, at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides.
- Wait until the next business day before reporting. Trucks break down, construction can block roads, and routes may be rerouted.
- Report the missed pickup within 2 business days by calling 311 (or 865-215-4311), using the My Knoxville App, or submitting online at knoxvilletn.gov. Do not email to report — call or use the app for fastest service.
Knoxville Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Knoxville?
Your gray garbage cart should already be at your new home from the previous occupant — check the garage, basement, and full property perimeter. If there is no cart, report it stolen first (call 865-215-7000), then call 311 with the police report number to request a replacement. Use the Service Day and Disposal address lookup to find your collection day and recycling weeks. Sign up for free curbside recycling immediately — it’s free and saves significant cart space.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Knoxville Residents Make
- Putting extra garbage bags next to the cart — only bulky waste items (furniture, appliances) go next to the cart; overflow bags will not be collected
- Not signing up for free recycling — it’s free, biweekly, and frees up significant space in the gray cart
- Missing the cart retrieval rule — carts must be retrieved from the curb by 9:00 PM on collection day
- Bagging leaves in plastic for yard waste — loose leaves must be raked to the curb; plastic bags compromise the mulching process
- Thinking all holidays cause delays — only Thanksgiving and Christmas are no-collection days; all others are regular service
📷 My Knoxville App
Download the free My Knoxville App (iOS and Android) to report missed pickups, submit service requests, find your collection day, and stay informed about any service alerts. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Contact Information — Knoxville Waste Services
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| 311 Call Center | 📞 311 (within city) or 865-215-4311 — missed pickups, recycling sign-up, cart issues, service day lookup, all city services • My Knoxville App also available |
| Waste & Resources Mgmt | 📞 865-215-4311 • knoxvilletn.gov/services/garbage_recycling_yard_waste |
| Service Day Lookup | Service Day & Disposal Search — enter your address for your exact day, recycling weeks, and disposal guidance |
| Waste Connections (Recycling) | 📞 865-522-8161 • For recycling cart questions, second cart rental (• Ext. 2 for extra cart) |
| City Solid Waste Facility | 1033 Elm Street (off I-275 Baxter exit) • First Saturday of each month free for city residents • Fees other days • Call 311 for hours |
| Knox County Solid Waste | 📞 865-215-5927 • knoxcounty.org/solid_waste • 7 Convenience Centers • City residents use free |
Frequently Asked Questions — Knoxville Trash Pickup
Official Knoxville Waste Resources & Address Lookup
The Service Day and Disposal search tool at knoxvilletn.gov is the most reliable way to find your exact garbage day, recycling weeks, yard waste schedule, and how to dispose of specific items.
🔍 Official City of Knoxville Waste Resources
All of the following are official City of Knoxville resources for trash, recycling, and waste disposal:
🔍 Find Your Collection Day 📞 Call 311| Service Day Lookup | Service Day & Disposal Search — address-based tool for garbage day, recycling weeks, yard waste, and disposal guidance |
| Garbage & Recycling Portal | knoxvilletn.gov/services/garbage_recycling_yard_waste — full guide with links to curbside, recycling sign-up, yard waste, and bulky waste |
| Recycling Info & Sign-Up | knoxvilletn.gov/recycling — sign up for free curbside recycling, download recycling calendar, accepted items |
| 311 & My Knoxville App | Call 311 or 865-215-4311 • App: download “My Knoxville App” on iOS & Android for missed pickup reports, service requests, and schedule lookup |
| Knox County Solid Waste | knoxcounty.org/solid_waste • 865-215-5927 • 7 Convenience Centers (free for city residents) |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management page is the authoritative source for address-specific collection schedule information.
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