Memphis Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026

Find your City of Memphis collection day, understand the green and gray cart system, Outside-the-Cart bulk schedule, and everything about waste collection in Memphis.

City of Memphis · Division of Solid Waste Management · Updated March 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Memphis Collection Day

Select your collection day to instantly see your full weekly schedule — garbage, recycling, yard waste, Outside-the-Cart weeks, and 2026 holiday impact.

👈 Select your day above to see your complete Memphis collection schedule.

⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the Memphis Curbside Collection app (iOS/Android) or visit memphistn.gov/solid-waste. You can also call 3-1-1 (901-636-6500 outside Memphis).  See all contact options ↓

At a Glance

Memphis Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Memphis Division of Solid Waste Management provides weekly garbage and weekly recycling collection to residential customers within city limits — both on the same day. This makes Memphis one of the few major US cities with weekly (not biweekly) recycling. The schedule also includes weekly yard waste and twice-monthly Outside-the-Cart bulk pickup.

🗑
Garbage
Weekly
Green cart, 90-gal
♻
Recycling
Weekly
Gray cart, 96-gal
🌿
Yard Waste
Weekly
Up to ½ cu yd (≈2 bags)
📦
Outside-the-Cart
Twice a month
Bulk on your regular day
🔌
Convenience Centers
Fri–Sun 9am–3pm
MLGW bill + ID required
⚠ City of Memphis ≠ Shelby County. The City of Memphis Division of Solid Waste Management only serves addresses within Memphis city limits. Residents in Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Arlington, and unincorporated Shelby County areas use private haulers. Call 3-1-1 at 901-636-6500 to confirm your address receives City service.
🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how US trash collection works? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)
The Two-Cart System

Memphis’ Green Cart & Gray Cart — Which Is Which

Memphis uses two City-provided carts collected on the same day each week. The colors are counterintuitive compared to most other US cities — the green cart is for garbage, and the gray cart is for recycling. Getting this right matters: contaminating the gray recycling cart sends entire loads to the landfill.

🗑

🟩 Green Cart — GARBAGE

All household garbage. One 90-gallon cart provided per address. A second cart can be leased for $10/month on your MLGW bill.

Do not put in: hot ashes, concrete, rocks, large metal, tile, dirt, construction debris, or hazardous waste.

Weekly • 90-gallon
♻

🦔 Gray Cart — RECYCLING

Single-stream recyclables. One 96-gallon cart provided per address. Items must be clean, empty, and dry. Never bag recyclables.

See the acceptable materials decal on your cart lid.

Weekly • 96-gallon

⏰ Set-Out Rules — Both Carts

  • Place both carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
  • Provide unobstructed access to both carts — clear vehicles, overhanging tree limbs, and other objects from around the carts before collection day.
  • The green garbage cart lid must be closed. Overfilled carts may not be collected.
  • Keep yard waste in a separate pile at the curb, distinct from your carts and from any bulk items.
  • If your cart was not serviced on your regular collection day, call 3-1-1.

📋 Your Magnetic Postcard — Your Personal Calendar

All City of Memphis solid waste customers receive a magnetic postcard by mail with their personalized collection calendar. This postcard shows your weekly garbage/recycling day and highlights your Outside-the-Cart bulk pickup weeks with a blue line. Keep it on your refrigerator for easy reference. If you didn’t receive yours, call 3-1-1 or visit memphistn.gov/solid-waste.

🔗 Related Guide See how US cities compare on trash and recycling systems: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)
Holiday Schedule

Memphis Holiday Collection Schedule 2026 — A Unique System

Memphis has one of the most distinctive holiday collection systems of any major US city. When City offices are closed for an observed holiday, collection is not simply delayed one day — the adjustment depends on which day of the week your collection falls during that holiday week, and whether the holiday falls near the beginning or end of the week. This unique approach means Memphis residents need to pay close attention to the specific rules below.

🎄 Christmas Week Rule (applies to Thanksgiving week too)

Memphis uses a split-week system for major Thursday/Friday holidays:

  • If your regular collection day is Monday or Tuesday during Christmas week: your collection happens on the Monday before Christmas Eve (i.e., brought earlier that week)
  • If your regular collection day is Wednesday or Thursday: collection moves to the day after the holiday (one day later)
  • Friday routes: varies — check the Memphis Curbside Collection app for your specific address
Holiday2026 DateMon/Tue RoutesWed/Thu RoutesFri Routes
New Year’s Day Thu, Jan 1 Normal (Jan 5/6) → Next business day Normal (Jan 2)
MLK Day Mon, Jan 19 → Next business day Normal Normal
Presidents’ Day Mon, Feb 16 → Next business day Normal Normal
Memorial Day Mon, May 25 → Next business day Normal Normal
Independence Day Sat, Jul 4 Normal Normal Normal
Labor Day Mon, Sep 7 → Next business day Normal Normal
Veterans’ Day Wed, Nov 11 Normal → Next business day Normal
Thanksgiving Day Thu, Nov 26 ↑ Day before → Day after Verify in app
Christmas Day Fri, Dec 25 ↑ Mon before Christmas Eve → Day after Christmas Verify in app
⚠ Memphis’ holiday system moves some collections earlier, not just later. This is unique in the series. For Monday and Tuesday customers during Christmas and Thanksgiving weeks, the City collects before the holiday rather than after. This means you may need to set out your carts earlier in the week than usual. Always check the Memphis Curbside Collection app for your exact adjusted date during any holiday week — the app sends automatic push notifications.
🔗 Related Guide Holiday collection delays explained across the US: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)
Recycling — Gray Cart

Memphis Recycling — What Goes in the Gray Cart

Memphis offers weekly single-stream recycling in the 96-gallon gray cart — collected on the same day as your garbage. This is one of the most generous recycling programs in the Southeast: all plastic containers with recycling symbols are accepted, including large rigid plastics. Cardboard must fit in the cart without being cut into individual small sheets (large pieces are fine as long as they fit). Items must be clean, empty, and dry, placed loose — never in bags.

✅ Accepted in the Gray Recycling Cart

  • All rigid plastic containers with any recycling symbol (#1–7) — rinsed
  • Large rigid plastics (buckets, storage bins, laundry baskets) — accepted
  • Paper: newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, catalogs, phone books
  • Cardboard: corrugated and flat, flattened to fit without cutting into small pieces
  • Glass bottles and jars — all colors, rinsed
  • Aluminum and steel (tin) cans — rinsed
  • Cartons: milk, juice, broth, soup cartons

🚫 Never in the Gray Cart

  • Plastic bags or plastic film → grocery store drop-off
  • Styrofoam / polystyrene of any kind
  • Food, liquids, or food-soiled containers
  • Electronics (TVs not accepted at HHW — see below)
  • Batteries of any kind
  • Tanglers: cords, hoses, wire hangers
  • Recyclables in plastic bags
💡 Memphis accepts all plastic #1–7 including large rigid plastics. This is broader than most US cities — Memphis accepts buckets, laundry baskets, storage bins, and other large rigid plastic items. The key rule: check the decal on your gray cart lid for the complete accepted materials list. When in doubt, call 3-1-1.

🏠 Recycling Convenience Drop-Off Centers

Memphis operates three recycling convenience centers for additional drop-off. Accepted: plastic bottles and jugs, paper, glass, cartons, and cans. Note: plastic bags and cardboard are NOT accepted at these centers (unlike the gray curbside cart). Locations:

  • Mud Island Drive (north entrance of Mud Island Park)
  • Near the Agricenter — approx. 300 yards from Germantown Pkwy South
  • Additional location — verify current hours at recycle.memphistn.gov
🔗 Related Guide Learn the most common recycling mistakes and how to avoid them: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)
Yard Waste

Memphis Yard Waste Collection — Weekly on Your Regular Day

Yard waste is collected weekly on the same day as garbage and recycling. The City collects up to half a cubic yard (approximately two bags or bundles) of yard waste debris per week. This waste must be organic only — no construction debris mixed in. Place yard waste in a separate pile at the curb, away from your green garbage and gray recycling carts.

🌿 Yard Waste Rules

  • Maximum ½ cubic yard per week (approximately 2 bags or bundles of plant material)
  • Organic material only: grass clippings, leaves, small branches, garden trimmings
  • Must be in bags or tied bundles; loose piles may not be collected
  • Place in a separate pile at the curb — not mixed with garbage or bulk items
  • If your yard waste was not collected, check for a warning tag left by the crew explaining the reason. Fix the issue and place it out again on your next collection day.
  • For more than 2 bags of yard waste, schedule an Outside-the-Cart bulk pickup (see below)

🍂 Fall Leaf Season — Collins Yard Drop-Off

During peak fall leaf season, Memphis offers a free leaf drop-off at Collins Yard, 304 Collins Street. This is useful when your yard generates far more leaves than the weekly ½ cubic yard limit allows. Check memphistn.gov/solid-waste for current fall 2026 drop-off hours and dates.

🔗 Related Guide Yard waste rules across the US: Yard Waste Pickup Rules in the US (What’s Allowed & What’s Not)
Outside-the-Cart Bulk Pickup

Memphis Outside-the-Cart — Bi-Monthly Bulk Collection

Outside-the-Cart is Memphis’ bulk item program. It runs twice per month on your regular collection day — either on the 1st and 3rd week, or the 2nd and 4th week of each month, depending on your address. Your Outside-the-Cart weeks are indicated by a blue line on your magnetic postcard calendar and in the Memphis Curbside Collection app.

During Outside-the-Cart weeks, the City collects both your regular weekly service and your bulk items on the same day.

✅ Accepted Outside-the-Cart

  • Yard debris beyond the 2-bag weekly limit (extra bags and branches)
  • Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
  • Mattresses and box springs
  • Large appliances: washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators (doors secured open)
  • Rugs and carpeting
  • Scrap metal and large household items
  • Electronics: TVs and other e-waste (note: the Shelby County HHW facility does NOT accept TVs; curbside Outside-the-Cart is the main option)

🚫 Not Accepted Outside-the-Cart

  • Hot ashes or coals
  • Concrete, rocks, bricks, or tile
  • Large pieces of metal or steel beams
  • Dirt, sand, or soil
  • Household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals) → HHW Facility (see below)
  • Construction or demolition debris from projects
  • Commercial or contractor-generated waste
💡 How to know your Outside-the-Cart weeks. Look for the blue line on your magnetic postcard calendar. In the Memphis Curbside Collection app, Outside-the-Cart weeks are also highlighted. If you’re unsure which weeks apply to your address, call 3-1-1 at 901-636-6500.
🔗 Related Guide How bulk trash pickup works across the US: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)
Solid Waste Convenience Centers

Memphis Solid Waste Convenience Centers

Solid Waste Fee-paying Memphis residents can take up to one truckload of non-hazardous waste to the landfill each month, or drop off items at one of the City’s Solid Waste Convenience Centers. Centers are open Friday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (weather permitting). You must present your most recent MLGW bill and a photo ID to use any Convenience Center.

🏭 Convenience Center 1

Visit memphistn.gov/solid-waste for current location

Fri–Sun • 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

🏭 Convenience Center 2

Visit memphistn.gov/solid-waste for current location

Fri–Sun • 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

🏭 Convenience Center 3

Visit memphistn.gov/solid-waste for current location

Fri–Sun • 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

⚠ MLGW bill + photo ID required — no exceptions. You must bring your most recent Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) utility bill AND a valid photo ID to use any Convenience Center. This verifies you are a Memphis city resident paying the solid waste fee. Non-commercial waste only — no business or contractor waste accepted.
HHW Facility

Household Hazardous Waste — Shelby County Facility

The Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts hazardous waste from Shelby County residential homes. Important: this facility is open to Shelby County residents — including Memphis city residents — but requires a Shelby County zip code upon arrival. It is operated by Shelby County, not the City of Memphis.

📍 HHW Facility Location & Hours

Address: 6305 Haley Road, Memphis 38134

Phone: (901) 222-7729

Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday — 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Closed on: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Independence Day (Jul 4), Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26), Christmas Day (Dec 24)

Residents only: A Shelby County zip code is required upon arrival. No commercial or business waste.

✅ Accepted at the HHW Facility

  • Oil-based paints and stains
  • Motor oil and automotive fluids
  • Pesticides, herbicides, and pool chemicals
  • Solvents, thinners, and cleaners
  • Batteries: all types
  • Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
  • Propane tanks and cylinders
  • Antifreeze and brake fluid

🚫 NOT Accepted at the HHW Facility

  • Televisions — NOT accepted (place at curb during Outside-the-Cart week)
  • Latex paint → let dry completely, then garbage. Add kitty litter or sawdust to dry it faster.
  • Scrap metals → Worley Brothers Scrap Iron & Metal, 1203 Chelsea Ave
  • Business or commercial waste
  • Explosives, ammunition, or fireworks
  • Radioactive materials
⚠ TVs are NOT accepted at the HHW facility. The Shelby County HHW Facility explicitly does not accept televisions. For TV disposal in Memphis, place your TV outside your green cart on an Outside-the-Cart collection week. You can also contact Best Buy stores in Memphis about their e-waste drop-off program (note: fees may apply for large TVs).
Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Memphis

  1. Check your cart for a warning tag. If your yard waste or bulk item wasn’t collected, the crew may have left a warning tag on or near your cart explaining the reason. Fix the issue and try again on your next collection day before calling 3-1-1.
  2. Confirm your correct collection day. Use the Memphis Curbside Collection app or call 3-1-1 (901-636-6500). Verify you have unobstructed access to your carts (no vehicles or tree limbs blocking them).
  3. Check for a holiday adjustment. Memphis uses a unique holiday system where some collections move earlier (Monday/Tuesday customers in Christmas/Thanksgiving week) and others later. Check the holiday table above or the app for your adjusted date.
  4. Check for weather disruption. In January–February 2026, Memphis experienced a major winter weather event that suspended all collection from January 24 through February 4 — 12 consecutive days. During severe weather, leave carts at the curb and monitor memphistn.gov/solid-waste and the Curbside Collection app for service resumption announcements.
  5. Report the missed pickup via the Memphis Curbside Collection app (iOS/Android) or by calling 3-1-1 (901-636-6500 outside Memphis). For garbage and recycling misses, report on the same day or the following morning.
Local Tips

Memphis Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Memphis or Just Moved In?

Download the Memphis Curbside Collection app (iOS/Android) immediately. It shows your garbage day, Outside-the-Cart weeks (marked in blue), and automatically alerts you about holiday schedule changes. You should also receive a magnetic postcard by mail with your personalized calendar — keep it on your fridge. Remember: green cart = garbage and gray cart = recycling in Memphis. Call 3-1-1 if your carts are missing. Check whether you qualify for the Senior/Disabled discount (65+ or disabled, income-based).

⛄️ Memphis Winter — Ice & Freezing Temperatures

Memphis experienced a 12-day service suspension from January 24 to February 4, 2026 due to winter weather — the longest suspension in recent City history. During ice events, leave carts at the curb and do not report missed pickups until service officially resumes. Follow City of Memphis on social media and check memphistn.gov/solid-waste for real-time service updates. The Curbside Collection app will also push notifications when service resumes.

🚫 5 Mistakes Memphis Residents Make

  • Putting recyclables in the green cart and garbage in the gray cart — green = garbage, gray = recycling
  • Not knowing their Outside-the-Cart weeks — check the blue line on the magnetic postcard or the Curbside Collection app
  • Trying to take a TV to the Shelby County HHW facility — TVs are NOT accepted there; use an Outside-the-Cart week instead
  • Not bringing their MLGW bill + photo ID to a Convenience Center — you will be turned away without both
  • Expecting a simple day-after delay for Christmas/Thanksgiving — Monday/Tuesday customers may be collected earlier than their normal day; always check the app
Contact

Contact Memphis Solid Waste & 311

ContactDetails
Memphis 311Dial 3-1-1 inside Memphis, or (901) 636-6500 from outside — missed pickups, schedule questions, cart requests, Outside-the-Cart week info, all city services
Memphis Curbside Collection AppFree iOS & Android — personalized garbage/recycling schedule, Outside-the-Cart week alerts (blue line), holiday notifications, missed pickup reporting. Download at memphistn.gov/solid-waste or search app stores.
Solid Waste Division Websitememphistn.gov/solid-waste — service info, holiday schedule, Convenience Center locations, programs
Memphis Recyclesrecycle.memphistn.gov — recycling program info, drop-off center locations, accepted materials
Shelby County HHW Facility6305 Haley Road, Memphis 38134 · 📞 (901) 222-7729 · Tue, Thu & Sat 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. · Shelby County zip code required · No TVs accepted
Convenience Centers3 locations citywide · Fri–Sun 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (weather permitting) · Bring MLGW bill + photo ID · Up to 1 truckload non-hazardous waste/month
Collins Yard Leaf Drop-Off304 Collins Street, Memphis · Seasonal fall drop-off for leaves · Check memphistn.gov/solid-waste for current season hours
Senior/Disabled DiscountAvailable for Memphis residents 65+ or disabled who meet income requirements · Call 3-1-1 for application information
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Memphis Trash Pickup

Your garbage collection day depends on your specific address. Use the Memphis Curbside Collection app (iOS/Android), visit memphistn.gov/solid-waste, or call 3-1-1 (901-636-6500 outside Memphis). Both garbage (green cart) and recycling (gray cart) are collected weekly on the same day. You should also receive a magnetic postcard by mail with your personalized collection calendar.
Weekly. Memphis is one of the few major US cities with weekly (not biweekly) recycling collection. Your gray recycling cart is collected on the same day as your green garbage cart, every week. The gray cart accepts all rigid plastics #1–7, paper, cardboard, glass, cans, and cartons — clean, empty, dry, and loose (never in bags).
In Memphis: the GREEN cart (90-gallon) is for GARBAGE, and the GRAY cart (96-gallon) is for RECYCLING. This is the opposite of many other US cities where blue or gray typically means recycling. Getting this right matters — if the gray recycling cart is contaminated with garbage, the entire load goes to the landfill. Look at the decal on your gray cart lid for the complete accepted materials list.
Outside-the-Cart is Memphis’s bulk item pickup service. It runs twice per month on your regular collection day — either weeks 1 and 3 or weeks 2 and 4 of each month, depending on your address. During these weeks, crews collect bulk items beyond your carts: furniture, mattresses, appliances, large yard debris, TVs, and scrap metal. Your Outside-the-Cart weeks are marked with a blue line on your magnetic postcard calendar and highlighted in the Memphis Curbside Collection app.
Yes, and Memphis uses a unique system. For Monday holidays (MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day), Monday routes move to the next business day (Tuesday), while other days are normal. For Christmas (Fri, Dec 25) and Thanksgiving (Thu, Nov 26): Monday and Tuesday customers are collected on the Monday before the holiday — earlier than normal. Wednesday and Thursday customers move to the day after the holiday. Always check the Memphis Curbside Collection app for your specific adjusted date during any holiday week — the app sends automatic alerts.
No. The Shelby County HHW Facility explicitly does not accept televisions. For TV disposal in Memphis, place your TV curbside on an Outside-the-Cart collection week — this is your best curbside option. You can also check Best Buy Memphis locations about their electronics recycling program (fees may apply for large TVs). Call 3-1-1 for more disposal options.
Memphis has three Solid Waste Convenience Centers where City residents paying the solid waste fee can drop off up to one truckload of non-hazardous waste per month. Open Friday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (weather permitting). You must bring your most recent MLGW utility bill AND a valid photo ID — no exceptions. Find current locations at memphistn.gov/solid-waste or by calling 3-1-1.
First check your cart for a warning tag — if yard waste or bulk wasn’t collected, the crew may have left a tag explaining why. Fix the issue, then report via the Memphis Curbside Collection app or call 3-1-1 (901-636-6500). Confirm your correct day and check for holiday adjustments. During winter weather suspensions (like the 12-day pause in Jan–Feb 2026), leave carts out and wait for the City to announce service resumption before reporting.
Yes, but it is operated by Shelby County, not the City of Memphis. It is open to all Shelby County residential households — and Memphis is within Shelby County. A Shelby County zip code is required upon arrival. It is not open to businesses. Location: 6305 Haley Road, Memphis 38134. Hours: Tue, Thu & Sat, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Phone: (901) 222-7729. Note: TVs are NOT accepted here.
Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

If the Collection Day Finder above and all the information on this page haven’t resolved your question, use the official Memphis tools below. The Memphis Curbside Collection app is the most complete day-to-day resource — it shows your personalized schedule, Outside-the-Cart weeks, holiday alerts, and allows missed pickup reporting.

🔍 Official Memphis Solid Waste Lookup & Contact

All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule and service details:

🔍 Open Memphis Solid Waste Portal 📞 Call 311 — (901) 636-6500
Memphis Curbside Collection AppFree iOS & Android — personalized collection calendar, Outside-the-Cart week alerts (blue line indicator), automatic holiday notifications, missed pickup reporting. Download at the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Solid Waste Websitememphistn.gov/solid-waste — service info, holiday schedule, Convenience Center locations, cart requests.
Memphis 311Dial 3-1-1 inside Memphis or (901) 636-6500 from outside — schedule questions, missed pickups, cart issues, Outside-the-Cart week confirmation.
Memphis Recyclesrecycle.memphistn.gov — recycling program, accepted materials, drop-off center locations.

You will leave this website when using any of the links above.

Outside Memphis city limits? Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland, and unincorporated Shelby County residents use private haulers. Contact your specific municipality or a private hauler like Home Town Disposal (901-794-9096) for service. All Shelby County residents may use the HHW Facility at 6305 Haley Road.
Nearby Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Memphis

Looking for waste collection information in another southern city? Here are the five closest cities we’ve already covered:

🏭 Nashville 🏭 Atlanta 🏭 Charlotte 🏭 Houston 🏭 Dallas