How Bowling Green Handles Trash & Recycling: A Practical Guide

Bowling Green maintains 105 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with trash & recycling. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bowling Green falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Bowling Green's solid waste collection is governed by Chapter 20 of the City Code. Residential collection inside the city limits is provided by Scott Waste Services under a franchise arrangement — private hauling is prohibited under Section 20-1.02. Recycling collection is similarly limited to Warren County's designated recycling Franchisee. Customers can reach Scott Waste at (270) 783-4016 to set up service. Violations of Chapter 20 carry fines up to $100 per offense per day under Section 20-1.05, and certain code-enforcement actions can escalate to $500 per day.

Key details: Governing Code: Bowling Green Code Chapter 20. Franchise Hauler: Scott Waste Services — (270) 783-4016. Private Collection: PROHIBITED under Sec. 20-1.02. Recycling: County franchisee only inside city limits. Brush/Limb Limits: 4 ft max, 50 lb max, 3 cu yd/week cap.

Section 20-1.05 (Penalties for Violations) sets fines for Chapter 20 violations at up to $100 per offense, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. The City Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board under Chapter 2-21 can escalate certain property-maintenance and solid-waste violations to fines up to $500 per day if not corrected after notice. Engaging in unauthorized private hauling inside the city limits violates Section 20-1.02 and exposes the operator to citation and equipment impoundment. Illegal dumping, including dumping into sinkholes (also a stormwater violation under Chapter 21), is enforceable through Code Enforcement plus the Bowling Green Police Department under KRS 224.43-815 (illegal dumping) with state misdemeanor or felony exposure depending on quantity.

Bulk Item Disposal

Bulk items such as furniture, mattresses, and appliances are collected by Scott Waste Services on request — call (270) 783-4016 to schedule. Brush and limbs are part of regular yard-waste collection with a 4-foot, 50-pound, 3-cubic-yard-per-week cap. Loose leaves are collected by City Public Works on a 10-zone schedule November through mid-December. Construction and demolition debris, hazardous materials, electronics, and refrigerant-containing appliances are excluded from residential collection and must be hauled separately or taken to the Warren County Convenience Centers. Illegal dumping — especially into sinkholes — is enforced under both Chapter 20 of the City Code and KRS 224.43-815.

Key details: Bulk Pickup: By request via Scott Waste — (270) 783-4016. Brush/Limb Cap: 4 ft / 50 lb / 3 cu yd per week. Loose Leaf: 10-zone city schedule, Nov 17-Dec 18 (approx). Convenience Centers: Warren County Fiscal Court — (270) 842-9551. Major Exclusions: C&D debris, refrigerators, electronics, hazardous, tires.

Setting out excluded items for regular collection violates Chapter 20 and may result in the items being left and the customer charged for return service. Improper disposal of refrigerant-containing appliances violates federal Clean Air Act regulations at 40 CFR Part 82 with EPA civil penalties up to $46,989 per day per violation (2024 adjustment). Illegal dumping — particularly into a sinkhole, which contaminates the karst aquifer — violates Chapter 20 (fines up to $100/day under Sec. 20-1.05), Chapter 21 stormwater (fines up to $2,000/offense), and Kentucky's illegal dumping statute KRS 224.43-815 (Class A misdemeanor for less than 500 lb of solid waste; Class D felony for 500 lb or more). Cleanup costs and a $500/day Code Enforcement penalty under Chapter 2-21 also apply.

Bin Placement Rules

Bowling Green residential carts are serviced by Scott Waste Services using automated side-arm trucks, which requires customers to place carts at the curb with clearance from cars, mailboxes, hydrants, and other carts. Carts should be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day with the wheels toward the house and the lid arrows toward the street. Brush and limbs must be cut to 4 feet or less, bundled to under 50 pounds, and stacked beside the cart — not in it. Section 20-1.03 of the City Code regulates where containers may be located.

Key details: Governing Code: Bowling Green Code Sec. 20-1.03 + Scott Waste rules. Set-Out Time: By 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Wheel Orientation: Wheels toward house; lid opens toward street. Clearance: 3 ft from vehicles, mailboxes, hydrants, poles, other carts. Brush in Cart: NO — placed beside cart.

Improperly placed carts may be skipped at the driver's discretion. Carts left in the right-of-way after collection, blocking sidewalks, or staged in violation of Section 20-1.03 can be cited by City Code Enforcement under Chapter 2-21, with civil penalties up to $500 per day for unabated nuisance conditions. Loose-leaf piles placed in violation of Public Works rules (on sidewalks, near hydrants, mixed with debris) may not be collected and can be cited under Chapter 20 with fines up to $100 per day under Section 20-1.05. Overstuffed carts (lid not closing), unbundled brush, or oversized limbs will be skipped and the customer pays for any extra service request.

The Bottom Line

Bowling Green's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bowling Green is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Bowling Green can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.