Trash & Recycling in Chattanooga, TN

If you live in Chattanooga or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Chattanooga has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.

Illegal Dumping

Dumping rubbish, trash, or waste on Chattanooga vacant lots, streets, alleys, or in any stream or body of water is a misdemeanor citywide, punishable by a $10-$50 fine per Sec. 18-6 and Sec. 18-8.

Key details: Prohibited: Dumping on vacant lots/streets. Prohibited: Dumping in streams/waterways. Fine: $10-$50 per Sec. 18-8. Exception: Permit required for fill material. Enforcement: City Director of Public Works.

Illegal dumping is a misdemeanor under Sec. 18-8, fined $10 to $50 per violation; burning dumped refuse without the Director's permission is a separate offense under Sec. 18-6(d).

Compared to other cities, Chattanooga takes a harder line on illegal dumping. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Recycling Requirements

Chattanooga collects recyclables biweekly in City-issued lidded bins, limited to clean aluminum, cardboard, paper, plastics numbered 1-7, tin cans, and food packaging: no glass or yard trash.

Key details: Schedule: Biweekly, same day as garbage. Accepted plastics: Numbered 1 through 7 only. Container limit: Up to 2 free bins per address. Contamination penalty: Citation or service revocation.

Placing contaminants, glass, bathroom waste, construction debris, yard trash, in a City recycle container can draw a citation or have recycling service revoked under Sec. 18-52(e).

Bin Placement Rules

Chattanooga sets exact placement rules for curbside cans, within 5 feet of a driveway or street for manual pickup, within 2 feet of the curb for mechanical carts, and bars putting trash out before the scheduled pickup day.

Key details: Manual pickup: Within 5 ft of street. Mechanical carts: Within 2 ft of curb. Clearance: 3 ft from mailboxes/poles. Vehicle clearance: 20 ft from parked cars. Timing: No set-out before scheduled day.

Placing containers outside these distance and timing rules is a Chapter 18 misdemeanor under Sec. 18-8, fined $10 to $50, and the Director can refuse pickup for non-compliant placement.

Collection Schedule

Chattanooga picks up residential garbage weekly and recycling every other week, with both required at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day under Sec. 18-48.

Key details: Garbage: Weekly pickup. Recycling: Every other week. Curb deadline: 7:00 a.m. collection day. Downtown: CBD runs separate schedule. Flexibility: Director can add frequency.

Missing the 7 a.m. curbside deadline or skipping city collection for private pickup without a permit violates Chapter 18 and carries the standard $10-$50 misdemeanor fine under Sec. 18-8.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Chattanooga City Code § 18-46 limits residential curbside pickup to non-hazardous, on-site garbage in approved containers. Waste not generated on the premises, hazardous materials, and contractor construction debris are barred from the residential cart, and violators face City Court citation under the Department of Public Works.

Key details: Eligible waste: Non-hazardous garbage, refuse, ashes generated on-site only. Excluded: Contractor construction/remodel debris, large tree-trim debris. Non-mechanized container limit: Under 50 pounds per container. Co-mingling limit: Under 30 gallons or 50 pounds combined. Enforcing agency: Department of Public Works.

Violating Section 18-46 is a City Court citable offense; both the resident or owner who knowingly permits improperly placed waste on their property and any contractor or hired hauler who dumps waste unlawfully on property face separate liability under subsection (f). Enforcement runs through the Department of Public Works, which administers residential collection under the Director's rules; contaminated or ineligible material can also trigger service issues under the related container and recycling rules in the same Article.

Bulk Item Disposal

Chattanooga residents must call the city to schedule bulky-item pickup, furniture and appliances over 50 pounds or 30 gallons, and can't set items at the curb more than 24 hours before the scheduled date.

Key details: Size threshold: Over 50 lbs or 30 gal. Scheduling: Call city to schedule pickup. Set-out window: No more than 24 hrs early. Placement: 3 feet from other objects. Annual cap: 12 pickups per property/year.

Under Sec. 18-86(h), violating this article can mean a citation to Chattanooga City Court and the maximum fines and civil penalties allowed by law: each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.

Yard Waste Collection

Chattanooga picks up residential yard trash only by scheduled request, capped at twelve pickups a year per property, with pieces limited to 8 feet long and 18 inches thick.

Key details: Size limit: 8 ft long, 18 in diameter max. Annual cap: 12 pickups per property per year. Set-out window: No more than 48 hrs early. Scheduling: Must call City to arrange pickup.

Setting out yard trash without a scheduled pickup, oversizing pieces past 8 ft/18 in, or exceeding 12 pickups a year creates a nuisance the City can abate at the owner's expense (Sec. 18-86(g)-(h)).

The Bottom Line

Chattanooga'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 Chattanooga is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Chattanooga's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.