How Franklin Handles Trash & Recycling: A Practical Guide

Franklin maintains 104 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 Franklin falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Bin Placement Rules

Franklin's rollout containers, yard waste, brush, and other refuse must be placed at the curb no earlier than 7:00 PM the day BEFORE collection and no later than 7:00 AM on the scheduled day of collection. The opening lid of the rollout container must face the street so the automated side-arm truck can lift and dump the cart. Empty rollout containers must be removed from curbside by 7:00 PM the evening of collection. Bulky items must sit at least 5 feet away from anything else on either side and not be placed under power lines or trees.

Key details: Governing Code: Franklin Municipal Code Title 17 + Sanitation operating rules. Earliest Set-Out: 7:00 PM the day BEFORE collection. Latest Set-Out: 7:00 AM on the scheduled collection day. Cart Orientation: Opening lid faces the STREET (automated side-arm). Removal Deadline: 7:00 PM the evening of collection.

Improperly set-out carts may be skipped by the driver. Carts left at curbside past 7:00 PM the evening of collection, or set out earlier than 7:00 PM the day before collection, can be cited under Title 17 and through Code Enforcement, with civil penalties under the Title 17 framework and continuing-violation accrual. Bulky items placed too close to power lines, trees, or other obstructions may be left in place and the resident charged for return service or required to re-stage. Setting out prohibited items for regular collection (construction debris, hazardous waste, oversized brush) can lead to refusal of service plus possible Code Enforcement citation. Persistent improperly placed carts blocking right-of-way, sidewalks, or fire hydrants can be cited as a public nuisance.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Franklin operates its OWN municipal Sanitation and Environmental Services Department (NOT contracted to Republic Services, Waste Connections, or another private national hauler). Residential solid waste collection is governed by Title 17 (Municipal Solid Waste Disposal) of the Franklin Municipal Code. Residents receive once-a-week curbside garbage collection in a City-issued rollout cart. Blue Bin Recycling is a separate opt-in service with a one-time $75.00 administrative setup fee (as of January 1, 2025) for the 64-gallon recycling container. The Sanitation Department contact is (615) 794-1516.

Key details: Governing Code: Franklin Municipal Code Title 17 (Municipal Solid Waste Disposal). Service Provider: City of Franklin Sanitation & Environmental Services (in-house). Department Contact: (615) 794-1516. Garbage Collection: Once-per-week curbside; City rollout cart. Recycling: Blue Bin opt-in; $75 one-time setup fee (since Jan 1, 2025).

Violations of Title 17 are enforced by the Franklin Sanitation Department and Code Enforcement. Improperly set-out carts, set-outs of prohibited materials (hazardous waste, construction debris, oversized brush), and unauthorized private hauling inside the corporate limits can trigger Notices of Violation, refusal of collection until the violation is corrected, and civil penalties under the Title 17 enforcement framework. Illegal dumping anywhere in the city — particularly into a creek, storm drain, or the Harpeth River — is a stormwater violation under Title 23, a solid-waste violation under Title 17, AND a state criminal offense under T.C.A. 39-14-502 (Mitigated criminal littering) or T.C.A. 39-14-503 (Criminal littering) with penalties scaling from Class C misdemeanor for small amounts to Class A misdemeanor and Class E felony for larger volumes. Discharge of hazardous materials triggers additional TDEC enforcement under the Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act (T.C.A. 68-211-101 et seq.) and the Tennessee Hazardous Waste Management Act (T.C.A. 68-212-201 et seq.).

Bulk Item Disposal

Franklin Sanitation collects bulky items (furniture, mattresses, etc.) every Tuesday and large appliances/white goods every Thursday — set out at curbside by 7:00 AM with at least 5 feet of clearance from any obstacle and not under power lines or trees. Construction and demolition debris, household hazardous waste, electronics, and refrigerant-containing appliances are excluded from regular City collection. Williamson County operates a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program for paint, solvents, motor oil, pool chemicals, and similar materials. Illegal dumping — especially into the Harpeth River or its tributaries — is a triple violation under Title 17, Title 23, and Tennessee criminal littering statutes T.C.A. 39-14-501 to 503.

Key details: Bulky Pickup: Every Tuesday curbside by 7:00 AM. White Goods Pickup: Every Thursday curbside by 7:00 AM. Clearance: 5 ft from anything; not under wires/trees. Brush Limits: <=6 ft long; 6 in+ diameter cut to 2 ft pieces. Yard Bag Limit: 25 lb max biodegradable paper bag.

Setting out excluded items for regular City collection violates Title 17 and may result in the items being left at curb and Code Enforcement citation. 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 the Harpeth River, its tributaries, or a storm drain — is a triple violation: Title 17 (Municipal Solid Waste Disposal), Title 23 (Stormwater, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per day under T.C.A. 68-221-1106), AND state criminal littering under T.C.A. 39-14-502 (Mitigated criminal littering, Class C misdemeanor for less than 5 lb / 7.5 cu ft) and T.C.A. 39-14-503 (Criminal littering, Class A misdemeanor or Class E felony depending on volume and prior offenses), plus mandatory community service and possible vehicle forfeiture under T.C.A. 39-14-504. Discharge of hazardous materials triggers TDEC enforcement under the Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act (T.C.A. 68-211-101 et seq.) and the Tennessee Hazardous Waste Management Act (T.C.A. 68-212-201 et seq.).

The Bottom Line

Franklin'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 Franklin is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Franklin's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.