Trash & Recycling in Bowling Green, KY (2026)
7 verified trash & recycling rules for Bowling Green, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Bowling Green, Kentucky residents may not put trash or recycling containers out more than five feet past the front corner of the house except on the assigned pickup date, and containers can never sit in the paved street, right-of-way or on a sidewalk under Sec. 20-1.04(c) and Sec. 27-5.05(j).
Bowling Green Trash Container Curb Rules
Some RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-1.04(c); 27-5.05(j)
It shall be unlawful to place residential solid waste containers in the paved portion of any street, right-of-way or upon any sidewalk, and it is further unlawful to block access to solid waste containers. ... Trash/recycling containers in residential areas are permitted more than five (5) feet past the front corner of the residence only on the assigned trash/recycling pickup date for the resid...
Bin Placement Rules
Bowling Green bars residents from setting solid waste containers in the paved street, right-of-way or on sidewalks, and it is separately unlawful to block access to the containers themselves. The rule sits in the city's Solid Waste Collection chapter alongside the county's residential collection franchise.
Trash Cart Placement Rules in Bowling Green, KY
Some RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-1.04(c); Sec. 20-1.05
c. Solid Waste Containers. ... It shall be unlawful to place residential solid waste containers in the paved portion of any street, right-of-way or upon any sidewalk, and it is further unlawful to block access to solid waste containers. ... Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter, or failing or refusing to abide by and comply with the rules or regulations promulgated to effec...
Recycling Requirements
The Bowling Green Code of Ordinances defines what counts as curbside recycling at Sec. 20-1.01: residents must separate recoverable or recyclable material from the trash stream and place it at the curb for pickup or in an unstaffed drop-off container before it qualifies as residential recyclable material.
Bowling Green Curbside Recycling Definition
Light RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-1.01
"Recoverable" or "Recyclable Material" shall mean that material which may have a current use, reuse or recycling potential which can be used, reused or recycled and which has been diverted or removed from the solid waste stream for sale, use, reuse or recycling, whether or not requiring subsequent separation and processing, but does not include material diverted or removed for purposes of energ...
Illegal Dumping
Bowling Green's solid waste code makes it unlawful to deliver waste to or maintain a public or private dump ground, or to dispose of solid waste anywhere except a properly permitted landfill. Neighborhood and Community Services enforces the ban, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Illegal Dumping Rules in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Heavy RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-1.04(a); Sec. 20-1.05
a. Maintaining Dump Ground. It shall be unlawful to deliver solid waste to or upon private property or to maintain a dump ground, either public or private for the deposit of solid waste of any kind. ... Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter, or failing or refusing to abide by and comply with the rules or regulations promulgated to effectuate the provisions of this Chapter s...
Yard Waste Collection
Bowling Green, Kentucky residents must cut brush and tree limbs to no more than five feet long and six inches in diameter, bundle them, and place them at the curb before the County-approved Residential Franchisee will collect them as yard waste under Sec. 20-1.03(a).
Bowling Green Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-1.03(a)
The Bowling Green Residential Franchisee, as approved by Warren County, shall be responsible for collecting, removing and disposing from each residential unit all residential yard waste separated from the waste stream by the resident and placed at the curb for collection in suitable containers as set out in Warren County regulations. Brush and tree limbs must be cut to lengths no longer than fi...
Dumpster Rules
Placing any dumpster or oversized waste receptacle in a Bowling Green right-of-way needs its own right-of-way work permit under Sec. 21-4.06(g), a $75 fee, and a surety bond, applied for at least five days before non-emergency placement, matching the permit process for other right-of-way excavation.
Dumpster Right-of-Way Permit in Bowling Green, KY
Some RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 21-4.06(g); Sec. 21-4.07
g. A right-of-way permit shall be required for placement of any dumpster or oversized waste receptacle in City right-of-way. ... Permit fees in the amount of seventy-five dollars ($75) are required by this Subchapter and shall be paid at the time of application.
Recycling Rules
In the City of Bowling Green, Kentucky, only Warren County's designated recycling Franchisee may collect residential recycling material; Sec. 20-1.02 makes it unlawful for anyone else, including private scavengers and pushcart operators, to collect, transport or dispose of it.
Bowling Green Recycling Collection Rules
Significant RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-1.02(b), (c)
It shall be unlawful for any person, except Warren County s designated recycling Franchisee to engage in or conduct the business of collecting residential recycling material within the corporate limits of the City. ... Private scavengers, pushcart operators and private solid waste collectors are hereby prohibited from engaging in the business of transporting or disposing of solid waste, residen...