Trash & Recycling in Franklin, TN (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Franklin, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Franklin residents may not set out their rollout container earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before collection and must pull it back in by 7:00 p.m. on collection day. Carts also have to sit within two feet of the curb, three feet from obstacles, and five feet from parked cars, never in the street or on a sidewalk without permission.
Franklin, TN Trash Cart Curbside Timing Rule
Some RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 1, § 17-110(8), (10)
(8)It shall be the responsibility of each occupant, on the scheduled day of collection, to place their container on the property side of the curb or street, or at the edge of the alley where serviceable alleys are available, or in a city-approved location for pick-up... Generally, this shall be within two feet of the curb or edge of pavement, at least three feet from obstructions such as those ...
Bin Placement Rules
Franklin, Tennessee requires residents to set trash carts within about two feet of the curb, clear of obstructions, parked cars, sidewalks, and drainage ditches.
Franklin Trash Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, tit. 17, ch. 1, § 17-110(8)
It shall be the responsibility of each occupant, on the scheduled day of collection, to place their container on the property side of the curb or street, or at the edge of the alley where serviceable alleys are available, or in a city-approved location for pick-up. Containers shall be placed in such a location as to be readily accessible for removal by the city. The container shall be placed in...
Bulk Item Disposal
Franklin collects non-containerized bulky items curbside for a per-load fee, plus separate limits on brush and limb size for pickup.
Franklin Bulky Waste Curbside Pickup
Some RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 1, § 17-112(1)
Non-containerized bulky waste collection. Any non-containerized bulky waste shall be placed adjacent to and back of the curb, or adjacent to and back of the drainage ditch or catch basin, alley or street line if there is no curb, without blocking the roadway, any sidewalk, drainage ditch, or catch basin. Customers will be assessed a non-containerized bulky waste collection fee per 20 cubic yard...
Recycling Requirements
Franklin defines recyclables narrowly: only director-approved commodities like cardboard, aluminum, tin, steel, and newspaper, with hazardous, infectious, industrial, and medical waste expressly excluded. Recycling areas must stay clean and sanitary, dumping recyclables into a drain or waterway is unlawful, and certain hazardous materials can never go in a recycling container.
Franklin, TN Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 2, § 17-201(1)
(1)Recyclables. Any item approved by the director for collection as a commodity designated for reuse or delivery to an established recycling center, from all residences and establishments, public and private, but shall not include hazardous waste, infectious waste, commercial, industrial or residential solid waste, sewage, body wastes, recognizable industrial or medical by-products. Recyclables...
Illegal Dumping
Franklin makes it unlawful to dump municipal solid waste into any stream, ditch, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, or other drain, to dispose of it anywhere except a site approved under Tennessee Department of Solid Waste Management guidelines, or to burn it anywhere in the city, public or private property alike.
Franklin, TN Bans Illegal Dumping and Burning
Heavy RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 1, § 17-104(1), (3)
(1)It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to dump MSW in any form into any stream, ditch, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, or other drain within the city.(2)The disposal of MSW in any quantity by an individual, householder, establishment, firm, or corporation in any place, public or private, other than at the site or sites designated and/or with properly approved permits from the...
Yard Waste Collection
Franklin will not shovel up loose leaves or clippings: yard waste has to go into biodegradable paper bags of no more than 33 gallons. Brush and limbs must be cut to 10 feet or 18 inches in diameter (thicker limbs to 6 feet and under 75 pounds), piled curbside three feet clear of obstacles, and never left under overhead power lines.
Franklin, TN Yard Waste and Brush Bagging Rule
Some RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 1, § 17-108(1)(a)-(b)
(1)Leaves, lawn clippings, etc.(a)It shall not be the responsibility of the department of the city to shovel or pick up from the ground any loose accumulation of MSW, including leaves, lawn clippings, brush, etc. All yard waste must be placed in biodegradable paper bags of not more than 33-gallon capacity.(b)The city shall not be responsible to remove any brush or limbs of trees unless said bru...
Dumpster Rules
Franklin's Sanitation Department does not run a dumpster program: businesses needing six or more rollout containers a week must contract with a private vendor. Placing any dumpster or container on a public street, right-of-way, or public property citywide requires a right-of-way obstruction permit from the street department director, backed by a cash bond, and capped at 30 days.
Franklin, TN Right-of-Way Dumpster Permit
Significant RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 1, § 17-111(2), (3), (5)(a)
(2)The city does not provide nonresidential dumpster services.(3)Nonresidential customers using rollout containers for collection shall provide sufficient containers to properly store one week's accumulation of MSW. All nonresidential customers requiring any combination of six or more rollout containers for weekly service shall be required to acquire dumpsters for service from a vendor other th...
Collection Schedule
Franklin charges every residential address a mandatory sanitation fee under Municipal Code § 17-110, even though actually using the pickup service is optional. The city issues one city-owned rollout container per address at signup, and homes that regularly put out more than 90 gallons a week must arrange other disposal or request (and pay for) a second cart.
Franklin, TN Mandatory Residential Trash Fee
Some RestrictionsFranklin Municipal Code, title 17, ch. 1, § 17-110(1)-(3)
(1)A fee for residential service shall be mandatory within the city as defined in appendix a, comprehensive fees and penalties. Residential service as defined shall be made available within the city limits however is not mandatory for use.(2)The city shall provide one rollout container to each residential service location when that service is first added to the collection system and applicable ...
Looking for Williamson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Franklin city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Williamson County →