Trash & Recycling in Louisville, KY (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Louisville, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Louisville Metro household garbage must go out between 4 p.m. the day before and 6 a.m. on collection day, with empty containers pulled in by 4 p.m. the next day.
Louisville Metro Trash Set-Out Hours
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.507(A)(6)
All household garbage must be set out by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day designated by the waste hauler, and may not be set out earlier than 4:00 p.m. on the day before the collection. All containers must be removed from the street or alley no later than 4:00 p.m. the day after collection. (B) Enforcement. In addition to enforcement by the Department, IPL shall have authority to issue not...
Bin Placement Rules
Louisville Metro households in the Urban Services District must set out garbage, recycling, and yard waste in Department-provided carts by 6 a.m. on collection day, no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before, and pull carts in by 4 p.m. the next day.
Louisville Metro Garbage Cart Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.405(B)(1),(4)-(5)
All household garbage, recycling, and yard waste must be set out in the cart provided by the Department or approved containers meeting the requirements of § 51.507. No bags containing garbage or recycling can be set outside of the containers. ... must be set out by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day set by the Department, and may be set out no earlier than 4:00 p.m. on the day before collection. ....
Bulk Item Disposal
Louisville Metro collects household bulky items through Project Pick Up, either an announcement-based week with no item cap or a scheduled appointment limited to four items.
Louisville Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.405(C)(1)
The Department may provide for Announcement-Based and/or Appointment-Based systems for bulky waste collection as listed by the Department on Louisville Metro's website. Except as otherwise provided herein, there is no limit of the number of bulky items that may be set out for the Announcement-Based Large Item Collection System; there is a limit of four (4) bulky items per appointment that may b...
Recycling Requirements
Louisville Metro households must set out recycling only in Department-provided or approved carts, using only materials that meet the Department's published recycling guidelines: no loose bags allowed.
Louisville Metro Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.405(A)(5), (B)(1)
Only those materials meeting Department-published guidelines for acceptable recycling materials may be set out for recycling collection. Guidelines are published by the Department on Louisville Metro's website. ... No bags containing garbage or recycling can be set outside of the containers.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping waste on unlicensed property in Louisville Metro draws a $1,000 civil fine for a first offense, plus vehicle impoundment.
Louisville Illegal Dumping Penalties
Significant RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.510(A)
No person shall deposit, drop, dump, place, or throw any waste or hazardous waste onto public or private property that is not licensed for the purpose of disposal of waste by the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Waste Management District and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Illegal dumping does not include the discarding of small quantities of waste related to...
Yard Waste Collection
Louisville Metro requires tree limbs, branches, and brush to be cut into four-foot lengths, no thicker than two inches, and tied into bundles weighing 60 pounds or less before yard waste collection.
Louisville Yard Waste and Brush Bundling Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.405(B)(3)
Tree limbs, branches, and brush may only be set out for yard waste collection. Tree limbs, branches, and brush must be cut into four-foot lengths no greater than two inches in diameter and securely tied into bundles weighing no more than 60 pounds each. (4) All household garbage, recycling, and yard waste must be set out by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day set by the Department, and may ...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial dumpsters and roll-off containers can't sit in required parking, setback, or buffer areas in Louisville Metro, and must be opaquely screened from streets and neighbors under the Land Development Code.
Louisville Dumpster Placement & Screening Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Land Development Code, Ch. 4 Part 4 § 4.4.9(A)-(B)
A. No refuse disposal container shall be located in any required vehicular use area, required setback area or in any required buffer or landscape area. B. Refuse disposal containers shall be opaquely screened from view from public streets and adjacent properties. The mature height of the screening material shall be one foot greater than the height of the enclosed refuse disposal container, but ...
Collection Schedule
Every residence in Louisville Metro must have weekly solid waste collection, and Urban Services District households must set out carts by 6 a.m. on collection day.
Louisville Trash Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.500(A)
It shall be the duty of the owner of every residence and the owner and occupant of every commercial or industrial establishment to provide for not less frequent than weekly disposal of solid waste, except recyclables and yard waste when the owner or occupant has either employed or has been provided services of once every other week collection as provided in section 51.300(C)(3).
Recycling Rules
Licensed waste haulers in Louisville Metro must offer curbside recycling pickup at least every other week and accept paper, cardboard, cans, glass, and plastic bottles.
Louisville Metro Recycling Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 51.300(A)(3)
the basic service offered must consist of once-a-week curbside collection of household waste; a minimum of once every other week seasonal collection of yard waste; and a minimum of once every other week collection of recyclables... Haulers must provide for the collection of the following recyclable materials at a minimum: paper, cardboard, empty food and beverage cartons, aluminum and steel can...