Trash & Recycling in Kenton County, KY (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Kenton County, Kentucky.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
Kenton County limits how long trash cans can sit at the curb: residents may set containers out no more than 12 hours before collection and must pull them back within 12 hours after. Bulk containers instead stay on private property year-round.
Kenton County Curbside Cart Set-Out Window
Some RestrictionsKenton County Code of Ordinances § 50.032
Points of collection of solid waste shall be from the roadside or curbside within public rights-of-way or other locations near buildings, parking lots, and the like on private property. In general, solid waste generated by residential and agricultural uses shall be placed along the roadside or curbside fronting the subject property not more than 12 hours before collection. All reusable storage ...
Recycling Requirements
Kenton County does not run or mandate a curbside recycling program in the unincorporated county. Instead, its code protects the right to recycle: no person or use can be restricted from recycling, source separation, or resource recovery as long as storage and collection follow the solid waste chapter.
Kenton County Recycling Protection Rule
Few RestrictionsKenton County Code of Ordinances § 50.045
Except as provided by statute, the use of recycling, sources separation, and resource recovery or reclamation of materials for energy and other processes shall not be restricted by any person, dwelling unit, agricultural, commercial, institutional, or industrial use within the county provided storage and collection conforms to the requirements of this chapter.
Illegal Dumping
Kenton County bans open dumping of solid waste, including bulky waste, on any land or water in the unincorporated county under Code of Ordinances § 50.066. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500 per day under § 50.999, enforced by County Police.
Kenton County Illegal Dumping Ban
Significant RestrictionsKenton County Code of Ordinances § 50.066
OPEN DUMPING. Open dumping of solid waste, including bulky waste, on all lands (that is, roadsides, hollows, rivers, streams, lakes, and the like) by any person is prohibited by KRS 224.40-100 and this chapter. (Ord. 830.2, passed 6-13-89) Penalty, see § 50.999
Yard Waste Collection
Kenton County requires tree limbs, lumber, and brush to be tied into bundles no larger than 48 inches long and 18 inches in diameter, capped at 75 pounds, unless they go in a storage container instead. Containers must also stop debris from blowing onto neighboring property.
Kenton County Yard Waste Bundling Rule
Some RestrictionsKenton County Code of Ordinances § 50.019
Tree limbs less than four inches in diameter, lumber and brush shall be securely tied in bundles not larger than 48 inches long and 18 inches in diameter when not placed in storage containers. The weight of any individual bundle shall not exceed 75 pounds. Yard wastes shall be stored in containers so constructed and maintained as to prevent the dispersal of wastes placed therein upon the premis...
Dumpster Rules
Any residential, agricultural, commercial, institutional, or industrial use in unincorporated Kenton County generating more than two cubic yards of solid waste a week must switch from cans to a bulk container. Placement is restricted to private property that collection vehicles can actually reach.
Kenton County Commercial Bulk Container Rule
Some RestrictionsKenton County Code of Ordinances § 50.018
All uses which generate more than a volume of two cubic yards (that is, approximately equivalent to 500 pounds or ¼ ton or 400 gallons) of solid waste per week shall be required to provide bulk containers for storage.
Collection Schedule
Solid waste collection is mandatory for every generator in unincorporated Kenton County, residential, agricultural, commercial, institutional, and industrial alike. Regular waste must go out at least once every 168 hours, with pickups running between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., never on Sundays.
Kenton County Mandatory Weekly Collection Rule
Some RestrictionsKenton County Code of Ordinances §§ 50.031, 50.033
MANDATORY COLLECTION. Collection of solid waste, including bulky waste, from all generators, including residential, agricultural, commercial, institutional and industrial is mandatory. ... FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION. All solid waste, other than bulky waste, shall be collected at least once weekly or 168 hours between collections. Residential, agricultural, commercial, institutional, and industrial...
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