Trash & Recycling in Nebraska (2026)
29 rules on the books across Nebraska, 6 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Trash and recycling collection days, what time to put bins out, and rules about sorting materials for curbside pickup.
Bellevue
Significant RestrictionsIn the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, the city council reserves the exclusive right to collect residential garbage, either…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln dwelling owners must arrange weekly solid waste collection through a licensed hauler, twice weekly for…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha requires trash, recycling, and yard waste carts out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day, placed within five feet of…
Read full rule →Bin Placement Rules
Where to position trash and recycling carts, when they may go to the curb and must come back, and the screening or enclosure rules for where bins live between pickups.
Bellevue
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, refuse containers must hold between 10 and 35 gallons and stay closed tightly so…
Read full rule →Blue Hill
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 7-503(C) requires the city's waste contractor to empty every garbage receptacle placed…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln requires solid waste containers to sit in an accessible, convenient spot on the property, stay covered to keep…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha limits curbside trash and recycling containers to a strict window: out after 5 p.m. the night before collection…
Read full rule →Bulk Item Disposal
How to dispose of large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses, including scheduled pickups and drop-off locations.
Recycling Requirements
Mandatory recycling rules including which materials must be separated, contamination penalties, and composting requirements.
Nebraska: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNebraska's Integrated Solid Waste Management Act sets statewide waste-reduction goals, bans certain materials from…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLicensed waste haulers in Lincoln must offer recycling service to every residential and commercial customer, collect…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha issues each single-family home one cart for trash and one for recyclables under its city-contracted curbside…
Read full rule →Holiday Pickup Schedule
How collection days shift around major holidays, where to verify the current schedule, and rules for putting bins out around shifted pickup dates.
Illegal Dumping
Penalties and enforcement for dumping trash, debris, or hazardous materials on private or public property without authorization.
Bellevue
Heavy RestrictionsIn the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, Section 13-4 bans dumping garbage, ashes, rubbish, dead animals, excavated dirt…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Heavy RestrictionsDumping garbage or refuse on Lincoln streets, alleys, public places, or private property outside an authorized…
Read full rule →Omaha
Heavy RestrictionsOmaha bans dumping dirt, debris, rubbish, or any other material onto streets, boulevards, public places, or another…
Read full rule →Blue Hill
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 3-122 makes it a misdemeanor to deposit, throw, discard, scatter or otherwise dispose of…
Read full rule →Yard Waste Collection
Rules for separating grass clippings, leaves, branches, and other yard waste from regular trash, including pickup days and bag/bin requirements.
Blue Hill
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 7-502 bars residents from letting yard waste, along with garbage and trash, pile up on any…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln requires lawn waste to go out in a degradable paper container or a lidded, water-tight bin, and exempts anyone…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsWasteline describes no loose-leaf curb pile or vacuum service in Omaha. Excess leaves go in paper yardwaste bags set…
Read full rule →Dumpster Rules
Permits and placement rules for residential or construction dumpsters, including how long they can stay and ROW obstruction limits.
Douglas County
Some RestrictionsDouglas County zoning requires a six-foot, at-least-75%-opaque screen around loading docks, trash collection points…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln requires commercial and industrial businesses to provide solid waste containers meeting city specs, and any…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsPrivate dumpsters of 5+ cubic yards can sit on an Omaha property only 30 days a year unless tied to an active building…
Read full rule →Collection Schedule
Day-of-week pickup schedules by neighborhood, set-out and take-back time windows, and where to find your specific block's schedule.
Bellevue
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, Section 13-22 reserves the exclusive right to collect residential garbage to the…
Read full rule →Blue Hill
Some RestrictionsBlue Hill Municipal Code § 7-503 requires every resident to have garbage, trash and waste collected through the city's…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln dwelling owners must arrange licensed weekly trash pickup, and owners of buildings with more than two units…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha makes solid waste collection compulsory for every property and requires the city or its contractor to pick up at…
Read full rule →Recycling Rules
Which items can and cannot go in residential single-stream recycling bins, contamination penalties, and rules for hazardous-waste drop-off.
Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLicensed waste haulers in Lincoln must offer recycling service to every residential and commercial customer, collect…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha gives each single residence one city-owned recycling cart alongside the trash cart, capped at 192 gallons…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Few RestrictionsIn the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinances does not require residents to separate…
Read full rule →