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Trash & Recycling in Tennessee (2026)

114 rules on the books across Tennessee, 18 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.

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga City Code § 18-46 limits residential curbside pickup to non-hazardous, on-site garbage in approved…

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Clarksville

Some Restrictions

Clarksville runs no residential garbage route and neither does Montgomery County. Households either pay a private…

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Collierville

Some Restrictions

The Town of Collierville collects only refuse placed inside Town-distributed regulated containers. Carts must stay…

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Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin residents may not set out their rollout container earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before collection and must…

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Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Hendersonville spells out exactly how trash goes to the curb: residential cans can't be loaded past 50 pounds…

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Jackson

Some Restrictions

The City of Jackson provides twice-weekly curbside polycart collection for every residential unit under Jackson…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

Kingsport collects household, yard and other waste only at or near a public street or alley improved with asphalt…

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Knox County

Some Restrictions

Knox County runs no curbside garbage or recycling truck outside the incorporated cities: households haul trash…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville limits residential collection to one weekly cart pickup plus five bulky items, with recycling picked up every…

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Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis collects your green garbage cart and gray recycling cart weekly on the same day, with twice-monthly…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Murfreesboro residents must set refuse carts out no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before pickup, have them at the…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville picks up garbage and recyclables once a week from one- and two-family homes in the Urban Services…

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Shelby County

Some Restrictions

Shelby County government does not provide universal curbside garbage collection in most unincorporated areas; residents…

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Smyrna

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, § 11-401(1)(m) bars garbage pick-up by commercial garbage and waste businesses from…

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Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, the city's contractor collects residential refuse curbside once per week under §…

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Sumner County

Some Restrictions

Sumner County government runs no countywide curbside trash service. Collection is handled city-by-city, so incorporated…

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Williamson County

Some Restrictions

Williamson County runs no curbside trash service. Unincorporated residents haul household waste free to one of the…

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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.

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga sets exact placement rules for curbside cans, within 5 feet of a driveway or street for manual pickup…

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Clarksville

Some Restrictions

Clarksville Code section 8-203 is the only container-storage rule. Between pickups, garbage cans must sit no closer to…

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Collierville

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Collierville, carts go adjacent to and back of the curb and out of the street at the time scheduled for…

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Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin, Tennessee requires residents to set trash carts within about two feet of the curb, clear of obstructions…

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Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Every Hendersonville property owner must keep an approved can for refuse -- watertight, rodent-proof, 20 to 32 gallons…

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Jackson

Some Restrictions

In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, residents must put waste in the city-issued polycart rather than substitute bags or…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, carts go to the curb or alley no sooner than 24 hours before pickup and come back…

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Knox County

Some Restrictions

Knox County has no curbside trash service, so there are no set trash-cart setout times, but open storage of junk and…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville requires trash and recycling carts be set out between 6 p.m. the night before collection and 7 a.m. on…

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Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis residents must place their city-issued roll cart at the curb with the handle facing the house and the opening…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Murfreesboro residents must set garbage carts out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup, keep them 3 feet from…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville limits curbside garbage and recycling containers to a set window, 7 p.m. the night before collection to…

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Shelby County

Some Restrictions

Shelby County's sanitary code (Chapter 44, Division 2) governs how garbage containers are kept in the unincorporated…

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Smyrna

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, § 17-104 requires refuse containers to sit adjacent to and back of the curb at…

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Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, containers go at curbside, as close to the roadway as practicable without…

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Bulk Item Disposal

How to dispose of large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses, including scheduled pickups and drop-off locations.

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga residents must call the city to schedule bulky-item pickup, furniture and appliances over 50 pounds or 30…

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Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin collects non-containerized bulky items curbside for a per-load fee, plus separate limits on brush and limb…

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Jackson

Some Restrictions

Sections 17-401 and 17-402 give one- and two-family residential units twelve bulk waste or bulk yard waste pickups per…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, the city collects furniture and appliances from residences on an on-call basis…

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Knox County

Some Restrictions

Knox County residents can self-haul large items free to a Convenience Center, which accepts hot water tanks, furniture…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville residents can set out furniture, tires, appliances, and other oversized household goods for bulky-item pickup…

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Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis provides bulk waste pickup for items that do not fit in the standard roll cart. Residents must call 311 or use…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Murfreesboro residents must schedule bulk item pickup with the Solid Waste Department, capped at one collection per 30…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville has no curbside pickup for furniture, appliances or tires: residents haul bulky waste to a Waste…

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Shelby County

Some Restrictions

Shelby County's litter-control code defines 'bulky refuse' as discarded appliances, furniture, and inoperable vehicles…

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Williamson County

Some Restrictions

Williamson County has no bulk curbside pickup. Residents self-haul large items to a convenience center, up to three…

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Spring Hill

Light Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, the city's refuse contractor must provide special collection of bulky waste…

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Clarksville

Few Restrictions

The Street Department runs a free spring and fall yard waste pickup on request for city addresses. Furniture…

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Recycling Requirements

Mandatory recycling rules including which materials must be separated, contamination penalties, and composting requirements.

Tennessee: statewide

StatewideLight Restrictions

Tennessee sets a statewide goal to cut per-capita municipal solid waste sent to landfills and incinerators by 25…

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Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga collects recyclables biweekly in City-issued lidded bins, limited to clean aluminum, cardboard, paper…

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Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin defines recyclables narrowly: only director-approved commodities like cardboard, aluminum, tin, steel, and…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, the producer sets recycling containers at the alley or curbside facing the street…

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Knox County

Some Restrictions

Recycling in Knox County is voluntary, not mandatory. Residents drop recyclables free at Convenience Centers, which…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville accepts garbage, bulky waste, and yard waste for residential collection, while recyclables must go in the…

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Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis provides curbside recycling collection through a separate blue recycling cart. Recycling is single-stream…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Under Recycle Murfreesboro, dumping non-recyclable trash at a designated collection point and scavenging through…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville requires every premises to keep lidded, director-approved containers for garbage and recyclables, set…

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Clarksville

Few Restrictions

Clarksville has no curbside recycling and no ordinance requiring anyone to recycle. Bi-County takes recyclables free at…

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Williamson County

Few Restrictions

Recycling in Williamson County is voluntary, not mandatory. Tennessee has no statewide residential recycling law…

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Valet Trash Rules

Multi-family building rules around door-to-door (valet) trash and recycling service, including container standards, hallway-storage prohibitions, and fees.

Illegal Dumping

Penalties and enforcement for dumping trash, debris, or hazardous materials on private or public property without authorization.

Chattanooga

Heavy Restrictions

Dumping rubbish, trash, or waste on Chattanooga vacant lots, streets, alleys, or in any stream or body of water is a…

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Franklin

Heavy Restrictions

Franklin makes it unlawful to dump municipal solid waste into any stream, ditch, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, or other…

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Hendersonville

Heavy Restrictions

Dumping fill, garbage, refuse, or construction debris anywhere in Hendersonville without a Fill Permit is a…

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Knox County

Heavy Restrictions

Dumping more than ten pounds or 15 cubic feet of waste anywhere in Knox County is aggravated criminal littering under…

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Knoxville

Heavy Restrictions

Knoxville bans dumping or depositing litter on another person's property or on any public street, park, or public…

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Memphis

Heavy Restrictions

Memphis Code § 9-60-2 bans throwing, dumping or depositing litter on any property, public or private, and on parkways…

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Murfreesboro

Heavy Restrictions

Dumping garbage, rubbish, or other waste anywhere in Murfreesboro besides a licensed dump, convenience center, or…

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Shelby County

Heavy Restrictions

Shelby County Code section 44-88 prohibits throwing, dumping, or depositing litter on another's or public property, and…

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Collierville

Significant Restrictions

In the Town of Collierville, Tennessee, no person can dump trash or garbage of any kind on public or private property…

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Jackson

Significant Restrictions

Jackson Municipal Code § 17-602 bans throwing, dumping, or depositing litter on public parkways, streets, parks, or…

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Nashville

Significant Restrictions

Metro Nashville bans dumping waste anywhere but an approved disposal facility or into someone else's private receptacle…

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Clarksville

Some Restrictions

Clarksville makes it unlawful to throw, place, or scatter objects on city-owned or private property with intent to…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, no one can throw or deposit litter on a street, sidewalk or other public place…

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Smyrna

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, Municipal Code § 17-107 bans disposing of refuse in any quantity, in any public or…

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Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, Municipal Code § 17-107 expressly prohibits disposing of refuse in any quantity…

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Yard Waste Collection

Rules for separating grass clippings, leaves, branches, and other yard waste from regular trash, including pickup days and bag/bin requirements.

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga picks up residential yard trash only by scheduled request, capped at twelve pickups a year per property…

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Collierville

Some Restrictions

The Town of Collierville collects yard waste from every residential property: grass in bags under 40 pounds, limbs…

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Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin will not shovel up loose leaves or clippings: yard waste has to go into biodegradable paper bags of no more…

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Jackson

Some Restrictions

In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, yard waste covers tree trimmings, grass cuttings, garden trimmings, weeds and loose…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, residential yard waste must be separated from other solid waste and is removed…

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Knox County

Some Restrictions

Knox County has no curbside yard-waste pickup: residents haul greenwaste, meaning logs, limbs, leaves, grass and brush…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville collects brush and leaves from residential properties on a regular schedule, but branches must be under 10…

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Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis Code § 9-56-11 requires leaves, grass cuttings, garden trimmings, weeds and roots to go out in disposable…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Murfreesboro caps residential yard waste piles at six cubic yards, requires limbs cut to six feet or under, and limits…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville bans yard waste from garbage containers and only picks it up as curbside brush stockpiles under the…

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Smyrna

Some Restrictions

The Town of Smyrna, Tennessee provides free chipper service to residential citizens inside the corporate limits under…

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Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, tree, shrub and brush trimmings go to the curb as a bundle, securely tied and…

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Dumpster Rules

Permits and placement rules for residential or construction dumpsters, including how long they can stay and ROW obstruction limits.

Franklin

Significant Restrictions

Franklin's Sanitation Department does not run a dumpster program: businesses needing six or more rollout containers a…

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Memphis

Significant Restrictions

Memphis Code § 9-56-26.1 regulates commercial dumpsters in the downtown solid waste collection district bounded by the…

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Collierville

Some Restrictions

Commercial properties in the Town of Collierville that produce more refuse than three 90 to 95 gallon containers can…

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Hamilton County

Some Restrictions

New or expanding commercial, office, and multi-family developments in unincorporated Hamilton County must screen every…

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Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Commercial and multi-family dumpsters in Hendersonville need a solid brick or stone screen wall on three sides, two…

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Jackson

Some Restrictions

Jackson Municipal Code § 17-305 requires the city's contractor to furnish dumpster and roll-off container service to…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, businesses arrange dumpster and roll-off service privately with a permitted…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Every business in Knoxville must keep solid waste in a containerized dumpster, and that dumpster can never sit in the…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Commercial, multifamily, industrial and institutional developments in Murfreesboro must screen dumpsters from view…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville bans emptying dumpsters near homes from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and requires non-metal lids plus a one-inch…

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Shelby County

Some Restrictions

In unincorporated Shelby County, businesses and multi-unit properties using bulk-type garbage and trash containers…

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Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, commercial refuse containers must be covered, strong, durable and rodent and…

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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.

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga picks up residential garbage weekly and recycling every other week, with both required at the curb by 7…

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Collierville

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Collierville, residential refuse is collected once per week and commercial refuse twice per week, in…

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Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin charges every residential address a mandatory sanitation fee under Municipal Code § 17-110, even though…

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Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Hendersonville doesn't run its own trash trucks: the City Administrator bids out an exclusive multi-year hauling…

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Jackson

Some Restrictions

In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, every residential, industrial and commercial unit must have city refuse collection…

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Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, the city collects solid waste once each week from the curbside or alley, or…

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Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville collects residential solid waste weekly at no charge, while nonresidential producers get at least weekly…

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Memphis

Some Restrictions

City Code § 9-56-3 makes solid waste collection in Memphis exclusive to the city: no one else may collect, remove or…

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Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Murfreesboro collects residential refuse once a week, twice weekly for apartment complexes of five or more units, and…

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Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Water Services picks up garbage and recyclables once a week for homes and apartments, but only inside the Urban…

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Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

In the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee, the city's contractor provides curbside residential refuse collection one time…

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