Davidson County, TN Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Metro Nashville Code §10.20.050 governs cart placement for Metro-serviced properties. Carts must be at the curb (or designated alley for alley-pickup neighborhoods in East Nashville, Germantown, and parts of the Gulch) by 7 AM on collection day with lids fully closed. Overfilled carts with lids propped open will be skipped because the automated arm on collection trucks cannot safely lift them. Carts must be spaced at least 3 feet apart and 3 feet from vehicles, mailboxes, utility poles, basketball hoops, fire hydrants, and low-hanging tree branches to allow truck arm clearance. Handles face the house, with the cart's opening facing the street. Carts may not be placed out earlier than 6 PM the evening before collection (Metro Code §10.20.050(B)) and must be removed from curbside within 24 hours after collection. Between pickups, carts should be stored behind the front building line, screened from public view—a requirement often noted in HOA covenants in Green Hills, Forest Hills, and West Meade. Alley-pickup neighborhoods have separate placement rules with carts staged along the alley edge. Multi-family properties over 4 units typically have dumpster service through private haulers. Satellite cities enforce their own placement rules (Belle Meade is particularly strict about curb-time windows). Report damaged or missing carts through hubNashville 311 for Metro replacement at no cost.