Huntsville, AL Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection frequency
- Once per week, city-set schedule
- Participation
- Mandatory for all residents
- Provider
- City sanitation division only
- Cart level changes
- Once in first year, then annually
- Curb placement
- After sundown night before pickup
Summary
Huntsville's sanitation division collects household garbage from every single-family home once a week on a mayor-approved schedule, and participation in the city collection system is mandatory for all residents.
Garbage removal from occupied single-family residential units shall be made exclusively by the sanitation division on a once-per-week schedule approved by the mayor or his designee. Participation in the city's removal or collection system by single-family residential customers is mandatory for all residents of the city. Single-family residential customers may choose their level of service by choosing the number of containers they will use as provided in section 22-71(b)(7) of this article. Customers will be allowed to adjust their level of service one time during the year following the service start date. Otherwise, customers will be allowed to change service levels only on or about the anniversary of their service start date.(b)Yard and bulk waste collection shall be made by the sanitation division on weekly schedules approved by the mayor or his designee. Participation in the city's removal or collection system by single-family residential customers is mandatory for all residents of the city. Yard and bulk waste shall be placed for collection as required by section 22-75 of this article. (Ord. No. 94-236, § 5(20-282), 4-21-1994; Ord. No. 05-659, § 1, 9-29-2005; Ord. No. 24-784, § 9, 10-24-2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 22-82 makes the sanitation division the exclusive residential garbage hauler: single-family homes get once-a-week pickup on a schedule the mayor's office approves, and every resident must participate, there is no opting out for a private hauler. Households pick how many carts they want under Sec. 22-71(b)(7), but can change that service level only once during their first year, then again near their service anniversary. Yard and bulk waste run on their own weekly schedule under the same mandatory rule (Sec. 22-82(b)), and carts must sit at the curb from sundown the night before pickup under Sec. 22-85.
Violations & Fines
General Code penalty (Sec. 1-7) applies: up to $500 and six months in jail per offense; the sanitation division can also discontinue collection service for repeated placement or access violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I opt out of city trash collection in Huntsville?
How often does Huntsville pick up residential garbage?
Can I change how many trash carts I have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
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