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St. Tammany Parish, LA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Code of Ordinances § 38-79(f)
Max storage without approval
Two weeks
Collection model
Licensed private haulers, not parish trucks
Schedule reporting
Haulers report pickup days per subdivision
Enforcing agency
Dept. of Environmental Services

Summary

St. Tammany Parish requires every property owner in the unincorporated parish to have solid waste removed frequently enough to avoid a nuisance, and bars storing solid waste on public or private property for more than two weeks without written approval from the department of environmental services.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Tammany Parish. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Frequency of container service. Every property owner shall cause container contents to be removed and deposited at a permitted disposal facility at a frequency so as to not create a nuisance. Solid waste shall not be stored on public or private property for more than two weeks without the written approval of the department. Solid wastes suitable and stored for recycling may be contained if stored in an acceptable manner that avoids risk to public safety and otherwise complies with this article.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 38-79(f) of the Code of Ordinances governs the frequency of collection rather than mandating a fixed weekly pickup day parish-wide, since the parish licenses multiple private haulers for the unincorporated area instead of running its own trucks. The section requires every property owner to cause container contents to be removed and deposited at a permitted disposal facility at a frequency so as not to create a nuisance, and it draws a hard outer limit: solid waste may not be stored on public or private property for more than two weeks without the department's written approval.

Recyclables get a narrower exception, since solid waste suitable for and stored for recycling may be contained longer if it is kept in an acceptable manner that avoids risk to public safety and otherwise complies with the article. Because collection is handled by licensed haulers rather than the parish directly, the actual day-of-week schedule for a given subdivision is set by that subdivision's contracted hauler; Sec. 38-110 requires each hauler to report to the department the specific days of the week waste is collected for each city, township or subdivision it services, information the department can use to check compliance with the two-week storage ceiling.

Any property owner exceeding the two-week limit without a written department waiver is out of compliance with Sec. 38-79 regardless of which hauler services the property.

Violations & Fines

Solid waste stored longer than two weeks without written department approval violates Sec. 38-79(f) and exposes the property owner to the chapter's general enforcement and penalty provisions under Sec. 38-186, administered by the department of environmental services with assistance from the district attorney's office and the parish administrative hearing officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does St. Tammany Parish set one trash pickup day for everyone?
No. The parish licenses private haulers rather than running its own collection, so pickup day varies by subdivision. Sec. 38-110 requires each licensed hauler to report its collection days for every subdivision it services to the department of environmental services.
How long can I leave solid waste sitting on my property?
No more than two weeks without written approval from the department. Sec. 38-79(f) bars storing solid waste on public or private property beyond that window unless the department signs off in writing.
Is there an exception for recyclables?
Yes. Sec. 38-79(f) allows solid waste that is suitable for and stored for recycling to be contained longer than the general two-week limit, as long as it is kept in an acceptable manner that avoids risk to public safety.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Tammany Parish

All St. Tammany Parish rules

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