Huntsville, AL Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection frequency
- Once per week, city-scheduled
- Placement window
- Curbside after sundown night before pickup
- Container distance
- Within three feet of curb
- Removal deadline
- Same day as scheduled collection
- Non-compliance
- Service discontinued until corrected
Summary
Huntsville residents must set garbage cans at the curb no earlier than sundown the night before collection day and pull them back in the day pickup happens, per City Code Sec. 22-85.
It shall be unlawful to place or permit the placement of garbage cans or containers immediately adjacent to the curb (or the edge of the roadway on noncurb streets) before sundown on the day preceding the days designated by the sanitation division for collection, or to leave such cans or containers on the placement site after the days designated for collection. Containers must be properly placed for collection prior to the beginning of the scheduled work day for sanitation personnel.
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
The sanitation division collects residential garbage once a week on a schedule set by the mayor's designee, and participation is mandatory for every single-family residence (Sec. 22-82). Containers must sit immediately adjacent to the curb, or the edge of the roadway on noncurb streets, and cannot go out before sundown the evening preceding the scheduled collection day (Sec. 22-85). City-issued containers must be kept within three feet of the curb, facing the proper direction, with the lid closed (Sec. 22-71(b)(4)). Leaving cans out past the pickup day, or placing them anywhere besides curbside without prior sanitation division approval, violates Sec. 22-84.
Violations & Fines
Placing cans out early or leaving them curbside after collection violates Sec. 22-84/22-85; the city can suspend service until you comply, and solid-waste violations carry fines up to $500 or three months in jail (Sec. 22-71(f)).
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put my trash cans out in Huntsville?
Where exactly should I place my container?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
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Pickup Rules & Schedules in Nearby Cities
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