Lexington, KY Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Section 16-8(b) governs how garbage and trash must be packed for pickup once it's inside the roll cart the urban county government provides. The lid has to close and latch, an overstuffed cart with the lid propped open doesn't meet the rule, and the recommended weight capacity is two hundred pounds. Everything placed in the cart must be bagged in disposable plastic bags that are leak proof and strong enough to resist tearing during normal handling, and each bag must be securely tied shut. The section specifically bars special handling waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, bricks, dirt, engine blocks or other excessively heavy material, hot ashes, paints, solvents, and flammable liquids from the cart.

Dog waste is allowed only if it's double-bagged in a securely closed plastic bag. Establishments exempt from roll cart service, or that generate occasional excess trash beyond their cart, must use watertight containers with tight-fitting covers between five and thirty gallons, equipped with handles; tied plastic bags are allowed for occasional excess trash left at the curb. Material that doesn't meet these preparation standards, or that isn't properly prepared under section 16-9, is treated the same as an improperly maintained container: the Division of Waste Management posts a notice on the front door, and if the defect isn't fixed within the notice period, the government can abate it and bill the property owner.