Shelby County does not impose a mandatory residential recycling ordinance on unincorporated households; recycling is voluntary and arranged through private haulers. The county supports the regional solid-waste system through the Municipal Solid Waste Regional Board, a Household Hazardous Waste facility, electronics recycling, and the state-required Waste Tire Program.
There is no countywide ordinance requiring unincorporated Shelby County residents to separate recyclables; curbside recycling, where available, is arranged voluntarily through private haulers. The county participates in regional solid-waste planning through the Municipal Solid Waste Regional Board, consistent with Tennessee's Solid Waste Management Act of 1991, which requires counties to plan for waste reduction. Diversion options the county provides include the Household Hazardous Waste facility at 6305 Haley Road, Memphis (which accepts limited computer equipment, monitors, and keyboards under weight and quantity limits), and the Waste Tire Program diverting tires banned from landfills. Memphis and suburban residents follow their own municipal recycling programs. Residents should confirm current recycling service with their hauler or Shelby County Public Works.
No county penalty for failing to recycle in unincorporated areas, since residential recycling is voluntary. Improperly disposing of banned items (whole tires, hazardous waste) instead of using county diversion sites can be cited under solid-waste and littering rules.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting is allowed in Shelby County and has no dedicated permit, but compost and organic material must be managed so it does not become harmful v...
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Shelby County has no ordinance banning or specially permitting artificial turf. Synthetic turf is not counted as living landscaping under the Unified Develop...
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The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code favors native landscaping, directing that trees and shrubs be predominately hardy Tennessee native spe...
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Shelby County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially licensing residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are generally allowed, and Tenn...
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Shelby County has no mandatory outdoor watering schedule. Water is supplied by Memphis Light, Gas and Water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, and MLGW promotes ...
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The Code of Shelby County authorizes the county to compel owners of unincorporated property to cut rank weeds, grasses, and underbrush deemed a health or tra...
See how Shelby County's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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