Nashville Trash Pickup • Schedule and Recycling tips

In Nashville, the effective management of solid waste plays a critical role in preserving the environment and its resources. It is of utmost importance to practice the appropriate methods of disposing of garbage to maintain the cleanliness of cities and promote the health and safety of its inhabitants. To this end, knowing all the Nashville Trash Pickup collection details is essential.
In addition, Nashville promotes waste separation and recycling as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability. Residents can access different recycling garbage cans to drop off materials that can be recycled, such as plastic, paper, glass, metals, batteries, etc. Thus, together we help reduce the amount of garbage and reuse resources thanks to the Nashville Trash Pickup.
Recycle Info
Types of Trash and Recycling Services in Nashville
The municipality offers a range of waste management solutions, such as disposing of large items, recycling, and general waste pickup, to uphold the city's sanitation.
Recycling pickup
The city offers a convenient and eco-friendly curbside recycling collection service for residents of single-family homes in Nashville's Urban Services District. This service is provided every month, enabling households to quickly dispose of their recyclable materials in an environmentally responsible manner.
However, if you reside in the General Services District or a multi-family complex located anywhere in the county, you must make arrangements for waste and recycling collection through privately contracted haulers.
Accepted items | Non-Accepted Items |
---|---|
Paper | Food |
Newspaper | Liquid |
Magazines | Glass in curbside bins |
Electronic Waste | |
Food and beverage cartons | Plastic bags |
Food cans | Plastic wrap |
Beverage cans | Bubble wrap |
Corrugated cardboard | Plastic of any kind that is not a bottle, jar, or jug |
Toilet paper and paper towel rolls | Containers |
Cereal boxes | Tubs |
Tissue boxes | Plastic cups |
Beverage bottles | Styrofoam |
Kitchen, laundry, and bath bottles and jugs | Hoses |
Milk and juice jugs | Chains |
Plastic food jars | Wires |
Glass bottles | Clothing |
Glass jars | Linens |
Trash pickup
For residents of single-family homes in the Nashville Urban Services District, curbside trash collection service is provided every week, ensuring that garbage is promptly removed and properly disposed of and maintaining a clean and healthy living environment.
Private haulers provide essential waste disposal and recycling assistance in the General Service District and multi-family dwellings throughout the county, benefiting households and the environment.
Accepted items | Non-Accepted Items |
---|---|
Any garbage except for waste that is not permitted. | Yard Waste |
Cardboard | |
Construction Debris | |
Electronic Waste |
Composting services
Within specific areas of Nashville, composting services offer an efficient solution to the responsible disposal and repurposing of organic waste. These services encompass the collection and subsequent processing of various biodegradable materials, such as food scraps and yard debris, with the ultimate goal of producing natural fertilizer, which can be utilized in multiple ways.
You can dispose of your food waste for free at any Metro Convenience Center if you're a Nashville citizen. Additionally, residents and businesses can choose to pay for curbside compost pickup services. Overall, composting services present eco-friendly and sustainable waste management means and are an excellent option for those seeking to reduce their environmental impact.
IMPORTANT: Yard compost garbage cans are available for purchase at the Omohundro Convenience Center.
Accepted items | Non-Accepted Items |
---|---|
Fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs | Plastic, expanded foam |
Coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags | Metal, aluminum foil |
Dairy products and egg shells | Animal or human waste |
Meat, shellfish, fish, bones, and shells | Dryer sheets |
Pasta, breads, cereals, baked goods, snack foods, and candy | |
Leftovers | |
Soiled napkins, paper towels, cardboard rolls, cotton balls | |
Paper plates and cups (including cups from coffee, soda) | |
Soiled pizza boxes and paper take-out containers | |
Paper egg cartons, liners and other paper food packaging | |
Cut flowers and household plants | |
Dryer lint | |
Hair and nail clippings | |
Pet food and pet hair |
Household Hazardous Waste
Improper disposal of everyday household items such as batteries, electronics, and cleaning products can significantly harm the environment. Carelessly throwing these items away can contaminate soil and water, releasing toxic chemicals that harm wildlife and humans. Properly disposing of these items is crucial to prevent further damage to our ecosystem.
That's why Metro residents can dispose of up to 15 gallons or 100 pounds of household hazardous waste, no longer needed or used, at the East Pike or Ezell Pike Convenience Center each month at no cost.
Accepted items | Non-Accepted Items |
---|---|
Adhesives | Ammunition |
Antifreeze | Explosives |
Batteries (rechargeable) | Industrial, commercial or business generated hazardous waste |
Batteries (automotive) | Latex and/or acrylic paint (safe ways to dispose of unwanted latex paint) |
Bleach | Water based stains |
Brake fluid | Railroad ties |
Car wax and cleaners | Medical waste (needles can be put inside red medical sharp containers or two liter bottles with the lid and placed in your trash container). |
Putty | Unused or expired medications |
CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps, bulbs or tubes) | Any household hazardous waste in commercial or work vehicles. |
Cooking grease | Any household hazardous waste from out of county residents. |
Detergent | Any household hazardous waste over 15 gallons or 100 pounds per household/month. |
Plunger | |
Flea collars | |
Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs | |
Gasoline | |
Household cleaners | |
Insect repellent | |
Insecticide | |
Lead batteries | |
Gasoline | |
Mercury thermometers | |
Mothballs | |
Motor oil | |
Oil paint | |
Oven cleaner | |
Paint thinner | |
Pesticides | |
Pet spray | |
Swimming pool chemicals | |
Rat and mouse poison | |
Shoe cleaner | |
Stain remover | |
Stain | |
Toilet cleaner | |
Transmission fluid | |
Bathtub and tile cleaner | |
Varnish | |
Herbicide | |
Windshield washer fluid |
Electronic Waste Recycling
Proper e-waste disposal protects our environment and conserves valuable resources that can be reused. Throwing electronic waste into dumpsters is not only dangerous to the environment but also illegal. Fortunately, residents of Nashville (and Davidson County) can use free and convenient e-recycling services at the East, Ezell Pike, and Omohundro centers.
Accepted items | Non-Accepted Items |
---|---|
Cellular Phones | Electronics from any type of business or commercial use |
Computers (limit one computer system per month) | Truck or trailer loads of electronics |
Computer components (cables, keyboards, mice, hubs, external drives, peripherals, etc.), | Any electronic waste in commercial or work vehicles. |
Copiers | Any electronic waste from out of county residents. |
DVD/VCR Players | |
E-Book Readers | |
Fax Machines | |
Hand-held Electronics | |
Monitors | |
MP3 Players | |
Printers | |
Tablets | |
Televisions | |
Microwaves | |
Music/Video Cassettes and Disks | |
Pagers | |
Radios | |
Rechargeable Batteries | |
Scanners | |
Stereos | |
Smart Phones |
Pharmaceutical product disposal
For individuals residing in the Metro area, it is both effortless and secure to dispose of any medications that are no longer needed, expired, or purchased over the counter. This can be accomplished by visiting one of the various Metro police stations designated for medication drop-off.
Accepted items | Non-Accepted Items |
---|---|
Inhalers | Blood sugar measuring devices |
Liquid medications (in airtight containers) | Bloody or infectious wastes |
Medicated ointments, lotions, or drops | Illegal drugs and narcotics (although the police will accept these items if they are deposited in the dumpsters) |
Over-the-counter medications | Intravenous bags |
Pet medications | Personal hygiene products (shampoo, lotions, etc.) |
Pills in any container (glass bottles, plastic containers, plastic bags, etc.) | Sharps/needles |
Prescriptions | Thermometers |
Where can I see the Nashville trash pickup Schedule
You can visit the local government's website for information about Nashville garbage collection schedules and calendars. Once there, navigate to the Metro Water Services department and follow the instructions provided for each respective option.
Nashville Trash Pickup Calendar
To know what time and what days the trash pickup will pass by your home, it is essential to check the Nashville trash pickup calendar, where you can also find out information about Nashville Recycling Day, Pickup Holidays, and more, all reflected in a monthly calendar, which you can advance from the arrows, as we will show you below.
- Go to the official website of Nashville Waste Services.
- Enter your address in the "Collection Schedule and Waste Wizard" section of the calendar.
- If you prefer, click "Create a reminder!" so you don't miss Garbage Day in Nashville.
- Then, you will be able to access a section to see the date of the following garbage collection, information about upcoming holidays, and a monthly calendar with the days when the garbage truck will pass by.
- Go to the "Get a calendar" option next to "Get a reminder!" and access Nashville's yearly garbage collection calendar.
- Add Nashville trash collection days to your Google, Apple, and Microsoft Outlook calendar. Click on "Print a calendar" to get a complete view of the year's remaining months and the days when the garbage truck will pass by.
- You don't need to print the calendar. You can check the garbage pickup days, Brush days, Recycling Days, and Holidays.
Nashville garbage pickup map
If you prefer to view a trash collection map, you must follow a similar procedure as above.
- Go to the Nashville Waste Services website under the "Get Trash and Recycling Services" section.
- In the box below, click on "Route Map" to view the division by counties (black lines) and the colored routes according to the days on which the dumpster passes through each area of Nashville.
- Monday: Red.
- Tuesday: Blue.
- Wednesday: Green.
- Thursday: Purple.
- Friday: Orange.
- Click on the map to view specific information about the route, hauler, pickup day, and miles traveled.
How to recycle in Nashville?
Following a few fundamental guidelines is vital if you want to recycle effectively. First, ensure that any items you place in the recycling container are clean, empty, and dry. Avoid using plastic bags to contain loose or small things, as these can often get tangled up in the recycling machinery and cause problems. Additionally, it's essential to leave plastic caps on bottles and jars or dispose of them separately, as they can be challenging to process.
When it comes to cardboard, be sure to flatten it before adding it to the container, as this makes it easier to transport and process. Finally, when recycling points, separate items into labeled containers to ensure they are processed correctly. These simple tips can help you recycle in Nashville as efficiently as possible.
How do trash and recycling collection services operate during Nashville holidays?
If a holiday occurs during the week, the garbage and recycling pickup schedule will be adjusted by a day. For example, the collection will be made on Wednesday if the holiday falls on a Tuesday. However, if a collection holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, Metro will still be coming to collect your trash and recycling on the usual schedule.
Nashville Recycling Collection Guidelines
Your recycling will be collected anytime between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Recycling is collected bi-weekly. Place your cart at the curb or alley before 7 a.m. on your designated collection day. Eligible households can receive up to two recycling carts free of charge. Any items not placed inside the recycling cart will not be collected.
Additionally, ensure that you do not place the cart within three feet of any stationary object, such as a car, recycling cart, mailbox, power pole, etc. If there is a delay in recycling collection due to bad weather, your recycling will be collected the following day.
Private Garbage Collection Companies in Nashville
In Nashville, the Metropolitan Government is responsible for waste management, and several privately owned enterprises cater to bulk trash and recycling pickup. These businesses provide tailored solutions that cater to the unique requirements of residential households and large corporations situated in the locality. These companies offer various services to ensure the city remains clean, healthy, and sustainable.
Multiple garbage and recycling collection companies in Nashville play a crucial role in maintaining the city's cleanliness and ensuring the health of green spaces while providing various waste management solutions. We have chosen the top 5 best junk removal companies in Nashville, with the best ratings and reviews from satisfied customers, with an overall average rating of 4.7/5.
Name | Contact |
---|---|
J E Mc Murtry Disposal | 615-227-8881 |
Junk King Nashville | 615-823-8009 |
Griffin Waste Services | 615-562-4000 |
Music City Removal | 615-480-8396 |
Waste Pro - Nashville | 615-622-7800 |
Metro Water Services contact in Nashville
If you need to contact the waste collection service in Nashville, you can do so by one of the following methods:
- Phone (From Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- 615-862-4600.
- TTY: 615-862-4745.
- Address: 1700 3rd Ave N. Nashville, TN 37208. Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Email: mws.online@nashville.gov
- Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleMWS/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NashvilleMWS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillemws/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MetroNashville
- NextDoor: https://nextdoor.com/profile/12723925/