Lexington Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026

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Open Lex Find
Lex Find 311 / 859-425-2255
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government – Waste Collection Guide – Updated May 2026

Lexington Trash Pickup, Recycling & Yard Waste Schedule 2026

This guide is built for a Lexington resident who needs the practical answer fast: how to find your pickup day with Lex Find, when to set out green, blue and gray carts, what changes on 2026 holidays, how to handle bulky items, where to take electronics and hazardous waste, and who to contact when collection is missed.

Updated May 2026 12 min read Official LFUCG sources checked Lexington, Fayette County, KY
Find My Pickup Day Official Waste Management
Quick Resident Answer
How do I find my Lexington trash pickup schedule?

Lexington trash pickup schedule garbage collection is address-based. Use the official Lex Find tool on Lexington’s waste collection page to confirm your pickup day for trash, recycling and yard waste. If you receive city waste collection, the green trash cart, blue recycling cart and gray yard waste cart are generally collected on the same day.

Set carts out no earlier than 4:00 PM the day before collection and no later than 5:00 AM on collection day. Remove carts from the curb by 7:00 PM on your collection day. For missed pickup or replacement carts, call LexCall at 311 or 859-425-2255.

LexCall 859-425-2255 Email Waste Management
Pickup Day Cart Rules Holidays Trash Recycling Official Video Yard Waste Bulky Items Drop-Off Missed Pickup Official Links FAQ
Step One

Lexington Trash Pickup Day Lookup — Use Lex Find Before You Put Carts Out

Lex Find
Address Lookup
Weekly
Trash / Recycling
Same Day
Yard Waste Usually
4 PM / 5 AM
Set-Out Window
311
LexCall Help

Lexington does not use one universal pickup day for every address. Your schedule depends on your location and whether your property receives city waste collection. The official Lex Find tool is the safest place to confirm the pickup day for your address.

1

Open the official waste collection page

Use Lexington’s waste collection page and enter your address in Lex Find. It shows the waste pickup day for residents who receive city collection.

2

Confirm city service vs. private service

Lexington notes that private collection days may differ. Apartments, businesses or special properties may not follow the same curbside roll-cart system.

3

Check holiday schedule before long weekends

Lexington’s 2026 holiday schedule includes makeup dates. Some makeup days happen before the holiday, not after it, so guessing can easily cause missed service.

4

Save LexCall for problems

For missed collection, replacement carts, medical exemption questions or bulky item scheduling, call 311 or 859-425-2255.

Official lookup: Use Lexington’s waste collection page to confirm the pickup day for your exact address.

Open Lex Find
Cart Rules

Lexington Green, Blue and Gray Cart Rules — Set-Out Timing, Spacing and Extra Carts

Residents with city waste collection use three carts: the green cart for trash, the blue cart for recycling and the gray cart for yard waste. The city says carts should be placed at the curb with at least three feet between each cart and other objects such as parked cars or mailboxes. Handles should face the house, and the cart opening should face the street.

Green Cart

Use for bagged household trash, food waste, solidified grease, packing materials, double-bagged pet waste and sharps sealed in a secure container.

Blue Cart

Use for clean, dry, loose recyclables accepted by Lexington’s Recycle Center. Never bag recyclables in plastic bags.

Gray Cart

Use for yard waste only. Plant material should be loose, not bagged, when placed inside the gray cart.

Correct Set-Out
  • Set carts out after 4:00 PM the day before pickup.
  • Set carts out by 5:00 AM on pickup day.
  • Remove carts by 7:00 PM on collection day.
  • Leave at least three feet between carts and other objects.
  • Point handles toward the house and openings toward the street.
Extra Cart Reality
  • City service includes one trash cart and one recycle cart for residents.
  • One yard waste cart is provided to residents.
  • Additional carts may require a one-time container fee.
  • Added trash carts can increase monthly landfill fees.
  • Call LexCall before assuming an extra cart is free.
Holiday Schedule

Lexington 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule — No Collection Dates and Makeup Days

Lexington’s holiday schedule is not always a simple one-day delay. Some makeup days occur before the holiday. That is the mistake residents make most often: waiting until after the holiday when the city already collected the route early.

HolidayNo Collection DateMakeup DateResident Note
New Year’s DayThursday, Jan. 1, 2026Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025Makeup occurs before the holiday.
Martin Luther King DayMonday, Jan. 19, 2026Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026Monday route makeup.
President’s DayMonday, Feb. 16, 2026Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026Put carts out after 4 PM Tuesday.
Memorial DayMonday, May 25, 2026Wednesday, May 27, 2026Monday route makeup.
JuneteenthFriday, June 19, 2026Wednesday, June 17, 2026Makeup occurs before the holiday.
Independence Day ObservedFriday, July 3, 2026Wednesday, July 1, 2026Friday route collected early.
Labor DayMonday, Sept. 7, 2026Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026Monday route makeup.
Veteran’s DayWednesday, Nov. 11, 2026No makeup day requiredCheck official alerts if weather changes.
Thanksgiving DayThursday, Nov. 26, 2026Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026Thursday route collected early.
Day after ThanksgivingFriday, Nov. 27, 2026Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026Friday route collected early.
Christmas EveThursday, Dec. 24, 2026Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026Thursday route collected early.
Christmas DayFriday, Dec. 25, 2026Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026Friday route collected early.
New Year’s DayFriday, Jan. 1, 2027Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026Early makeup before the holiday.

Do not guess the makeup date. Lexington’s official schedule specifically notes that some makeup days precede the holiday. Before a holiday week, check alerts and set carts out only within the correct window.

Green Trash Cart

Lexington Trash Collection Rules — Green Cart, Overflow Bags, Weight Limit and Unsafe Items

Trash pickup is weekly for homes and businesses with city waste collection. Material placed in the green cart must be bagged. Lexington also allows overflow garbage at the curb next to the carts, but it must be securely bagged and may be collected later by an overflow truck rather than the main truck.

Can Go in Green Trash Cart
  • Non-recyclable household garbage.
  • Food and food scraps.
  • Solidified grease.
  • Packing materials.
  • Pet waste double-bagged in plastic.
  • Needles or syringes sealed in a secure container such as a coffee can or milk jug.
Do Not Put in Green Cart
  • Hot ashes or hot charcoal.
  • Bricks, dirt, building materials or heavy metal parts.
  • Paint, solvents, flammable liquids or pesticides.
  • Motor oil.
  • Medical waste that needs special handling.
  • Accepted recyclables that belong in the blue cart.

Overloaded cart warning: Lexington says if the cart will not roll, the 200-pound weight limit has been exceeded. Overloaded carts will not be picked up. Do not pack construction debris, dirt, rocks or heavy remodeling waste into the green cart.

Blue Recycling Cart

Lexington Recycling Pickup — Loose, Dry and Clean Blue Cart Rules

Recycling pickup is weekly through city waste collection. Lexington’s rule is simple but strict: accepted recyclables should be loose, dry and clean. Never put recyclables in a plastic bag. Plastic bags, wrap and film can jam equipment and contaminate the load.

Accepted in Blue Cart
  • Aluminum cans.
  • Steel cans, lids and metal canisters.
  • #1 and #2 plastic bottles, jugs and jars with screw tops.
  • Dry cardboard with packing material removed.
  • Box board such as cereal boxes and paper rolls.
  • Office paper, magazines, catalogs, envelopes and newspaper.
  • Cartons such as milk, cream, juice, broth and soup cartons.
  • Glass bottles and jars accepted by Lexington’s Recycle Center.
Do Not Recycle Curbside
  • Shredded paper.
  • Electronics, batteries, TVs, computers or phones.
  • Plastic bags, plastic wrap and shipping air pockets.
  • Compressed gas canisters.
  • Clothing, cloth items, hoses, chains or bungee cords.
  • Medical waste.
  • Styrofoam containers, clamshells and cups.
  • K-Cup style pods, foil pans, ceramics, Pyrex or plate glass.

Extra cardboard rules

Additional cardboard can be placed near your carts if boxes are empty, flattened and tied or bundled. Do not set cardboard out on rainy days because recyclable material needs to stay dry.

Need a blue cart or replacement cart? Call LexCall at 311 or 859-425-2255, or submit a service request online through Lexington.

Official Recycling Rules
Official Video Help

Lexington Waste Video Guide — Recycle Center Virtual Tour

This official Lexington recycling video is useful for residents who want to understand what happens after the blue cart is collected. It supports the recycling section by showing why loose, dry and clean materials matter and why plastic bags, batteries, medical waste and other contaminants create problems at the facility.

Best for: New residents, recycling users, apartment residents using drop-off containers, families teaching kids how recycling works, and anyone unsure why some items with recycling symbols still cannot go in Lexington’s blue cart.

This video supports the practical guidance in this article. For exact pickup dates, holiday changes, missed collection, carts, fees, bulky item timing, drop-off hours, and service alerts, residents should still verify details through the official Lexington waste links above.

Gray Yard Waste Cart

Lexington Yard Waste Pickup — Gray Cart, Paper Bags, Branch Bundles and Haley Pike Drop-Off

Yard waste pickup is weekly for residents with city waste collection. It is usually picked up on the same day as blue and green carts. Yard waste includes plant materials such as branches, brush, grass clippings, plant clippings and leaves. The city turns yard waste into mulch at its compost facility.

Accepted Yard Waste Setup
  • Use the gray yard waste cart for loose plant material.
  • Use paper yard waste bags for material that does not fit in the cart.
  • Branches in the cart must be less than four feet long and six inches in diameter.
  • Branches outside the cart must be bundled with twine.
  • Bundles should be less than four feet long and under 50 pounds.
Do Not Put in Gray Cart
  • Food scraps.
  • Plastic bags.
  • Trash.
  • Plant pots.
  • Yard tools.
  • Excess soil.
  • Anything that did not come directly from a plant.

Haley Pike option: Fayette County residents without city waste collection, or residents with extra brush, can use Haley Pike Waste Management Facility at 4216 Hedger Lane for certain yard waste disposal. Lexington lists limited operating days and notes that gates close at 5 PM.

Bulky Items

Lexington Bulky Item Pickup — Mattresses, Appliances, Tires and Furniture

Bulky item pickup is included for households with city waste collection services. Many bulky items, including mattresses, box springs, chairs and desks, can be collected from the curb on the regular collection day. Some items require scheduling through LexCall, the online service request system or the LexCall mobile app.

Common Bulky Items
  • Chairs and desks.
  • Mattresses and box springs.
  • Furniture.
  • Window air conditioners.
  • Freezers, refrigerators, water heaters, washers, dryers and stoves when scheduled properly.
  • Up to four small truck or car tires per week, off rims, when scheduled.
Preparation Details
  • Schedule special item collection when required.
  • Remove doors from refrigerators and freezers.
  • Place mattresses flat on the ground beside carts.
  • Keep items clear of vehicles, fire hydrants, trees, cable wires and other objects.
  • Remove charcoal and gas tanks from grills.
  • Call LexCall if bugs are present on a mattress or box spring.

Electronics warning: Lexington does not offer curbside collection for humidifiers, TVs, microwaves, computers, printers and other electronics. Take electronics to the Electronic Recycling Center or another official disposal option.

Schedule special collection: Call LexCall at 311 or 859-425-2255, submit a service request online, or use the LexCall mobile app.

Bulky Item Rules
Drop-Off & Hazardous Waste

Lexington Trash Drop-Off, Electronics, Household Hazardous Waste and Free Disposal Days

Some items should not go in regular carts. Lexington offers multiple options depending on the material: Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station for certain household waste, Electronic Recycling Center for electronics, Household Hazardous Waste events for hazardous products, and free trash disposal days for Fayette County residents.

Useful Drop-Off Options
  • Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station: 1505 Old Frankfort Pike.
  • Electronic Recycling Center: 1306 Versailles Road.
  • Haley Pike Waste Management Facility: 4216 Hedger Lane.
  • Recycling drop-off containers across Fayette County.
  • Household Hazardous Waste events at 1631 Old Frankfort Pike when scheduled.
Do Not Put in Normal Carts
  • Liquid paint, insecticides, pesticides and flammable chemicals.
  • Batteries and many electronics.
  • Motor oil and filters.
  • Propane tanks and compressed gas canisters.
  • Large hazardous materials.
  • Appliances or materials containing Freon unless handled through the correct disposal route.

Free trash disposal day: Lexington offers Fayette County residents free trash disposal days for non-hazardous household waste. These events are useful for bulky household cleanup, but they do not accept everything. Check the event details before loading your vehicle.

Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station Map

Troubleshooting

Missed Trash Pickup Lexington KY — What to Check Before Calling LexCall

A missed pickup is not always a missed route. It may be a wrong set-out time, blocked cart, overloaded cart, holiday schedule change, private-service address, cart facing the wrong way, or an item that needed special preparation.

1

Check your Lex Find day

Make sure today is the correct pickup day for your address and that you receive city waste collection, not private collection.

2

Check the holiday table

Some makeup days happen before the holiday. If you missed an early makeup day, the cart may not be collected again until the next regular cycle.

3

Check set-out rules

Confirm carts were out by 5 AM, spaced three feet apart, not blocked by vehicles or mailboxes, and removed by 7 PM after collection.

4

Call LexCall or submit a request

Report missed pickup or request a replacement cart by calling 311 or 859-425-2255, or by submitting an online service request.

Best report details: Have your address, cart type, missed material, collection day, set-out time and any nearby obstruction details ready before contacting LexCall.

Official Contacts

Lexington Waste Management Phone Number, Address, Map and Official Resources

NeedOfficial ContactUse This For
LexCall311 or 859-425-2255Missed pickup, replacement carts, bulky item scheduling, cart questions, medical exemption info.
Waste Managementwastemanagement@lexingtonky.govWaste collection questions and department contact.
Waste Management Office675 Byrd Thurman Drive, Lexington, KY 40510Department office listed by LFUCG.
City Contact200 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507General LFUCG contact and city routing.

Waste Management Office Map

Official Lexington Waste Links

FAQ

Lexington Trash Pickup FAQ — Real Resident Questions Answered

Use the official Lex Find tool on Lexington’s waste collection page. Enter your address to confirm the pickup day for trash, recycling and yard waste if your property receives city waste collection.
Place carts at the curb no earlier than 4 PM the day before collection and no later than 5 AM on collection day. Remove carts by 7 PM on collection day.
For residents with city waste collection, trash, recycling and yard waste are generally collected on the same day. Use Lex Find to confirm your address-specific pickup day.
The green cart is for bagged household trash. The blue cart is for accepted loose, dry and clean recyclables. The gray cart is for yard waste only.
No. Lexington says recyclables should be loose, dry and clean. Never place recyclables in a plastic bag, and keep plastic bags, wrap and film out of the blue cart.
Lexington accepts glass bottles and jars in its blue recycling cart, but window glass, door glass, Pyrex, ceramics and plate glass should not go in the blue cart.
Call LexCall at 311 or 859-425-2255, submit an online service request, or use the LexCall mobile app. Pickups are normally made within five business days of the request.
Electronics such as TVs, computers, phones, printers and many battery-powered items should go to the Electronic Recycling Center at 1306 Versailles Road or another official electronics disposal option.
Call LexCall at 311 or 859-425-2255, or submit a service request online. Check your pickup day, holiday schedule and set-out rules before reporting the miss.
This guide focuses on Lexington city waste collection. Private collection days and rules can differ, especially for apartments, businesses or properties outside standard city service.

Source Verification and Editorial Note

Independent information guide — not affiliated with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate trash pickup, recycling collection, yard waste service, bulky item pickup, LexFind, LexCall, drop-off sites or Lexington Waste Management.

Pickup lookup rules, cart colors, set-out times, 2026 holiday makeup dates, trash rules, recycling rules, yard waste rules, bulky item preparation, drop-off information and official contact details were checked against Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government pages as of May 2026. Schedules, fees, event dates, drop-off hours, service notices and city forms can change. Always verify through official Lexington links before acting.

Official Sources — Verified May 2026

Franklin TN Trash Tools

Holiday calculator  |  Buck-A-Bag counter  |  Recycling checker

My regular trash pickup day
How it works: Select your pickup day above. The tool will show every 2026 holiday that affects your Franklin trash collection and your new pickup date for that week.
Number of extra bags (beyond your cart)
0 3 bags
3
Stickers needed
$3.00
Total cost
$1.00
Per bag
3 bags: Buy 3 stickers. Attach one to the outside of each bag — where the crew can see it immediately. Place all 3 bags curbside next to (not inside) your cart by 7:00 AM.
Where to buy Buck-A-Bag stickers
Franklin City Hall
109 Third Ave S, Franklin TN 37064
Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Select Retail Stores
Walmart and Dollar General locations
Call (615) 794-1516 to confirm
🔍
Number 1 mistake: Plastic bags in the blue cart. They jam sorting machines and send entire truckloads to landfill. Take them to Kroger, Publix, or Target drop-off bins instead.