Johnson City Garbage Day, Recycling, Brush & Bulk Pickup Schedule 2026
This guide is written like a Johnson City resident’s practical checklist: how to find your trash day, what time to set carts out, who to call for missed pickup, how recycling works, what brush and leaves require, what to do with furniture or appliances, and where hazardous items should go instead of the garbage cart.
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Johnson City trash pickup schedule garbage collection is handled by Johnson City Solid Waste Services. Residential garbage is collected weekly. The City says containers should be at the curb no later than 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. If you do not know your day, use the official garbage page/trash pickup map or call Solid Waste Services.
Recycling is also weekly for residential customers using the provided recycling bin. Brush, leaf and grass collection are handled separately through the Street Division, so do not treat brush piles or seasonal leaves like normal garbage.
Johnson City Trash Pickup Day Lookup — Confirm Your Route Before 6:00 AM
The first thing Johnson City residents usually need is not a long policy page. They need to know the day their street is served. Johnson City’s official site links to a trash pickup map and also tells residents to call Solid Waste Services at 423-975-2792 if they need the collection day confirmed.
If you recently moved, your neighbour’s pickup day may still be the quickest clue, but do not rely only on that. Check the official map or call Solid Waste because route boundaries, automated cart service and manual collection details can differ by street.
Best first action: Open the official Johnson City garbage page and use the trash pickup link/map, or call 423-975-2792 before setting out carts on a guessed day.
Open Official Garbage PageLocal resident shortcut: Save two numbers separately: 423-975-2792 for garbage/recycling/bulk questions and 423-975-2700 for brush, leaf and grass collection. Calling the wrong division is a common reason residents get delayed answers.
Johnson City Pickup Morning Checklist — What to Check Before the Truck Passes
Most missed pickup problems happen because the cart was not out by 6:00 AM, the wrong item was placed outside the cart, brush was mixed with leaves or trash, or a bulky item needed a separate call. Use this quick checklist before pickup morning.
- Put the City garbage cart at the curb no later than 6:00 AM.
- Bag household trash before placing it in the container.
- Keep the lid closed when possible.
- Do not place hazardous materials, loose liquids, batteries, paint or brush in the trash cart.
- Call Solid Waste for furniture or appliance collection instead of guessing.
- Bring carts back after collection to keep the curb clear.
- Call the Street Division for brush/leaf questions.
- Keep brush separate from leaves, grass, dirt, rocks, lumber and trash.
- Do not place brush on center medians or traffic islands.
- Keep piles away from fences, guy wires, poles and low trees.
- Do not bag fall leaves during the regular loose-leaf collection period.
- Hired contractors must remove the brush they create.
Johnson City Garbage Collection Rules — Weekly Cart Service, Manual Collection and Extra Items
Johnson City’s residential solid waste service includes weekly trash collection using a City-provided 96-gallon container. Some areas or customer types may still have manual collection instructions, especially when grass or bagged leaves are involved. That is why it is important to know whether your home is on automated cart collection or manual collection.
- Use the City-provided 96-gallon garbage cart.
- Place household garbage inside the cart.
- Grass for automated customers should be placed in the City-provided or City-sold cart.
- Do not overload the cart so it cannot be lifted safely.
- Keep the cart accessible for the collection vehicle.
- Call Solid Waste if your cart is damaged, missing or not serviced.
- Place garbage containers at the curb by 6:00 AM.
- Bagged grass must be next to regular garbage containers.
- Bagged grass must weigh no more than 50 pounds each.
- Bagged leaves used after missing a leaf collection period must also stay within the 50-pound limit.
- Keep brush and leaves separate from regular household garbage.
- Call if you are unsure which service type applies to your address.
Do not mix service types: A regular trash cart, bagged grass, brush piles, leaves, furniture and hazardous waste are handled differently. When residents put everything in one pile, the City may leave part of it behind until it is separated or scheduled correctly.
Johnson City Recycling Pickup — What Can Go Curbside and What Should Go to Drop Sites
Johnson City provides weekly recycling using a City-provided bin for residential customers. The City’s recycling guidance says plastics marked with #1 or #2 are still accepted, but the accepted plastic list is narrower than many residents expect. The safest recycling rule is simple: clean, accepted material only.
- Cardboard.
- Paper.
- Aluminum drink cans.
- Glass.
- Accepted #1 and #2 plastic containers such as milk jugs, water bottles, juice containers and soda bottles.
- Laundry detergent, fabric softener, bleach and windshield solvent bottles when marked as accepted plastics.
- Do not assume every plastic container is accepted.
- Do not include food-soiled material.
- Do not place batteries in the curbside recycling bin.
- Do not mix trash with recyclables.
- Do not use recycling as overflow garbage.
- Do not rely on another county’s recycling rules; Johnson City’s accepted list is specific.
Johnson City Recycling Drop Site Locations
The City also lists recycling drop sites. Accepted drop-site items include cardboard, aluminum cans, glass, paper and accepted #1 and #2 plastics. One official drop-off reference is the Solid Waste Services Complex at 91 New Street.
Before you drive: Check the official recycling page for current drop-site rules because accepted materials can change when recycling markets or contractor rules change.
Official Recycling PageJohnson City Brush, Leaf and Grass Collection — The Rules Residents Usually Miss
Brush, leaf and grass collection is handled by the Johnson City Street Department. This matters because brush is not the same as weekly garbage. Brush routes, seasonal leaf periods and grass rules have their own preparation requirements.
- Brush includes tree trimmings, shrubbery without roots, limbs and similar homeowner-generated material.
- Brush piles must not exceed 10-foot lengths.
- Piles should be straight and behind or on the curb.
- Do not place brush on center medians or islands.
- Keep brush away from fences, guy wires, poles and under trees.
- Do not mix brush with leaves, grass, dirt, rocks, lumber or trash.
- Fall leaf collection runs from November to mid-December.
- The City says at least two pickups should occur in each neighborhood during fall leaf collection.
- Leaves should be piled behind the curb, not in the street.
- Leaves are not collected in alleys.
- Spring leaf collection takes place during the first two full weeks in April.
- Open burning of brush, leaves and other items inside city limits is prohibited.
Contractor warning: If you hire someone to trim or remove trees, shrubs or similar material, the City says the contractor is required to remove the resulting brush from the property. Leaving contractor debris for City pickup can lead to a citation.
Brush or leaf question? Call the Street Division at 423-975-2700 or use the official brush/leaf page and route map.
Brush / Leaf RulesJohnson City Bulk Trash Pickup — Furniture, Appliances, E-Waste and Spring Cleaning Drop-Off
Furniture and appliances are not the same as weekly cart garbage. Johnson City’s Solid Waste FAQ says residents should call the Solid Waste Division at 423-975-2792 to schedule furniture or appliance collection. If you have a large cleanout, seasonal City drop-off events may also be available.
- Furniture.
- Appliances.
- Large household items that do not fit in the cart.
- Metal items that may be recyclable during special events.
- E-waste accepted at certain City drop-off events.
- Building materials accepted only when the City event or facility says so.
- Paints.
- Tires.
- Herbicides and insecticides.
- Paint thinners and hazardous liquids.
- Large contractor debris.
- Brush mixed into bulk piles.
Spring cleaning event example: In 2025 the City announced two drop-off sites for Washington County residents to deposit trash and bulk material, with accepted materials including building materials, e-waste, metal for recycling and bulk items. Because these events are date-specific, always check the current City news page before loading your vehicle.
Johnson City Holiday Garbage Pickup 2026 — What Usually Changes and What Usually Does Not
Johnson City’s official garbage page says residential waste is collected on all holidays except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The City’s holiday schedule page says customers scheduled for Thanksgiving collection have collection the following Saturday. Christmas timing should be checked on the current City holiday notice because the exact collection adjustment depends on the weekday.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | Check official notice, but City generally highlights Thanksgiving and Christmas as the main garbage/recycling pauses. | Residents may assume every holiday delays pickup, but Johnson City often runs normal service on many holidays. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | Check City holiday posting before setting out. | Holiday offices may close while solid waste can still run. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, July 4 | Check if your normal service day is affected. | Prior City notices have reminded residents garbage/recycling can remain on regular schedule. |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7 | Check City solid waste notice. | Prior City notices have reminded customers that collection can remain regular. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26 | Thanksgiving collection is the main scheduled pause; check the official Saturday makeup notice. | Do not leave carts out on the holiday without checking the makeup day. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | Check the current City holiday garbage/recycling schedule. | Christmas is one of the City’s listed collection exceptions. |
Holiday-week advice: Search the City website or call 423-975-2792 before holiday weeks. Johnson City’s pattern is not the same as many cities that delay every federal holiday, so a generic national holiday calendar can be wrong.
Johnson City Waste Video Guide — Official Video Check
No official relevant embeddable video was found from the City of Johnson City Solid Waste/Recycling pages, City public works pages, or an official city waste channel at the time of writing. Because no verified official solid-waste video was found, this article does not embed a random YouTube, private hauler, news, or creator video.
Best for: Johnson City residents should use the official written links in this guide for garbage day, recycling, brush pickup, household hazardous waste, bulky items and holiday collection until the City publishes or links an official relevant video.
If Johnson City later publishes an official garbage, recycling, brush, leaf, bulk-item or hazardous-waste video, it should be added here using only the official embed URL or the official City-linked YouTube source.
Johnson City Household Hazardous Waste, Batteries, Oil and Drop-Off Rules
Household hazardous waste should not go in the normal garbage cart. Johnson City lists several household hazardous waste and miscellaneous disposal paths, including the Solid Waste Services Complex at 91 New Street for certain items. The City’s recycling guide and hazardous-waste page should be checked before bringing materials because accepted items and hours can change.
- Household batteries.
- Rechargeable batteries.
- Oil and oil filters.
- Antifreeze.
- Paint and paint-related products.
- Automotive fluids and certain household chemicals.
- Solid Waste Services Complex — 91 New Street.
- Iris Glen Environmental Center — 1705 E. Main Street.
- Washington County household hazardous waste events.
- Tennessee household hazardous waste program guidance.
- Auto-parts recycling options for some fluids and batteries.
- City spring cleaning drop-off events when announced.
Before drop-off: Call first if you have paint, chemicals, oil, batteries, e-waste, construction debris or bulky materials. The wrong facility trip wastes time and may not be accepted.
Hazardous Waste InfoMissed Trash Pickup Johnson City — What to Check Before You Call
If your garbage or recycling was not collected, start with the basic pickup rules. Was it the correct day? Was the container out by 6:00 AM? Was the item actually garbage, recycling, brush, leaves, bulk or hazardous waste? Calling with this information helps the City route the issue faster.
Confirm the day
Use the official trash pickup map or call 423-975-2792. Do not report too early if you are unsure of the route day.
Check the 6:00 AM rule
Containers must be at the curb no later than 6:00 AM. A cart set out after the truck passes is not normally a missed pickup.
Identify the material
Household garbage, recycling, brush, grass, leaves, furniture, appliances, e-waste and hazardous waste have different rules and contacts.
Call the right division
Call Solid Waste Services at 423-975-2792 for garbage, recycling and bulk questions. Call Street Division at 423-975-2700 for brush, leaf and grass collection.
Call script: “My address is ___, my normal pickup day is ___, the material was ___, it was placed out by ___, and the issue is ___.” This helps the office decide whether the route missed you, the material was rejected, or another division handles it.
Johnson City Garbage Collection Phone Numbers, Official Links, Address and Map
| Need | Official Contact | Use This For |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Waste Services | 423-975-2792 | Garbage day, missed garbage/recycling, furniture/appliance pickup, recycling and solid waste questions. |
| Street Division | 423-975-2700 | Brush, leaf and grass collection questions. |
| City Hall | 601 E. Main Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 | General city routing and department help. |
| Solid Waste Services Complex | 91 New Street, Johnson City, TN | Recycling drop-off and certain household hazardous waste/miscellaneous disposal options. |
| Iris Glen Environmental Center | 1705 E. Main Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 | Disposal facility questions; call ahead for accepted items, rates and hours. |
City Hall Map — Johnson City, TN
Official Johnson City Waste Links
Related Trash Pickup Guides — Nearby and Similar Collection Help
These related guides help readers compare weekly cart rules, bulk item pickup, holiday delays and recycling rules in other city programs. Use them when you are moving, comparing Tennessee-area service patterns or planning a large cleanout.
Johnson City Trash Pickup FAQ — Local Questions Residents Actually Ask
Source Verification and Editorial Note
Independent information guide — not affiliated with the City of Johnson City, Washington County or any private hauler. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate garbage trucks, recycling pickup, brush routes, leaf collection, bulk pickup, disposal facilities or hazardous-waste events.
Weekly garbage guidance, set-out time, recycling accepted items, brush rules, leaf collection rules, grass instructions, bulk item scheduling, holiday collection guidance, spring cleaning drop-off event information and hazardous-waste disposal paths were checked against official City of Johnson City and related public resources as of May 2026. Routes, holiday notices, event dates, accepted items and facility rules can change. Always verify through the official links before acting.
Official Sources — Verified May 2026
- Johnson City — Garbage Collection
- Johnson City — Recycling
- Johnson City — Curbside Recycling Information
- Johnson City — Brush, Leaf & Grass Collection
- Johnson City — Household Hazardous Waste & Miscellaneous Disposal
- Johnson City — Holiday Closing / Collection Schedule
- Johnson City — Spring Cleaning Drop-Off Event Example
- Tennessee — Household Hazardous Waste Program
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