Your Lexington Trash Day — Easier to Follow in 2026
If you live in Lexington, Kentucky, the tricky part is usually not the regular curbside day. It is knowing whether your address gets city collection, remembering that trash, recycling, and yard waste are generally collected on the same day, understanding when bulky items need scheduling, and checking holiday weeks where the makeup day can happen before the holiday instead of after it.
📑 What’s in this guide
Lexington’s city waste collection includes weekly trash, recycling, and yard waste for addresses that receive city service. The city says private collection days may differ, so the first thing to confirm is whether your address is on the city system.
How to Find Your Lexington Trash Pickup Day
Lexington uses an official address lookup to show curbside service days. The city says trash, recycling, and yard waste are generally collected on the same day, so the lookup is the fastest way to confirm your weekly schedule.
- Open the official trash lookup. Use Find Your Trash Pickup Day.
- Enter your exact address. This confirms whether your property receives city waste collection.
- Check all three service streams. Lexington generally collects trash, recycling, and yard waste on the same day.
- Use the recycling page too. Visit Find Your Recycling Pickup Day if you need the recycling cart details or drop-off options.
- Watch for alerts. Holiday, weather, and special-event changes can affect collection timing.
Lexington Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
Lexington’s standard residential system is built around weekly collection. That makes it easier than many cities, but there are still separate rules for overflow garbage, bulky items, and holiday makeup days.
| Service | How It Is Set Out | Typical Frequency | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trash | Green trash cart | Weekly | Trash lookup / About Trash |
| Recycling | Blue recycle cart | Weekly | Recycling lookup / About Recycling |
| Yard Waste | Gray yard-waste cart or paper yard-waste bags | Weekly | About Yard Waste |
| Bulky Items | At the curb on regular day, sometimes by request | As needed | Bulky Items |
Lexington also allows some overflow trash next to the green cart if it is securely bagged. The city says an overflow truck may collect those bags later in the day, so a small delay does not always mean the pickup was missed.
Lexington Green Cart, Blue Cart, Gray Cart, and Bulky Item System
Lexington uses separate carts for trash, recycling, and yard waste. This helps keep the city’s landfill, recycle center, and mulch operation working correctly.
Green Cart
Blue Cart
Gray Cart
Bulky Items
Lexington says yard waste is not regular compost. Food scraps should not go in the gray yard cart. Yard waste is mulched, so contamination can cause problems just like bad items in the recycle cart.
⭐ Easy Lexington shortcut
If you are unsure where something goes, think in this order: garbage bagged in the green cart, clean loose recyclables in the blue cart, plant material in the gray cart, and oversized household items handled as bulky pickup or a special request.
Lexington Set-Out Rules
Lexington’s recycling rules are the clearest published curbside timing standard, and the city’s holiday notices repeatedly tell residents to put carts out the evening before because trucks can arrive early.
- Place carts out after 4:00 p.m. the day before collection.
- Have carts ready no later than 5:00 a.m. on collection day.
- Remove carts from the curb by 7:00 p.m.
- Leave at least 3 feet between each cart and nearby objects.
- Keep trash bagged in the green cart and recyclables loose in the blue cart.
Lexington Bulky and Appliance Pickup
Lexington offers a free bulky-item service for households with city waste collection. The city says most bulky items, including mattresses, box springs, appliances, and tire collections, can be collected from the curb on your regular collection day, while some items need special scheduling.
Common bulky or special items may include:
- Chairs and desks
- Mattresses and box springs
- Appliances
- Tires by collection arrangement
- Other oversized household items
- Start with LexCall. Call (859) 425-2255 or 311 to check whether the item can go out normally or needs scheduling.
- Use the service request tool if needed. The city accepts online requests and the LexCall app.
- Plan ahead. Lexington says scheduled pickups are normally made within five business days of the request.
- Check appliance rules. The city offers no-charge household appliance pickup, including units with Freon, but not appliances containing oil.
- Do not assume business waste qualifies. The city’s bulky collection service is aimed at households with city waste service.
⭐ Lexington resident advantage
Because most bulky items can be handled through the regular curbside system, many households can avoid hauling large items themselves. The key is checking first whether the item needs a special request.
Lexington 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule
Lexington’s 2026 holiday schedule is unusual because many makeup days happen before the holiday rather than after it. The city’s official schedule specifically notes this.
| 2026 Holiday | No Collection | Makeup Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Wednesday, December 31, 2025 |
| Martin Luther King Day | Monday, January 19, 2026 | Wednesday, January 21, 2026 |
| President’s Day | Monday, February 16, 2026 | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19, 2026 | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 |
| Independence Day Observed | Friday, July 3, 2026 | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7, 2026 | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 |
| Veteran’s Day | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | No makeup day required |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26, 2026 | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Friday, November 27, 2026 | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24, 2026 | Wednesday, December 23, 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 | Wednesday, December 23, 2026 |
This is one reason Lexington residents should never assume holiday collection simply shifts to the next day. On several 2026 holidays, the city’s published makeup date is earlier in the same week.
What to Do If Lexington Missed Your Pickup
Lexington directs missed-pickup and replacement-cart requests through LexCall 311 or the city’s online service request tool.
- Check the holiday chart first. Several 2026 makeup dates happen before the holiday.
- Leave overflow bags at the curb if used properly. The city says overflow garbage may be collected later by a separate truck.
- Confirm cart rules. Trash should be bagged in the green cart, recyclables should be loose in the blue cart, and yard waste belongs in the gray cart or paper bags.
- Report the issue through LexCall. Use 311, call (859) 425-2255, or submit an online service request.
- Request a replacement cart if needed. The same city channels handle replacement-cart requests.
Lexington Drop-Off and Extra Disposal Options
Lexington also gives residents several ways to handle extra trash, recycling, appliances, electronics, and other materials that are better managed off-curb.
Mixed Recycling Drop-Off Sites
24-hour drop-off locations include the Electronic Recycling Center, Beaumont Middle School, Chinoe Creek Apartments, and Veterans Park
Electronics Recycling Center
1306 Versailles Road for electronics recycling and an additional drop-off recycling location
Appliance Pickup
Free household appliance pickup by request for city waste customers
Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station
1505 Old Frankfort Pike for trash drop-off and special disposal options
Frequently Asked Questions About Lexington Trash Pickup
How do I find my Lexington trash pickup day?
Use the official Find Your Trash Pickup Day page and search your address.
Is trash collected every week in Lexington?
Yes. Lexington city waste collection provides weekly trash service for eligible addresses.
Is recycling collected every week in Lexington?
Yes. Lexington says recycling pickup is provided weekly through city waste collection services.
Is yard waste collected every week in Lexington?
Yes. Yard waste is picked up weekly through city waste collection services and is generally collected on the same day as trash and recycling.
What cart colors does Lexington use?
Lexington uses a green trash cart, a blue recycling cart, and a gray yard-waste cart.
Can I put extra trash next to the green cart?
Yes. Lexington says overflow garbage can be securely bagged and set out next to the other carts, but it may be collected later by an overflow truck.
Do bulky items need to be scheduled?
Most bulky items can go on the curb on your regular collection day, but some items need a special request through LexCall.
How long do scheduled bulky pickups usually take?
Lexington says pickups are normally made within five business days of your request.
What is unusual about Lexington’s 2026 holiday waste schedule?
Several Lexington 2026 makeup days happen before the holiday rather than after it, so you should check the official chart carefully.
Who do I contact for a missed Lexington pickup?
Use LexCall 311, call (859) 425-2255, or submit an online service request.
Official Lexington Trash Collection Resources
Find Your Trash Pickup Day
Official address lookup for city trash service
About Trash
Green-cart rules, overflow garbage guidance, and bulky-item basics
About Recycling
Blue-cart rules, accepted items, and recycling drop-off locations
About Yard Waste
Gray-cart and paper-bag yard-waste rules, plus holiday impacts
Bulky Items
Free bulky-item pickup rules and request options for households
LexCall 311
Missed pickup help, replacement-cart requests, and city service support
Reminder: This guide applies to properties that receive Lexington city waste collection. Private collection schedules can be different, so always verify your address first.