Murfreesboro Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026

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Murfreesboro, Tennessee – Residential Solid Waste Guide – Updated May 2026

Murfreesboro Trash Pickup, Garbage Collection & Holiday Slide 2026

This local resident-first guide explains Murfreesboro weekly garbage pickup, 6 AM cart rules, holiday slide dates, additional cart fees, bulky item charges, brush and limb pickup, recycling drop-off, hazardous waste events, and what to do when your cart is missed.

Updated May 2026 12 min read Official city sources checked Murfreesboro, TN 37129 / 37130
Quick Resident Answer
What do I need to do for Murfreesboro garbage pickup?

Murfreesboro trash pickup schedule garbage collection is handled by the City of Murfreesboro Solid Waste Department for residential curbside household garbage and yard waste. Regular garbage collection days are Monday through Thursday, and the city provides one free 96-gallon garbage cart to single-family households.

Place bagged garbage inside the cart and have the cart curbside before 6:00 AM on your collection day. If you are unsure which route serves your address, call Solid Waste at 615-893-3681. For holiday reminders, text BoroGarbage to 38276.

Start Here

Murfreesboro Trash Pickup Day Lookup — How to Confirm Your Weekly Route

Before 6 AM
Cart Deadline
Mon-Thu
Regular Routes
Weekly
Garbage Service
96 Gal
City Cart
38276
Text Alerts

Murfreesboro does not use one citywide garbage day. Residential routes run Monday through Thursday, and your correct day depends on where your home sits inside the city service area. If you recently moved into a subdivision, rental home, newly built house or edge-of-city address, do not guess from a neighbor’s cart. Call Solid Waste and confirm your exact address.

The most practical local rule is simple: if your street usually sees the truck early, put the cart out the night before. The official deadline is before 6 AM, and the city repeatedly reminds residents that crews start early. A cart placed after the truck has passed is usually not treated as a missed pickup.

Need your exact day? Call Murfreesboro Solid Waste with your address and ask which Monday-Thursday route serves the property.

Call 615-893-3681

New resident trap: Existing homes should already have carts assigned. For a new home without a cart, the city says to call Solid Waste and request cart delivery. Apartment complexes usually notify residents of disposal options, so apartment renters should ask management before assuming city curbside cart service applies.

Resident Checklist

Murfreesboro Pickup Morning Checklist — What I Would Check Before 6 AM

This is the real-life checklist a Murfreesboro resident needs on collection morning. It focuses on what creates missed pickups, city fees, extra charges and neighbor complaints.

For Single-Family Homes
  • Confirm your regular Monday-Thursday route.
  • Bag garbage before placing it inside the cart.
  • Put the cart curbside before 6 AM.
  • Use the city-provided 96-gallon cart.
  • Remove the cart the same day after service.
  • Do not leave bulky furniture beside the cart without scheduling.
For Apartments, Townhomes and Rentals
  • Ask the property manager whether the site uses city carts, dumpsters or a private hauler.
  • Do not place furniture by a dumpster unless the complex allows it.
  • Ask where recycling is handled; city curbside recycling is not automatic for every property.
  • For move-out items, ask management before placing anything outside.
  • If the water bill is not in your name, you may not be able to schedule certain billed services.
Night Before Put bagged garbage inside the cart and place it curbside if your route runs early.
By 6 AM Cart must already be on the street before crews arrive.
After Pickup Remove the cart the same day.
If Left Behind Check late cart, wrong day, non-bagged waste, bulky item, or holiday slide before calling.
Cart Rules

Murfreesboro Garbage Cart Rules — 96-Gallon Cart, Bagged Trash and Same-Day Removal

The City provides weekly residential collection service and gives each single-family household a 96-gallon garbage cart. The official procedure is clear: place garbage in bags before putting it into the cart, set the cart curbside by 6 AM on collection day, and remove the cart the same day.

Do This
  • Use the city cart assigned to your address.
  • Bag household garbage before it goes inside the cart.
  • Set the cart on the street before 6 AM.
  • Keep the cart accessible for the automated truck.
  • Call for a broken cart or missing cart.
  • Use official bulky pickup for furniture and large items.
Avoid This
  • Do not place loose household trash directly into the cart.
  • Do not set the cart out after the truck passed.
  • Do not assume crews will pick up anything left at the curb.
  • Do not mix brush piles with lumber, household trash or foreign debris.
  • Do not place brush on vacant lots or vacant properties.
  • Do not leave extra items without checking charges and scheduling.

Important resident reality: The city FAQ says crews do not pick up anything you set out by the curb. Regular garbage service empties the cart. Furniture and other bulky items require a scheduled appointment.

Holiday Slide

Murfreesboro TN 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule — When Your Collection Slides

Murfreesboro uses a “holiday slide” for several 2026 holidays. When the holiday slide applies, Monday service slides to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday and Thursday to Friday. For single-day impacts, only the affected later route may move.

Text alert: The official 2026 schedule says to text borogarbage to 38276 for text notifications on schedule service changes.

Official Holiday Page
Holiday2026 DateDayMurfreesboro Collection Impact
New Year’s DayJanuary 1, 2026ThursdayThursday service slides to Friday.
Martin Luther King Jr. DayJanuary 19, 2026MondayHoliday slide: Monday to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday.
Presidents DayFebruary 16, 2026MondayHoliday slide all week.
Memorial DayMay 25, 2026MondayHoliday slide all week.
JuneteenthJune 19, 2026FridayNo change in schedule.
Independence DayJuly 4, 2026SaturdayObserved July 3; no change in schedule.
Labor DaySeptember 7, 2026MondayHoliday slide all week.
Veterans DayNovember 11, 2026WednesdayWednesday service slides to Thursday; Thursday service slides to Friday.
Thanksgiving DayNovember 26, 2026ThursdayThursday service slides to Friday.
Christmas EveDecember 24, 2026ThursdayNo change in schedule.
Christmas DayDecember 25, 2026FridayNo change in schedule.
New Year’s Day 2027January 1, 2027FridayNo change in schedule.

Holiday week shortcut: If a Monday holiday has the holiday slide, do not skip your pickup. Put the cart out one day later than normal, still before 6 AM. If your normal day is Thursday during a full holiday slide week, expect Friday service.

Extra Cart

Murfreesboro Additional Trash Cart — Cost, Monthly Fee and Who Can Buy One

If one 96-gallon cart is not enough for your household, Murfreesboro lets residents buy an additional trash cart through the Solid Waste Department. The official additional cart page lists the cart purchase price as $74.75 effective November 1, 2025, and says a $13.50 per cart, per month service fee is added to the water resource bill.

How to Buy an Additional Cart
  • Call Solid Waste at 615-893-3681.
  • Mail a check or money order payable to City of Murfreesboro Solid Waste Department.
  • Visit the Solid Waste Department at 4765 Florence Road.
  • In-person cash must be exact change if paying cash.
  • Cart purchases are non-refundable.
What Residents Miss
  • Only the person listed on the water bill is permitted to purchase additional carts.
  • Additional cart service creates an ongoing fee on the water resource bill.
  • Buying a cart does not remove bulky item rules.
  • Broken carts should be reported to Solid Waste.
  • New homes without carts should call for cart delivery.

Billing check: If your water resource bill looks wrong after a cart purchase or cart change, call Solid Waste. The city specifically tells residents to check the bill and contact the department if there is an error.

Large Items

Murfreesboro Bulky Item Pickup — Furniture, Mattresses, Sectionals and Water Bill Charges

Bulky items are not regular weekly cart trash. Murfreesboro says furniture items require a scheduled appointment by calling 615-893-3681. Charges are added to the water bill, and only the person listed on the water bill is permitted to schedule a bulky item collection.

Bulky Item Fees
  • $10 per item for the first three items.
  • $30 for each item over three items.
  • Three items would be $30.
  • Four items would be $60.
  • All charges are added to the water bill.
How Items Are Counted
  • Mattress and matching box spring count as one item.
  • Matching headboard, footboard and bed rails count as one item.
  • A sectional sofa counts as one item.
  • Call before setting items out.
  • Do not assume a pile at the curb will be collected.

Schedule bulky pickup before curb placement. Have your address, item count and water bill account holder information ready.

Schedule Bulky Pickup
Yard Waste

Murfreesboro Yard Waste Pickup — Brush, Limbs, Leaves, Grass Clippings and Mulch Facility Rules

Murfreesboro collects yard waste, brush and limbs, but brush pickup is not the same as regular weekly cart garbage. The city says the goal is to circle the city every 14 days, and the FAQ notes brush pickup is not on a fixed schedule. Preparation matters because mixed debris can stop collection.

Brush and Limb Rules
  • Place tree limbs and brush parallel to the street.
  • Put debris in one pile, not several small piles.
  • Do not place brush longer than 6 feet or 8 inches in diameter.
  • Do not place brush in ditches or over mailboxes, fences, meter lids or drainage grates.
  • Do not place brush under low power or cable lines.
Avoid These Yard Waste Mistakes
  • No lumber in brush piles.
  • No household trash mixed with brush.
  • No foreign debris in brush piles.
  • No brush on vacant lots or vacant properties.
  • No parked vehicle near the brush pile during daylight hours.

Loose Grass Clippings Charge

The city lists a $5.00 per occurrence charge for loose grass clippings. To avoid the charge, place grass clippings in biodegradable paper bags for curbside collection.

Free mulch note: Murfreesboro says mulch made from collected yard debris is available free to the public at 4765 Florence Road, Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 2 PM.

Recycling & HHW

Murfreesboro Recycling and Hazardous Waste — Convenience Center, Accepted Items and 2026 HHW Dates

Murfreesboro’s official recycling page focuses on convenience center recycling and Rutherford County recycling locations. The city also notes that private businesses provide curbside residential recycling in Murfreesboro, so do not assume city garbage pickup includes a weekly curbside recycling cart at every address.

City Recycling Convenience Center
  • Address: 648 W. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
  • Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 AM to 3 PM.
  • Commercial tags are not permitted.
  • Accepted: corrugated cardboard, newspapers, #1 and #2 plastics, steel and aluminum cans, and white paper.
Household Hazardous Waste 2026
  • April 11, 2026: 8 AM to Noon.
  • October 10, 2026: 8 AM to Noon.
  • Location: City of Murfreesboro Solid Waste Mulch Facility, 4765 Florence Road.
  • Questions: Rutherford County Solid Waste 615-848-7739 or TDEC 888-891-8332.

Electronics and paint note: The city says alkaline batteries, paint and electronics are no longer accepted at mobile HHW collections. It also notes that the Leanna Convenience Center at 4303 Sulphur Springs Road accepts electronics, oil-based paint and fluorescent bulbs while Haley Road Operations is temporarily closed for remodeling.

Troubleshooting

Missed Trash Pickup Murfreesboro TN — What to Check Before You Call

Before reporting a missed pickup, diagnose the most common problems. Many “missed” carts are actually late carts, wrong-holiday-slide days, bulky items placed without scheduling, loose yard debris charges, or brush piles mixed with trash.

1

Confirm today is your normal route or holiday-slide day

Regular routes run Monday through Thursday. On holiday slide weeks, your pickup may move one day later.

2

Check whether the cart was out before 6 AM

Crews start early. A cart set out after the truck passed is usually a late set-out, not a missed pickup.

3

Separate cart trash, bulky items and brush

The city empties what is inside the garbage container. Furniture needs an appointment, and brush has separate preparation rules.

4

Call the Solid Waste office

Call 615-893-3681 with your address, normal collection day, what was missed, and whether the cart was out before 6 AM.

ProblemMost Likely CauseBest Action
Cart not emptiedLate cart, wrong holiday-slide day, blocked cart or wrong route assumption.Call Solid Waste after checking the schedule.
Furniture left behindBulky item not scheduled.Call 615-893-3681 and schedule billed pickup.
Brush pile left behindMixed with trash/lumber or placed incorrectly.Separate debris and follow brush rules.
Loose grass chargeLoose grass clippings placed at curb/gutter.Use biodegradable paper bags to avoid the charge.
Recycling confusionCity curbside recycling is not universal like cart garbage.Use the convenience center or county/private recycling options.
Drop-Off & Contact

Murfreesboro Solid Waste Locations, Recycling Center, Mulch Facility and Official Contacts

Use the right location for the right material. The Solid Waste Department office and mulch facility are at Florence Road, while the City Recycling Convenience Center is on West Main Street. City Hall is separate and should not be confused with the Solid Waste operating location.

NeedOfficial Location / ContactUse This For
Solid Waste Department4765 Florence Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615-893-3681
Garbage carts, route questions, broken carts, bulky pickup, yard waste questions.
City Mulching Facility4765 Florence Road
Monday-Friday, 6 AM-2 PM
Brush, limb and leaf drop-off; free mulch availability.
Recycling Convenience Center648 W. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Tue/Wed/Fri, 7 AM-3 PM
Cardboard, paper, #1/#2 plastics, steel/aluminum cans, white paper.
Rutherford County Solid Waste615-848-7739HHW questions and county recycling/convenience center guidance.
TDEC888-891-8332Household hazardous waste questions.
City Hall111 West Vine Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
615-893-5210
General City of Murfreesboro contact, not the main trash operations office.

Solid Waste Department Map

Helpful Internal Links

Related Trash Pickup Guides — Holiday Slides, Bulk Pickup and City Collection Rules

Use these related guides when comparing holiday-slide rules, large-item pickup, recycling drop-off and missed pickup reporting. They also help visitors move between similar curbside-service problems instead of landing on a dead-end page.

Internal-link note: After publishing, link back to this Murfreesboro page from any Tennessee, holiday schedule, bulky pickup, yard waste or recycling drop-off article to reduce orphan-page risk and support indexing.

FAQ

Murfreesboro Trash Pickup FAQ — Local Questions Residents Actually Ask

Murfreesboro regular residential garbage collection days are Monday through Thursday. Your exact day depends on your route and address. Call the Solid Waste Department at 615-893-3681 if you are unsure.
Place your garbage cart curbside before 6:00 AM on your collection day. The city notes that crews start early, so putting it out the night before is safer than waiting until morning.
Yes. Each single-family household is provided a 96-gallon garbage cart. Existing homes should already have assigned carts, while new homes without carts should call Solid Waste for delivery.
The official additional cart page lists additional carts at $74.75 each effective November 1, 2025. It also lists a $13.50 per cart, per month service fee added to the water resource bill. Only the person listed on the water bill may purchase additional carts.
Call 615-893-3681 to schedule bulky item collection. The city lists charges of $10 per item for the first three items and $30 for each item over three. Charges are added to the water bill, and only the person listed on the water bill can schedule the collection.
Yes. Murfreesboro collects limbs, brush and discarded Christmas trees from city residents using knuckleboom crews. The city says the goal is to circle the city every 14 days, but brush is not on a fixed schedule.
The City’s Recycling Convenience Center is at 648 W. Main St. and is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 AM to 3 PM. Accepted items include corrugated cardboard, newspapers, #1 and #2 plastics, steel and aluminum cans, and white paper.
The 2026 holiday schedule includes slides for New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day. Juneteenth, Independence Day observed, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day 2027 show no schedule change on the official PDF.
Text BoroGarbage to 38276 to receive text notifications about garbage collection schedule service changes, especially around holidays and weather delays.
Call the Murfreesboro Solid Waste Department at 615-893-3681. Before calling, confirm the cart was out before 6 AM, today was the correct route day, and the item was not a bulky item or brush pile that needed separate handling.

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.