Memphis Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Memphis recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
Accepted items
- Paper (newspaper, magazines, mail, office paper, envelopes)
- Cardboard (broken down shipping boxes and rigid paperboard containers)
- Plastics (clean plastic bottles and jugs)
- Metal (empty aluminum beverage cans and steel soup tins; labels OK and rinsing optional)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and plastic film wrap
- Styrofoam cups and packaging peanuts
- Garden hoses, ropes, and electrical cords
- Yard waste and organic lawn trimmings
- Shredded paper and confidential documents
Can you recycle these items in Memphis?
Can you recycle cardboard in Memphis?
AcceptedBreak down and flatten boxes completely before placing loose in gray cart.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Memphis?
Not acceptedGrease-soaked pizza boxes belong in the regular household garbage cart.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Memphis?
AcceptedEmpty beverage bottles; rinsing is optional and labels are acceptable.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Memphis?
AcceptedEmpty milk and detergent jugs; place loose in the recycling cart.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Memphis?
Not acceptedRigid PVC and vinyl materials are not accepted curbside.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Memphis?
Not acceptedPlastic grocery bags and films tangle sorting equipment; return to retail drop-offs.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Memphis?
AcceptedClean plastic containers and tubs are accepted loose.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Memphis?
Not acceptedPolystyrene and Styrofoam are strictly prohibited in the recycling cart.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Memphis?
Not acceptedMixed resin plastics are not accepted in curbside recycling.
Can you recycle glass in Memphis?
Accepted with conditionsCurbside carts do not accept glass; drop off glass bottles and jars at city recycling convenience centers.
Can you recycle aluminum in Memphis?
AcceptedEmpty aluminum beverage cans and steel soup cans loose into the cart.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Memphis?
Not acceptedSmall paper shreds cannot be recovered by automated sorting screens; place in garbage.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Memphis Solid Waste Management · municipal dpw
Phone: 901-636-6500
125 N Main St, Room 628Memphis, TN 38103
These collection rules cover Zone City of Memphis Curbside Service Area.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Memphis, TN?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place carts at the curb no earlier than 5 P.M. that day prior to collection. Remove carts by 8 A.M. the day following collection.. These rules apply to Zone City of Memphis Curbside Service Area.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Memphis?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Memphis Curbside Service Area.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Memphis?
Outside the Cart collection is a bi-monthly service for City of Memphis residential customers. Twice per month on your regular collection day, the City will pick up your yard debris in excess of two bags and outside the cart bulk waste such as tree limbs and furniture. Bulky waste piles must not exceed 10 cubic yards in total volume. The listed limit is 10 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 901-636-6500 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Memphis Curbside Service Area.
What items are accepted for recycling in Memphis?
The listed accepted materials are Paper (newspaper, magazines, mail, office paper, envelopes), Cardboard (broken down shipping boxes and rigid paperboard containers), Plastics (clean plastic bottles and jugs), Metal (empty aluminum beverage cans and steel soup tins; labels OK and rinsing optional). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and plastic film wrap, Styrofoam cups and packaging peanuts, Garden hoses, ropes, and electrical cords, Yard waste and organic lawn trimmings, Shredded paper and confidential documents. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Memphis Curbside Service Area.