Lexington Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Lexington recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, 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
- Aluminum and steel cans: soda cans, beer cans, canned food tins (labels ok), and metal lids
- Plastic bottles, jugs and jars: clean #1 and #2 plastic with screw tops (leave caps on)
- Cardboard: corrugated shipping boxes and clean pizza boxes (discard greasy parts)
- Box board: cereal boxes, paper egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and tissue boxes
- Paper: office paper, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, and newspapers
- Cartons: milk, juice, broth, and soup cartons
- Glass bottles and jars: clean colored and clear food and beverage glass
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and film tanglers (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart)
- Shredded paper (clogs sorting machinery)
- Plastics #3 through #7 (not accepted curbside)
- Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, packaging, and takeout containers)
- Electronics, batteries, and string lights (take to Electronic Recycling Center)
- Hoses, cords, chains, and wires (tanglers)
Can you recycle these items in Lexington?
Can you recycle cardboard in Lexington?
AcceptedFlatten clean cardboard boxes; place loose inside blue cart or place excess flattened cardboard next to cart.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Lexington?
AcceptedClean cardboard pizza box sections are accepted; tear off and discard greasy or food-soiled portions.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Lexington?
AcceptedRinse clean PET #1 beverage bottles and jars; leave screw caps attached and place loose in cart.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Lexington?
AcceptedRinse clean HDPE #2 jugs and bottles; leave caps on and place loose in cart.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Lexington?
Not acceptedPlastics #3 through #7 are not accepted in the Lexington curbside recycling stream.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Lexington?
Not acceptedPlastic grocery bags and films are not accepted; bring to grocery retail drop-off bins.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Lexington?
Not acceptedPolypropylene #5 plastics are not accepted at Lexington Recycle Center.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Lexington?
Not acceptedStyrofoam packaging and takeout containers labeled #6 are prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Lexington?
Not acceptedPlastics #7 and miscellaneous resins are prohibited from curbside recycling.
Can you recycle glass in Lexington?
AcceptedRinse glass bottles and jars clean; place loose in the blue recycling cart.
Can you recycle aluminum in Lexington?
AcceptedRinse aluminum soda and beer cans clean; place loose in cart.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Lexington?
Not acceptedShredded paper ruins sorting machinery; take to community paper shredding events.
DPW & sanitation contact
Lexington-Fayette Division of Waste Management · municipal dpw
Phone: 859-425-2255
200 E. Main St.Lexington, KY 40507
These collection rules cover Zone Lexington Urban County Curbside Service Area.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Lexington, KY?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place carts on the curb no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before your collection and no later than 5 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be removed from the curb by 7 p.m. on collection day. Position carts 3 feet apart with handles facing your home.. These rules apply to Zone Lexington Urban County Curbside Service Area.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Lexington?
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 Lexington Urban County Curbside Service Area.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Lexington?
Bulky item pickup is a free service for households with city collection services. Most bulky items, including mattresses and furniture, are collected from the curb on your regular collection day. Appliances and tires require scheduling a special pickup through LexCall 311. The listed limit is 4 items per pickup. Advance notice is not required under the listed rules. Contact sanitation at 859-425-2255 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Lexington Urban County Curbside Service Area.
What items are accepted for recycling in Lexington?
The listed accepted materials are Aluminum and steel cans: soda cans, beer cans, canned food tins (labels ok), and metal lids, Plastic bottles, jugs and jars: clean #1 and #2 plastic with screw tops (leave caps on), Cardboard: corrugated shipping boxes and clean pizza boxes (discard greasy parts), Box board: cereal boxes, paper egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and tissue boxes, Paper: office paper, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, and newspapers, Cartons: milk, juice, broth, and soup cartons, Glass bottles and jars: clean colored and clear food and beverage glass. Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and film tanglers (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart), Shredded paper (clogs sorting machinery), Plastics #3 through #7 (not accepted curbside), Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, packaging, and takeout containers), Electronics, batteries, and string lights (take to Electronic Recycling Center), Hoses, cords, chains, and wires (tanglers). Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Lexington Urban County Curbside Service Area.