Recycling in Lexington, KY

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Bulky items (opens in new tab) · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
  • Bulky item pickup is free for households with city waste collection; most bulky items, including mattresses and box springs, go out on the regular collection day. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Appliance and tire collections need a special pickup requested through LexCall (311 or 859-425-2255); pickups are normally made within five business days. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Special pickups are normally made within five business days of the request. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Curbside pickup can be scheduled for appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, water heaters, washers, dryers and stoves; appliances containing Freon are accepted, appliances containing oil are not. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Remove doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing them at the curb. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The city does not collect humidifiers, TVs, microwaves, computers, printers or other electronics at the curb; these can go to the Electronic Recycling Center. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Place box springs and mattresses flat on the ground beside the carts on the normal collection day; call LexCall if the item has bugs. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bed mattresses and sleeper-sofa mattresses may be collected separately because of possible bug infestation; call LexCall if there are bugs on the item. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The city picks up up to four small truck or car tires a week from homes with city collection; tires must be off the rims. Checked October 26, 2026.
• About Trash (opens in new tab) · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
  • Most bulky items, such as chairs, desks, mattresses and box springs, can be collected from the curb on the regular collection day. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Paint that is not lead-based can be solidified with dirt, kitty litter, sand or paint-hardening crystals and set next to the green trash cart with the lid on but not sealed; lead paint only at HHW events. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Lead paint can only be disposed of at a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event; usable latex paint can be donated to the Habitat ReStore. Checked October 26, 2026.
• About recycling (opens in new tab) · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
  • Dry cardboard with packing material removed (moving and shipping boxes, pizza boxes without food residue) goes in the blue recycling cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Excess cardboard can be placed at the curb near the carts; boxes must be empty, flattened and tied or bundled, and not set out on rainy days. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Fayette County residents without city waste collection can use the blue mixed drop-off recycling containers around Lexington; material must be loose, not bagged. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Drop-off sites include the Electronic Recycling Center (1306 Versailles Road, 24 hours), Beaumont Middle School, Chinoe Creek Apartments, Veterans Park and Haley Pike Convenience Center (4253 Hedger Ln). Checked October 26, 2026.
• Electronics recycling (opens in new tab) · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
  • The Electronic Recycling Center is at 1306 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY 40508. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Hours: Monday-Tuesday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday noon-4 p.m., Thursday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The center serves Fayette County residents only and does not accept items from businesses, home businesses or nonprofits. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Household hazardous waste (opens in new tab) · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
  • At city HHW collection events, Fayette County residents can drop off household hazardous materials and the city disposes of them free of charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The city offers household hazardous waste collection from time to time; the fall 2026 event was Oct. 17 at 1631 Old Frankfort Pike. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Paint and polyurethane are accepted at HHW collection events; lead paint should be held for an event, and latex paint can be donated to the Habitat ReStore. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Lead-acid batteries cannot go in the trash cart or to the Electronics Recycling Center; recycle them free at Interstate Battery, 1251A Georgetown Rd., or hold them for an HHW event. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The event page links a required HHW survey. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Free trash disposal day (opens in new tab) · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
  • The city and the Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station offer Fayette County residents a free trash disposal day four times a year (January, April, July, October), 6 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1505 Old Frankfort Pike. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Participants must present a valid Fayette County driver license or ID with a Lexington address; no commercial vehicles. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Accepted at no cost: mattresses, box springs, bagged household waste, small household items such as tables or chairs, and up to four tires off the rim. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Appliances, electronics, tire rims and any tires over four per load are accepted only at a cost during the event. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Up to one pickup truck load of non-hazardous household waste; loads must fit in a standard truck bed and be tarped. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Lexington Habitat ReStore (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity of Fayette & Franklin Counties
  • The Lexington Habitat ReStore is at 451 Southland Drive, Lexington, KY 40503; phone 859-254-6724. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Wednesday-Saturday: shopping 10 a.m.-6 p.m., donation drop-off 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Donate Items (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity of Fayette & Franklin Counties
  • Free pickup at homes or businesses for qualifying donations (photos required); Bourbon and Clark County residents must call 859-254-6724. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • No-cost donation pickups are offered in Fayette and surrounding counties, in partnership with Scott/Bourbon Counties Habitat and Habitat of Madison and Clark Counties. Checked October 26, 2026.
• KRS 224.50-868: New tire fee; disposal of replaced tire; retailer requirements (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
  • When a new tire replaces an old one, the retailer must encourage the buyer to leave the old tire with the retailer, or else dispose of it legally, give it to a registered waste tire handler, or reuse it. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers selling new motor vehicle tires must accept, if offered, a waste tire of similar size and type for each new tire sold. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers must post a notice that state law requires them to accept a waste tire for each new tire sold. Checked October 26, 2026.
• KRS 224.50-856: Disposal of waste tires (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
  • Waste tires may be disposed of in Kentucky only by transfer to a permitted solid waste disposal facility, under processing conditions set in law. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Kentucky DWM: Waste Tires (opens in new tab) · Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Waste Management
  • DWM offers free waste tire collection events to Kentucky residents. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The events rotate so that each county gets one every three years, in the spring or fall; schedules are posted every August and February. Checked October 26, 2026.
• KRS 224.50-410: Disposal of lead acid batteries (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
  • Lead-acid batteries may not be put in mixed solid waste or accepted for landfill or incinerator disposal in Kentucky. Checked October 26, 2026.
• KRS 224.50-413: Duties of retail sellers of new lead acid batteries (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
  • Retail sellers of new lead-acid batteries must accept, if offered, one used lead-acid battery for each new one sold, and post a notice saying so. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Kentucky DEP fact sheet: Household Batteries (2017) (opens in new tab) · Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Waste Management
  • DEP tells households to dispose of car (lead-acid) batteries by taking them to the wholesaler or retailer when buying a new battery. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.