Trash, Recycling & Bulk Pick-Up in Gallatin, Tennessee

Gallatin residents with City trash service can find weekly garbage routes, holiday changes and monthly bulk-pickup dates through the City of Gallatin. The City’s recycling center at 641 Long Hollow Pike accepts sorted cardboard, paper, metal, glass, clothing and certain plastics from Gallatin residents. Larger loads, electronics and some specialty materials may require the Sumner County Resource Authority at 625 Rappahannock Wire Road. Household hazardous waste should not go in regular trash; use a scheduled Tennessee household hazardous-waste collection event or contact the appropriate local agency.

If you live inside Gallatin city limits, the City of Gallatin handles residential garbage collection, brush pickup, bulk-item pickup and its own recycling drop-off program. The City’s Environmental Services Department can help residents find collection routes, report service questions and determine whether an item qualifies for pickup..

For recycling, start with the City of Gallatin Recycling Center at 641 Long Hollow Pike. For electronics, larger disposal loads and several specialty materials, contact the Sumner County Resource Authority at 625 Rappahannock Wire Road before visiting. Household hazardous waste—including many chemicals, pesticides, oils and batteries—should not be placed in regular garbage.

Quick guide to Gallatin waste services

Need — Where to start — Important limitation

Weekly household garbage — City of Gallatin Environmental Services — Applies to eligible City trash customers within the service area

Recyclables — City Recycling Center, 641 Long Hollow Pike — Gallatin residents only; items should be clean, empty and dry

Large household items — City bulk pickup request form — Current City trash customers only; advance scheduling required

Electronics — Sumner County Resource Authority — Call first about acceptance, fees and current operating rules

Construction debris or large loads — Sumner County Resource Authority — Rates and access rules vary by material and current facility operations

Household hazardous waste — Tennessee/Sumner County collection program — Do not place hazardous materials in regular trash or recycling

City of Gallatin garbage collection

The City says residential garbage is collected Monday through Thursday. Residents should place the garbage container at the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection day and return it to the property within 24 hours. Containers should have fully closed lids and approximately three feet of clearance from mailboxes, poles and other obstructions.

The City’s automated collection equipment also requires the container handles to face away from the street. Yard waste, construction materials, tires and hazardous materials such as paint, gasoline and needles should not be placed in the regular garbage container. The City warns that service may be refused when collection requirements are not met.

Find your pickup day

Use the City’s online pickup-route lookup or call Environmental Services at 615-452-2147 if you need help identifying a route. Holiday schedules can change the regular collection day, so check the City’s current holiday schedule rather than relying on a typical weekly pattern.

Gallatin also lists two free “courtesy dumps” per calendar year for eligible customers. Residents with disabilities may qualify for backdoor pickup, subject to the City’s approval requirements. Households with driveways at least 400 feet long may request house-side pickup when the driveway is accessible to City trucks and has a turnaround; the City lists an $8-per-month charge for that service.

Starting or changing City trash service

The City describes garbage service as an optional weekly service and says the charge is $21 per container per month beginning July 1, 2025. A resident must obtain a compatible garbage container and submit a trash-service application; buying a container alone does not activate service. The City lists a $65 price for a City-provided container through Gallatin Public Utilities, subject to current terms.

Because service charges and container procedures can change, confirm the current amount and application instructions before starting service.

Gallatin recycling drop-off center

Gallatin’s recycling program is a drop-off service rather than curbside collection. The City lists the recycling center at 641 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066, with phone number 615-452-2147, and identifies the program as being for Gallatin residents. The City recycling page currently states that the center is open to the public 24-7.

Bring materials loose—not in plastic bags—and make sure they are clean, empty and dry. Accepted materials listed by the City include:

• Cardboard, including flattened boxes and clean pizza boxes
• Paper, newspapers, magazines, office paper, mail and books
• Aluminum and steel cans
• Glass bottles and jars of all colors
• Clothing and textiles
• Plastic bottles and containers identified by the City as #1 and #2 plastics

The City’s recycling guidance says not to place food, liquids, plastic bags, wrap or film, Styrofoam, non-container plastics, pouches, mirrors, windows, plates, cups, garden hoses, cords, string lights or batteries in the recycling stream. When in doubt, the City advises residents to keep the questionable item out of recycling rather than risk contaminating a load.

Recycling mistakes to avoid

The most common problems are bagging recyclables, leaving food or liquid inside containers, and assuming that every plastic item belongs in the recycling bin. Gallatin’s plastics guidance emphasizes rigid bottles and jugs rather than plastic film, foam packaging, toys, pouches or other non-container plastics.

If you are taking a mixed load, sort it before arriving. That makes drop-off faster and helps keep paper, metal, glass and plastics in the correct streams.

How Gallatin bulk pick-up works

The City provides monthly bulk-item pickup for current City of Gallatin trash customers. Eligible examples may include appliances, furniture and scrap metal, although the City says the list is not complete and recommends calling 615-452-2147 if you are unsure about an item.

You must submit a request and be placed on the pickup list. The City’s form says scheduling closes at 3:30 p.m. on the Wednesday before pickup; requests submitted after the cutoff move to the following month. Do not place items at the curb more than five days before pickup.

Items the City does not accept for bulk pickup

The City excludes construction and remodeling debris, including tile, drywall, carpet and padding, lumber, cabinets, shingles, fencing, paneling, gutters, flooring, windows, doors, tubs, sinks, toilets, vanities, trim and siding. Other exclusions include auto parts, tires, dirt, rock, concrete, bricks, gas tanks, hazardous waste, dead animals and small household items that fit in a regular trash container.

Cardboard boxes are generally excluded, but new residents may receive up to three cardboard-box pickups during the first six months after starting service. The City’s bulk form says a new submission is required for additional items after the original request.

The City publishes a year-specific bulk schedule. For 2026, the listed dates include August 14, September 4, October 9, November 6 and December 11. Verify the schedule before setting items at the curb because holiday adjustments and operational changes can affect dates.

Sumner County Resource Authority options

The Sumner County Resource Authority, also called RASCO, operates a solid-waste and resource-recovery facility in Gallatin. Its current recycling information lists the facility at 625 Rappahannock Wire Road, Gallatin, TN 37066, with phone number 615-452-1114. The Authority says Tennessee residents must present a driver’s license showing Sumner County residency to use its recycling convenience center, and commercial vehicles or commercial recycling waste are not accepted there..

The Authority lists recycling options for plastic #1 and #2 containers, glass bottles and jars, cardboard, tin and aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, mixed office paper, used motor oil and antifreeze. It says automotive, equipment and electronic batteries are accepted but weighed and charged at the posted rate. Materials such as window glass, mirrors, plastic bags, Styrofoam, PVC and cooking oil are not accepted in the recycling stream.

RASCO also accepts municipal solid waste and other materials through its disposal operation, but fees and operating restrictions differ by material. Its current published rate page lists rates for household trash, construction and demolition waste, shingles, yard waste, tires, propane tanks, electronics, paint, mattresses and box springs. The Authority’s site also notes that residential waste disposal has been limited to Fridays and Saturdays during the period affected by damage to the transfer station. Call before loading a vehicle, especially for construction debris, mattresses, electronics, tires or a large mixed load.

Hazardous waste, batteries, oil and chemicals

Do not put household hazardous waste in a City garbage container, bulk pickup pile or recycling bin. Gallatin identifies paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides as examples of household hazardous waste and says these materials should not be poured down drains, dumped on the ground or placed in regular trash.

Tennessee’s household hazardous-waste program uses scheduled collection events for materials such as cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury-containing items, fluorescent lamps, lithium and button batteries, aerosols, adhesives, brake fluid, pool chemicals, paint thinner and used needles in sturdy containers. The state distinguishes these materials from batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and electronics programs that may be handled locally..

For Sumner County’s current event schedule, contact the Resource Authority at 615-452-1114 or check the Authority’s current hazardous-household-waste information before transporting materials. Do not mix chemicals, remove labels or place unknown liquids in a regular trash load.

Used motor oil and antifreeze should also be handled separately. Gallatin lists local automotive retailers, including Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone and O’Reilly Auto Parts, as possible used-oil drop-off locations. Confirm acceptance limits and hours with the location before visiting.

Choosing the right disposal option

Use this decision path:

1. Regular household garbage: Use the City container only for materials allowed under the City’s garbage rules.
2. Recyclables: Take clean, empty and dry accepted materials to the Gallatin recycling center or, when eligible, the Sumner County Resource Authority.
3. Furniture or large appliances: Submit a City bulk-pickup request if you receive City trash service and the item meets the eligibility rules.
4. Construction debris, tires or larger loads: Contact the Sumner County Resource Authority for current acceptance rules and fees.
5. Electronics: Call RASCO before visiting; electronics may be subject to a posted disposal charge.
6. Chemicals, pesticides, paint thinner, fluorescent lamps or other hazardous materials: Use a verified household hazardous-waste program or event.

Proper sorting is especially important for residents who live near parks, trails, Old Hickory Lake and other outdoor destinations. Keeping waste out of illegal-dumping areas and preventing contaminated recycling loads supports the broader Gallatin and Sumner County goal of maintaining clean public spaces and natural resources.

Before you load the car

• Check whether your address receives City of Gallatin trash service.
• Confirm the current collection route or holiday adjustment.
• Photograph or list unusual bulk items before requesting pickup.
• Sort recyclables before arriving at a drop-off center.
• Bring identification when using the Sumner County Resource Authority recycling convenience center.
• Call ahead about electronics, tires, mattresses, construction debris, chemicals and mixed loads.
• Never place hazardous waste, gasoline, paint or needles in regular garbage.

Last verified for this draft: August 15, 2026. Authorities checked include the City of Gallatin Environmental Services Department, City of Gallatin recycling and bulk-pickup pages, the Sumner County Resource Authority and Tennessee’s solid-waste program. Because hours, fees, holiday schedules and hazardous-waste events can change, verify those details again before publication and before visiting.