Huntsville AL Garbage Pickup: Weekly Schedule, Holiday Delays and Curbside Rules
Huntsville residential garbage is collected once each week on the weekday assigned to your address. Find that day through the official address lookup, put the City cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m., and check the 2026 holiday table before assuming your route has moved. This guide also explains recycling, yard debris, furniture, appliances, fees, hazardous waste, missed collection and properties outside City service.
Quick Answer: Huntsville AL Garbage Pickup Schedule
Huntsville City household garbage is collected weekly. There is no reliable citywide weekday chart because the day is assigned by service address. Use My Huntsville Services to find the route, then verify this week’s holiday status.
Search the address
Enter the complete property address to see the City sanitation weekday.
Before 7:00 a.m.
The truck will not return for a cart placed out after the route passes.
Leave five feet
Keep the City cart five feet from cars, poles, mailboxes and other carts.
Separate monthly route
RANA recycling uses a weekday plus first-, second-, third- or fourth-week schedule.
This article is for Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville, Ontario uses the District of Muskoka’s clear-bag, green-bin and transfer-station system. Those Canadian rules do not apply in Alabama.
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Huntsville AL Garbage Schedule Today and This Week
To answer “Is Huntsville AL trash pickup today?” or “What is the Huntsville AL garbage pickup schedule this week?”, complete these checks in order.
Search the exact service address
Open My Huntsville Services and enter the complete street address. Do not rely on a ZIP code, subdivision name or a neighbour’s route.
Confirm the property receives City sanitation
A Huntsville mailing address can be outside Huntsville city limits or inside a private apartment, business or development service area.
Read the 2026 City holiday status
Some holidays delay affected City routes by one day; others create no sanitation delay. Recycling follows a different RANA holiday calendar.
Put out the correct material
Household garbage goes in the green City cart. Recycling, yard debris, furniture, appliances and hazardous items use separate rules.
Confirm before moving the cart
Check both the regular weekday and holiday notice so the cart is not left out on the wrong day.
Finish setup by 7:00 a.m.
Route order can change. Waiting until you hear the truck can result in a late set-out.
Check access before reporting
A blocked, late, improperly spaced or contaminated cart may not qualify for a return trip.
Huntsville AL Garbage Holiday Schedule 2026
This table applies to City residential garbage and yard-waste routes. RANA recycling uses a separate calendar shown later.
New Year’s Day Delayed January 1 collection is delayed one day. Leave the cart available until collected.
MLK Jr. Day One day late Monday routes begin Tuesday and affected routes move one day later.
Good Friday No delay Follow the normal residential garbage schedule.
Memorial Day One day late Monday routes begin Tuesday and affected routes shift one day.
Juneteenth No delay Follow the normal City residential route.
Independence Day observed No delay The City lists no residential garbage delay.
Labor Day One day late Monday routes begin Tuesday and affected routes move one day.
Veterans Day Affected routes late Wednesday and later affected routes move one day.
Thanksgiving Thursday → Friday Thursday routes are collected Friday.
Christmas No City delay City garbage follows its normal schedule, but RANA recycling has a separate Christmas delay rule.
When your route is delayed, place the cart at the curb for the delayed service day and leave it available until collected. Do not assume the City garbage rule also applies to recycling.
Huntsville City Garbage Pickup: Correct Cart Setup
Huntsville uses automated collection trucks. The mechanical arm needs a clear, correctly oriented cart.
Do this before 7:00 a.m.
- Use the City-provided 60- or 96-gallon cart.
- Place the cart no more than two feet from the curb or road.
- Point the arrows on the lid toward the street.
- Leave at least five feet from another cart.
- Leave five feet from mailboxes and utility poles.
- Leave five feet from parked vehicles, fences and flower beds.
- Keep the cart upright, visible and accessible.
- Remove the cart from the curb after collection.
Fix these before pickup
- The cart was placed out after 7:00 a.m.
- A car, mailbox or another cart blocks the truck arm.
- The cart is less than five feet from an obstruction.
- The lid arrows face away from the street.
- Yard debris or building material is inside the cart.
- Paint, chemicals, rocks or prohibited waste are included.
- A store-bought container is used instead of the City cart.
Huntsville offers an off-street collection assistance application for eligible residents who cannot bring the cart to the road.
Review off-street collection assistanceWhat Belongs in the Huntsville Household Garbage Cart?
The automated green cart is for ordinary residential household garbage. Materials requiring separate handling should not be hidden inside it.
Examples that normally belong inside
- Bagged household food waste.
- Non-recyclable paper products.
- Bathroom and kitchen garbage.
- Small non-hazardous household items.
- Ordinary residential refuse that safely fits inside the cart.
Keep these out of the cart
- Paint, chemicals and solvents.
- Medical or biological waste.
- Dead animals.
- Rocks, dirt, bricks and concrete.
- Construction debris.
- Tree limbs and yard-waste piles.
- Hot ashes or unsafe liquids.
Homeowner-generated boards or siding may qualify for separate containerized curbside collection. Shingles, bricks, concrete, rocks, dirt and contractor debris do not.
Huntsville Bulk Trash, Furniture, Appliances and Yard Waste
Eligible bulk and yard material is placed behind the curb by 7:00 a.m. It may be collected by a different truck from the automated garbage cart.
Correct pile location
- Behind the curb rather than in the traffic lane.
- Away from gutters and storm drains.
- Off sidewalks and pedestrian paths.
- Away from utility poles, boxes and overhead lines.
- Clear of vehicles, vegetation and fences.
- Separated from the automated garbage cart.
Containerize small material
The City lists a minimum $45-per-cubic-yard charge for qualifying yard waste that should have been placed in a container.
More than 10 cubic yards
A pile above 10 cubic yards is chargeable at $55, with another $55 for each additional five cubic yards.
A contractor who performs tree work, remodeling, roofing or another commercial project is responsible for removing the debris. Do not place contractor material at the curb for City collection.
Huntsville Garbage Fees, Cart Sizes and Service Requests
$21.50 per month
The published residential rate includes a 96-gallon City garbage cart and is billed on the Huntsville Utilities account.
60 or 96 gallons
Customers must use a City-provided automated garbage cart.
$9 per month
The City lists an additional cart at $9 per month with a one-year minimum agreement.
Request a cart or repair
Use the official request when a cart is damaged, missing or not present after a recent move.
Open the cart repair requestRequest an additional cart
An approved extra cart is safer than repeatedly overfilling the primary cart or leaving loose bags beside it.
Open the additional-cart requestVerify the current monthly charge, cart agreement and utility-billing requirements before submitting a request.
Huntsville AL Recycling Schedule: 2026 RANA PDF Guide
RANA residential recycling is generally collected once per month. Each household has a weekday and a numbered week. It is not the same schedule as weekly City garbage.
Green
Blue
Yellow
Orange
A “third Tuesday” customer follows yellow Tuesdays. A “fourth Friday” customer follows orange Fridays. Contact RANA if you do not know your assigned weekday and week number.
RANA 2026 holiday-delay rule
If one of RANA’s listed holidays falls in the same week and on or before your collection day, recycling moves one day later, including Saturday when needed. Holidays not listed follow the regular schedule.
Accepted RANA recycling
- #1 and #2 narrow-neck plastic bottles.
- Aluminum cans.
- Steel cans.
- Paper products.
- Flattened cardboard.
- Clean, empty and dry accepted material.
- Glass.
- Styrofoam.
- Plastic bags and plastic wrap.
- Wide-mouth plastic tubs.
- Aluminum foil and miscellaneous metal.
- Yard or food waste.
- Hoses, wires, hangers and chains.
- Bagged or overflowing recyclables.
Five useful PDF reminders
- Check the plastic number and check the neck.
- Flatten cardboard and crush bottles or cans to create room.
- Leave recyclables loose rather than bagging them.
- When in doubt, leave the item out instead of wishcycling.
- Empty, rinse and clean accepted containers.
The 2026 RANA PDF asks residents to report missed recycling within three business days. Check RANA’s live alert banner first because crews may post temporary multi-day route delays.
Paint, Chemicals, Electronics, Batteries and Sharps
Household hazardous waste does not belong in the garbage cart, recycling cart or curbside debris pile. Huntsville residents can use the Solid Waste Disposal Authority’s drive-through facility.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility
- TVs, laptops and cellphones.
- Motor oil, gasoline and antifreeze.
- Household cleaners and chemicals.
- Pool chemicals.
- Paints and solvents.
- Insecticides and weed killers.
- Household and vehicle batteries.
- Expired medicine.
- Used needles and sharps.
- Fluorescent bulbs.
Keep products sealed and labelled, prevent leaks, keep incompatible chemicals separate and call the Authority when the item is not clearly listed.
Does Huntsville City Garbage Service Apply to Your Property?
A Huntsville mailing address does not always mean the City of Huntsville collects the property’s garbage.
Address appears in City lookup
Follow the City cart, weekday, holiday and curbside rules on this page.
County or private service
Unincorporated Madison County and nearby municipalities use different routes, contacts and debris programmes.
Ask property management
Shared dumpsters or a private contract may replace City curbside service.
Arrange commercial disposal
The City does not provide ordinary commercial-trash collection. The business owner must secure an appropriate waste service.
Contractor removes debris
Roofing, remodeling, landscaping and construction contractors are responsible for material generated by their work.
Confirm cart and billing
Request a missing cart and verify that the Huntsville Utilities account includes the correct residential sanitation charge.
Confirm whether the property is in Huntsville city limits before calling City Sanitation. A county address may require Madison County Waste Control, a district office or a private hauler.
Missed Huntsville AL Garbage Pickup: Check Before Calling
The City states that trucks will not return for carts placed out late, blocked, too close to an obstruction or containing unauthorized debris.
Audit the route and cart
- Was this the address’s official weekday?
- Was there a 2026 City holiday delay?
- Was the cart ready before 7:00 a.m.?
- Was it no more than two feet from the curb?
- Were the arrows facing the street?
- Was there five feet of clearance?
- Was only household garbage inside?
- Were nearby City-route homes collected?
Use the right report path
- City garbage or yard debris: call Huntsville Sanitation.
- RANA recycling: report to RANA within three business days.
- Illegal dumping: use Huntsville Connect.
- Apartment dumpster: contact property management.
- County property: contact the correct county or district service.
“I am reporting a missed residential garbage collection at [full address]. The assigned route day was [day/date]. The cart was out before 7:00 a.m., within two feet of the curb, five feet from obstacles, with arrows facing the street and household garbage only. What should I do with the cart?”
Problems That Need a Different City Department
Use Huntsville Connect
Add the exact map location, a clear description and photos when safe. Reports can be tracked after submission.
Report illegal dumpingContact Animal Services
Use Huntsville Connect or contact Animal Services at 256-883-3782. Do not place a dead animal in the garbage cart.
Request temporary suspension
Eligible residential customers can submit a service-suspension request instead of leaving an unused cart service active.
Open residential service requestsHuntsville Garbage and Disposal Decision Helper
Select the property, material and problem. The result points to the correct first step without guessing an address-specific route.
Huntsville Garbage, Recycling and Disposal Contacts
Garbage, carts, yard waste and bulk trash
Monthly recycling route or missed cart
Solid Waste Disposal Authority
Illegal dumping and public-space issues
Use Huntsville Connect for dumping, litter, graffiti and similar non-emergency location-based concerns. Add a precise location and photo.
Submit a Huntsville Connect reportCommon Huntsville Garbage Pickup Mistakes
Using a generic weekday list
Search the complete property address instead.
Applying City holidays to RANA
Use the separate colour-coded recycling PDF.
Leaving less than five feet
Clear vehicles, poles, mailboxes and other carts.
Not containerizing small yard waste
Bag or containerize material that fits.
Leaving project waste for the City
Require the contractor to remove it.
Calling Sanitation for recycling
Report recycling routes and misses directly to RANA.
Official Sources for Final Pickup Decisions
The resident-facing rules are explained above. Use these links afterward to confirm an address, changing fee, holiday adjustment or item-specific rule.
Huntsville AL Garbage Pickup FAQ
What day is garbage pickup in Huntsville, Alabama?
The day depends on the service address. Enter the complete property address in My Huntsville Services to find the assigned weekly sanitation route.
Is Huntsville AL trash pickup running today?
Check the official address route and the City’s 2026 holiday schedule. During a normal week, household garbage is collected on the address’s regular weekday.
How often is Huntsville city garbage collected?
Eligible City residential household garbage is collected once each week using a City-provided automated cart.
What time must the garbage cart be at the curb?
Place the cart at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the assigned day. Trucks do not return for a cart placed out after the route passes.
How much clearance does a Huntsville garbage cart need?
Leave at least five feet between the cart and other carts, mailboxes, utility poles, fences, flower beds, parked vehicles and other obstacles.
Does every Huntsville holiday delay garbage pickup?
No. Some 2026 holidays delay affected routes by one day, while Good Friday, Juneteenth, the observed Independence Day holiday and Christmas are listed with no City garbage delay.
Is Huntsville recycling collected every week?
No. RANA recycling is generally collected once per month on a weekday and numbered week assigned to the household, such as third Tuesday or fourth Friday.
What can go in a RANA recycling cart?
RANA accepts #1 and #2 narrow-neck plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, paper and flattened cardboard. Items should be clean, empty, dry and loose in the cart.
Will Huntsville pick up furniture and appliances?
The City lists boxes, furniture, appliances and household items as eligible curbside trash when safely placed behind the curb with clear truck access.
How should yard waste be prepared?
Bag or containerize grass, leaves and small clippings, keep containers at 50 pounds or less and cut tree limbs to no more than five feet.
Will the City collect contractor construction debris?
No. The City does not collect debris produced by a contractor or commercial project. The contractor or property owner must arrange proper disposal.
How much does Huntsville residential garbage service cost?
The City currently lists $21.50 per month for a 96-gallon cart. Additional carts are listed at $9 per month with a one-year minimum agreement. Verify current fees before ordering.
Who do I call for a missed garbage pickup?
Call Huntsville Sanitation at 256-883-3964 after confirming the route, holiday status, 7:00 a.m. set-out, five-foot clearance and acceptable contents.
Where can residents take paint, batteries and chemicals?
Use the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1055 A Cleaner Way. It is listed Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 256-882-0155 for item-specific questions.
What if my Huntsville mailing address is outside city limits?
The City sanitation schedule may not apply. Confirm jurisdiction and contact Madison County, the applicable municipality, property management or a private hauler.
What to Do Before the Next Huntsville Pickup
Search the property address, confirm its weekly City garbage day and check the 2026 holiday status. Put household garbage in the City cart by 7:00 a.m., no more than two feet from the curb and at least five feet from every obstacle. Prepare yard debris and bulk items separately, use RANA for recycling and take hazardous products to 1055 A Cleaner Way.
Editorial verification date: July 24, 2026. Routes, fees, holiday adjustments, provider notices and accepted materials can change. The official address lookup and linked service pages remain the final authority.