Choose the Right Louisville Drop-Off Before You Drive
Louisville does not have one single recycling center for every material. Regular recyclables, bulky household items, tires, electronics and household hazardous waste use different Louisville Metro facilities.
The easiest way to avoid a wasted trip is to match the item to the correct service first, then check the current hours and fee rules for that specific location.
Quick answer: which Louisville drop-off should you use?
For normal paper, cardboard, bottles, jars, cartons and metal cans, use curbside recycling or one of Louisville Metro’s staffed recycling drop-off locations. For large household items, passenger tires, electronics, construction debris, larger yard loads or similar disposal needs, check the Waste Reduction Center at 636 Meriwether Avenue.
For household hazardous products such as gasoline, oil-based paint, pesticides, solvents, automotive fluids, batteries and many chemicals, use Haz Bin at 7501 Grade Lane.
Choose the right Louisville recycling or disposal service
Regular recyclables
Use curbside recycling or a Louisville Metro recycling drop-off site for accepted paper, cardboard, cartons, bottles, jars, cans and similar recyclables.
Bulky household items
Use the Waste Reduction Center or, when eligible, schedule a Metro large-item pickup.
Electronics
Use the Waste Reduction Center CyberCycle program. Residents can recycle up to three electronic items or systems free per day.
Passenger tires
Residents may bring up to four passenger car tires per day free to the Waste Reduction Center.
Household hazardous waste
Use Haz Bin for qualifying residential chemicals, automotive fluids, batteries, hazardous paints and similar materials.
Construction or oversized loads
Check the Waste Reduction Center fee schedule first. Concrete, brick, rock and shingles have separate restrictions.
Louisville recycling and disposal hours
| Service | Current hours | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Staffed recycling drop-off locations | Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Closed as regular service Sunday and Monday; holiday closings apply. |
| Waste Reduction Center | Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | The current main WRC page lists a midday closure Tuesday–Friday. Trucks with trailers should arrive at least 15 minutes before closing. |
| Haz Bin | Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Louisville/Jefferson County residential HHW only; businesses are not accepted. |
| Sunday | No regular Metro staffed/WRC/Haz Bin service | Check special pop-up events separately. |
Louisville staffed recycling drop-off locations
Louisville Metro currently lists three staffed recycling sites. Staffed sites accept normal recyclables plus selected specialty liquids such as used cooking oil, motor oil and filters, and antifreeze.
Southwest Government Center
7219 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY
Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Central Government Center
7201 Outer Loop
Louisville, KY
Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
East District Public Works
595 N. Hubbards Lane
Louisville, KY
Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Louisville unstaffed recycling drop-off locations
Louisville Metro also maintains several unstaffed recycling drop-off locations. These are best suited to normal accepted recyclable materials rather than bulky, electronic or hazardous waste.
| Location | Address |
|---|---|
| Beechmont Community Center | 205 W. Wellington Avenue |
| Louisville Fire Station | 235 East Jefferson Street |
| Louisville Fire Station | 1500 South 6th Street |
| Fairdale | 10104 Mitchell Hill Road |
| Fern Creek Fire Station | 7700 Routt Road |
| A.B. Sawyer Park | 9200 Whipps Mill Road |
| Louisville Fire Station | 2900 Hikes Lane |
| Cyril Allgeier Community Center | 4101 Cadillac Court |
| Bowman Field Drivers License Branch | 3501 Roger E. Schupp Street |
| Louisville Fire Station | 4535 Manslick Road |
| Lower River Road | 10450 Lower River Road |
| Aiken Road | 13312 Aiken Road |
What Louisville accepts in normal recycling
Louisville Metro’s current recyclable-material guidance focuses on common clean household containers and paper products.
Paper
Newspapers, magazines, mail, paper cups and flattened cardboard.
Cartons
Empty food and beverage cartons.
Plastic
Empty kitchen, laundry and bathroom bottles and containers that meet the local program rules.
Glass
Empty bottles and jars.
Metal
Empty metal cans, foil pans and aluminum foil/wrap.
Keep problem items out
Plastic shopping bags, Styrofoam food containers and hazardous material do not belong in the normal recycling stream.
Waste Reduction Center at 636 Meriwether Avenue
The Waste Reduction Center is Louisville Metro’s main municipal self-haul facility for large household items, limited free resident tires, electronics and certain chargeable disposal loads.
Address and entrance
636 Meriwether Avenue
Louisville, KY
The City specifically notes that the entrance is on Bland Street.
Phone: 502-574-2796
Residents can drop off free
- Up to 4 large household items per day
- Up to 4 passenger car tires per day
- Up to 3 electronic items or systems per day
Waste Reduction Center fees and load limits
Business loads, construction materials, yard/tree debris, loads over the free resident item limits and certain larger vehicles are chargeable.
| Load / item | Current published charge |
|---|---|
| Pickup, van, box truck or trailer up to 10 ft | $60 |
| Loaded pickup plus trailer up to 10 ft | $120 |
| Dump truck or flatbed up to 16 ft | $120 |
| Trailer or box truck 11–16 ft | $120 |
| Trailer, box truck, dump truck, flatbed, stake bed or multi-axle vehicle over 16 ft | $285 |
| Pull-off service | $20 |
| Resident hot tub | Free, limit 1 per day |
| Up to 4 resident large household items | Free |
| Up to 4 resident passenger tires | Free |
| Business passenger tires | $4 each |
| Truck tires | $10 each |
| Truck tires on rims | $25 each |
| Up to 3 resident electronics | Free |
| More than 3 business electronics | $0.60/lb by appointment |
| More than 3 nonprofit electronics | $0.30/lb by appointment |
Electronics recycling in Louisville
Louisville Metro’s CyberCycle program accepts many electronics through the Waste Reduction Center.
Computer equipment
Computers, monitors, printers, scanners, disk drives and copiers.
TV & media equipment
Televisions, VCRs, VHS tapes, CD players and compact discs.
Other electronics
Cell phones, digital cameras, electronic game systems and microwaves.
Residents may recycle up to three items or systems free. Larger electronics loads require the applicable appointment/fee route. The City lists appointments Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; call 502-574-2796.
Protect personal data before recycling
- Back up anything you need.
- Sign out of accounts.
- Remove SIM cards and removable storage.
- Factory-reset or securely erase devices when practical.
- Keep passwords and account credentials private.
For more preparation guidance, see the electronics recycling guide.
Haz Bin household hazardous waste drop-off
Haz Bin is Louisville Metro’s free household hazardous-material disposal program for residents of Louisville/Jefferson County.
Haz Bin location
7501 Grade Lane
Louisville, KY
Tuesday–Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Who can use it?
Louisville/Jefferson County residents can use the household program. Business hazardous waste is not accepted through the residential Haz Bin service.
Examples of accepted hazardous materials
- Automotive fluids
- Auto, household and rechargeable batteries
- Household cleaners
- Driveway sealers
- Fertilizers
- Fire extinguishers
- Fluorescent and LED bulbs
- Gasoline and kerosene
- Oil-based or lead paint
- Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides
- Propane tanks
- Solvents and degreasers
- Spray paint
- Pool chemicals
- Vapes and e-cigarettes
- Varnishes and stains
Important Haz Bin limits
- No business hazardous waste.
- No containers larger than 5 gallons or 40 pounds.
- No more than 25 pounds of asbestos floor tile.
- No ammunition.
- No expired medication.
- No latex paint.
For broader safety guidance, see the household hazardous waste recycling guide.
Motor oil, antifreeze and cooking oil
Louisville’s three staffed recycling drop-off sites accept additional specialty liquids beyond standard household recyclables.
Motor oil
Used motor oil is accepted at staffed recycling locations and can also be handled through Haz Bin.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is accepted at staffed drop-off sites and Haz Bin.
Cooking oil
Used cooking oil can be taken to the staffed recycling drop-off locations and is recycled into biodiesel.
Yard waste and tree debris
Louisville curbside yard-waste collection accepts leaves, twigs, straw, pine needles, shrubbery trimmings and qualifying branches/tree trimmings when prepared according to City rules.
Branches for normal curbside yard waste must generally be less than 2 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet long. Large limbs, tree trunks and other material outside curbside guidelines can be taken to the Waste Reduction Center, where fees can apply.
Problem materials and where they should go
| Material | Correct Louisville route |
|---|---|
| Plastic shopping bags / film | Participating retail-store film recycling; not normal Metro recycling bins. |
| Styrofoam food containers | Trash; Louisville Metro does not accept these in normal recycling. |
| Large clean Styrofoam packaging blocks | Specialty private foam recycler; confirm current rules before driving. |
| Latex paint | Not Haz Bin. Dry used/opened latex paint according to City instructions before garbage disposal. |
| Oil-based or lead paint | Haz Bin. |
| Concrete, bricks and rocks | Specialty construction-material disposal facility; not the Waste Reduction Center. |
| Shingles | Not accepted as normal WRC loads; use the current Louisville-approved alternative. |
| Refrigerators / air conditioners | Waste Reduction Center; loads beyond resident free limits may be charged. |
Is a Louisville recycling center open Sunday?
Louisville Metro’s normal staffed recycling locations, Waste Reduction Center and Haz Bin are not regular Sunday services.
If you need a Sunday option, do not assume a Metro site will be open. Check current pop-up events or a verified private recycler that accepts your exact material.
2026 Louisville Metro holiday closures and early closings
The City’s current staffed recycling and Haz Bin information lists several holiday changes, including:
- New Year’s Day — closed
- Oaks Day — closes at 1:00 p.m.
- Derby Day — closed
- Juneteenth Freedom Day — closed
- Independence Day — closed
- Day before Thanksgiving — closes at 1:00 p.m.
- Thanksgiving Day — closed
- Day after Thanksgiving — closed
- Saturday after Thanksgiving — closes at 1:00 p.m.
- Christmas Eve — closes at 1:00 p.m.
- Christmas Day — closed
Before-you-drive checklist for Louisville recycling
- Identify the material. Normal recycling, bulky waste, electronics, tires, hazardous chemicals and construction debris use different services.
- Pick the correct facility. Use staffed recycling for regular recyclables, WRC for bulky/special disposal and Haz Bin for household hazardous waste.
- Check current hours. WRC’s current main page includes a Tuesday–Friday noon-to-1:00 p.m. closure.
- Check the free limit. Louisville residents can currently bring up to four large household items, four passenger tires and three electronics free per day at WRC.
- Know whether your load will be charged. Construction debris, business loads, larger vehicles and larger quantities can trigger WRC fees.
- Bring a card for paid WRC loads. The current facility page says debit or credit card only; cash is not accepted.
- Separate hazardous material. Keep chemicals out of normal recycling and WRC general loads.
- Erase personal information from electronics. A recycling program does not automatically protect data left on a device.
- Arrive early with a trailer. Trailer loads should reach WRC at least 15 minutes before closing.
- Check holidays and Sunday status. Standard Metro sites are not regular Sunday services and holiday schedules can override normal hours.
Common Louisville recycling mistakes
| Mistake | Why it causes a problem | Better action |
|---|---|---|
| Treating Louisville as one recycling center | Metro operates different services for different materials. | Match the item to staffed recycling, WRC or Haz Bin first. |
| Using old WRC hours | The current main facility page lists a lunch closure and 4:30 p.m. weekday closing. | Check the current WRC page before leaving. |
| Putting plastic bags in recycling bins | Plastic film is not part of Louisville’s normal recycling stream. | Use participating retail film-recycling programs. |
| Taking hazardous chemicals to a normal drop-off | Hazardous materials need Haz Bin or another specialty route. | Check Haz Bin’s accepted list first. |
| Bringing concrete or bricks to WRC | Louisville Metro says these are not accepted at WRC. | Use an appropriate construction-material disposal facility. |
| Arriving Sunday expecting Metro service | Standard staffed recycling, WRC and Haz Bin are not regular Sunday services. | Wait for normal hours or verify a specific event/private facility. |
Official Louisville recycling resources and related guides
Louisville Waste Reduction Center map and directions
The map below points to the Waste Reduction Center at 636 Meriwether Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky. Remember that the City says the vehicle entrance is on Bland Street.
Frequently asked questions about Louisville recycling centers
Where is the main Louisville recycling center?
For bulky household items, tires and electronics, Louisville Metro’s main municipal self-haul facility is the Waste Reduction Center at 636 Meriwether Avenue. For regular recyclables, use one of the Metro recycling drop-off locations.
What are Louisville staffed recycling drop-off hours?
The three staffed recycling locations are currently listed Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What are Waste Reduction Center hours?
The current main WRC page lists Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a lunch closure. Saturday hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Is a Louisville recycling center open Sunday?
Louisville Metro’s standard staffed recycling sites, Waste Reduction Center and Haz Bin are not regular Sunday services. Check current event information if you need a special Sunday option.
How many bulky items can Louisville residents drop off free?
Louisville Metro currently allows residents to drop off up to four large household items per day free at the Waste Reduction Center.
How many tires can Louisville residents take to the Waste Reduction Center?
Residents may currently bring up to four passenger car tires per day free. Other tire types and business loads follow the published fee schedule.
Can Louisville residents recycle electronics for free?
Yes. Residents can recycle up to three electronic items or systems free at the Waste Reduction Center. Larger electronics loads may require an appointment and fee.
Where do Louisville residents take household hazardous waste?
Use Haz Bin at 7501 Grade Lane for qualifying household hazardous materials. It is currently listed Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Does Haz Bin accept latex paint?
No. Louisville Metro states that latex paint is not accepted at Haz Bin. Used or opened latex paint should be dried according to City instructions before disposal. Oil-based and lead paint are accepted at Haz Bin.
Can plastic bags go in Louisville recycling?
No. Plastic shopping bags and similar film packaging should use participating retail-store recycling programs rather than Metro curbside or drop-off recycling containers.
Does the Waste Reduction Center accept construction debris?
Some construction material such as lumber and drywall can be accepted for a fee, but concrete, bricks, rocks and general shingle loads are not accepted through the normal Waste Reduction Center route.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official Louisville Metro website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. Verify current hours, fees, closures and material acceptance with Louisville Metro Public Works before making a special trip.
Official sources checked for this Louisville guide
Independent information guide: Recycling-Centre.org is not Louisville Metro Government, Louisville Metro Public Works, the Waste Reduction Center or Haz Bin. Hours, holiday closures, fees, accepted materials, free resident limits and appointment rules can change. Verify unusual, paid or time-sensitive loads with the responsible official service before driving.