Live Green Lexington

Martin Luther King Day: Monday, January 18
Will be collected: Wednesday, January 20

Additionally, the Electronic Recycling Center, Recycle Center and Haley Pike Waste Management Facility will be closed Saturday, January 16

Recycling is local. A recycle symbol does not mean the item goes in your mixed recycling cart. Unwanted items can damage equipment at the Recycle Center and put employees at risk.

Here’s a holiday waste guide to help you stay on the nice list this season!

Blue cart:

• Paper towel, toilet paper and wrapping paper tubes
• Cereal, gift and shoe boxes
• Dry shipping boxes
• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• Tin cans
• Plastic bottles and jugs with a screwtop neck, smaller than the body

Green trash cart:

• Wrapping and tissue paper
• Paper towels and napkins
• Gift bags (Reuse if you can!)
• Molded plastic packaging
• Broken toys
• Paper and plastic disposable plates
• Plastic and Styrofoam cups
• Waxy drink cartons
• Soda and frozen food boxes

Other disposal options (NOT in the blue cart):

• String lights and small electronics (Electronic Recycle Center or drop-off site)
• Paper holiday cards, not photo or singing (yellow paper dumpsters)
• Natural trees  (curbside collection Jan 4 – 29 for those with city service, on your regular collection day)
• Natural wreaths and garland with all wires and decorations removed (grey yard cart)

Recycle Right holiday flyer

Holiday lights can be recycled, but NOT in your blue yard cart. Take them to the Electronic Recycling Center, open six days a week except holidays, or drop them off at one of our collection sites between November 27 and January 17. Learn more.

Please note: Only string lights, rope lights, power strips, timers, light sensors, electric candles and extension cords may be dropped off at these locations. All other electronics must be taken to the Electronics Recycling Center.

Drop off locations in Lexington:

• A Cup of Common Wealth – 105 Eastern Ave.
• Bluegrass United Church of Christ – 500 Don Anna Dr.
• Broomwagon Bikes + Cafe – 800 N. Limestone
• Chocolate Holler – 400 Old Vine St.
• Crank & Boom – 1210 Manchester St. and 3101 Clays Mill Road #301
• Electronics Recycling Center –1306 Versailles Road
• Good Foods Co-op – 455 Southland Dr.
• Johns Run/Walk – 317 S Ashland Ave. and 3735 Palomar Centre Dr.
• Lexington Visitors Center – 215 W. Main St. Suite 75
• Perspectives Inc. – 340 Longview Plaza
• West Sixth Brewing – 501 W. 6th St. #100

Map of holiday lights drop off locations

311 Alerts is a system that allows residents to sign up for email notifications about city services and programs.

Residents may register to receive notifications for:

• Curbside waste collection schedule changes due to holidays or weather
• Vacuum leaf collection dates and schedule
• Receive reminders about Household Hazardous Waste Collections, Paper Shred Events, Reforest the Bluegrass, River Sweep and more.
• Alerts when conditions are right for sanitary sewer overflows. 

Visit lexingtonky.gov/ 311alerts or register through the LexCall app for Android and iPhone. Select which notifications you’d like to receive, choose text or email notifications and provide your contact information.

The LiveGreenLexington blog is a resource for neighborhood and community leaders, especially those  who post to social media and send out newsletters, emails and other information. Each blog post focuses on a subject related to Lexington's Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works. 

Contamination, regular maintenance and recycling markets can all affect Lexington’s Recycle Center, which serves communities throughout Central Kentucky. Visit lexingtonkygov/recycleupdates for the latest updates on what’s happening at the center.

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