Bulk and Brush Pickup Guidelines
Bulk and Brush Pickup in Chattanooga: A Quick Guide for Hill City Neighbors
Hey Hill City friends! We know how important it is to keep our historic neighborhood looking its best—clean streets, tidy yards, and no eyesores piling up. One of the most common questions we get is about bulk trash and brush pickup through the City of Chattanooga. Here’s a straightforward rundown based on the official guidelines from the city’s Waste & Recycling services (as of the latest info from chattanooga.gov).
How It Works
Chattanooga collects brush and bulk trash using dedicated trucks on a rotating, area-based schedule. The city is divided into four areas, and crews sweep through each area during its assigned week, driving every street to pick up eligible items. (No more individual 311 requests for these—it’s automatic by zone!)
Collection days: Monday through Friday.
Placement deadline: Have your piles at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of your collection week.
Limit: Each property gets up to 12 collections (combined brush + bulk) in any consecutive 12-month period.
To find your exact schedule and area:
Use the city’s Property Information Map tool: Search your address at chattanooga.gov or check the main Waste & Recycling page.
What Qualifies as Brush?
Brush means natural yard waste like:
Tree limbs
Hedge trimmings
Bushes
Rules:
Pieces no longer than 8 feet, no thicker than 18 inches in diameter, and piles no taller than 4 feet.
Must be in one pile only, at the curb in front of your property.
No garbage, refuse, or other trash mixed in.
Separate from bulk trash, bagged leaves, or yard waste.
Not accepted: Treated wood (like 2x4s, pallets, cross-ties), particle board, land-clearing debris from big projects.
Small amounts of bagged leaves or grass clippings? Put them in your regular garbage container for weekly pickup.
What Qualifies as Bulk Trash?
Bulk items are large household things that don’t fit in regular trash, such as:
Furniture
Mattresses
Appliances (e.g., grills, water heaters)
Carpets and padding
Large toys
TVs
Rules:
Must be placed in a separate pile from brush.
Only for residents (not businesses, apartments, or landlords—service is for owner-occupied or family-occupied homes).
Not accepted: Liquids, hazardous materials, tires, concrete, bricks, building materials, auto parts, propane tanks, 55-gallon drums, insulation, glass/mirrors, drywall, recyclables, cardboard, dirt, or anything that could be regular garbage.
Placement Tips for Success
Put items as close as possible to the public street in front of your home—without blocking roads, sidewalks, ditches, catch basins, alleys, water meters, or low wires.
Keep piles at least 5 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, or other objects.
Separate brush, bulk, bagged yard waste, and leaves clearly.
Don’t approach collection trucks while they’re working.
Place early in the week to avoid missing the crew.
Important Reminders
Holidays can delay collections (no pickup on major holidays like New Year’s Day).
If your area has weather issues or delays, check city announcements.
For questions or to report issues, call Solid Waste and Recycling at (423) 643-6311 or use 311 for general help.
This service helps us all keep Hill City beautiful and safe—thanks for doing your part by following the rules and placing items correctly. For the full, up-to-date details (including any schedule changes), head straight to the official page:
Brush and Bulk Trash Collection → chattanooga.gov/services/waste-recycling/brush-collection
Got a specific question about your street or an upcoming pickup? Drop it in the comments or reach out at our next neighborhood meeting—we’re here to help each other!