The City of New Orleans offers once weekly curbside trash collection to eligible residents and small businesses. The French Quarter and Downtown Development District are serviced under a separate set of collection regulations and schedules.
Solid Waste
As defined by City ordinance, solid waste is "garbage, rubbish, refuse, or other discarded solid or semisolid materials resulting from domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural activities and governmental operations, excluding solids or dissolved material in domestic sewage or other significant pollutants in water resources such as silt, dissolved or suspended solids in industrial wastewater effluents, dissolved materials in irrigation return flows, or other common water pollutants."
Solid waste makes up the majority of what properties place curbside through residential trash collection from the City of New Orleans.
Curbside Sorting of Solid Waste
Solid waste must be properly contained in garbage receptacles with tight-fitting lids or placed in fastened, thick plastic bags. Cardboard boxes are not to be used as waste containers. Cardboard must be broken down and placed in containers or bags. Solid waste containers and bags are not to block sidewalks.
Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) encompasses leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients. Residents cannot and should not place Household Hazardous Waste in trash during regular pick-up.
Common Household Hazardous Wastes
- Batteries
- Incandescent/Florescent Bulbs
- Pesticides
- Garden Chemicals
- Muriatic Acid
- Televisions
- Paint (latex and oil-based)
- Paint Thinner and Varnish
- Grout
- Oil, Gasoline
- Aerosols
- E-Waste
- Household Cleaners
- Flammable Liquids
- Pool Shock
- Medicines (Note: Medicines should be disposed at prescription drug take-back events. Not accepted at annual City HHW Day)
Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
The Department of Sanitation offers an annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Materials Collection Day.
The next Household Hazardous Waste Day will be Saturday, April 20, 2024. It will be held at 2829 Elysian Fields Ave from 8am to 1pm. Items must be separated from regular recycling in categories such as paint, flammables, chemicals, aerosols, batteries, light bulbs, pesticides. HHW Materials Collection Day is open to Orleans Parish residents only, BUSINESSES EXCLUDED.
NOT ACCEPTED: Tanks, fire extinguishers, auto/motorcycle batteries, explosives, radioactive materials, medical supplies or medical waste, asbestos, or hazardous waste from businesses or schools.
Household Hazardous Waste & Recycling Drop-Off Schedule
Common Questions
Who is eligible for trash collection by the City?
Residential properties with four (4) units or less under one roof and small businesses.
Ineligible Properties
The following properties are not eligible for City of New Orleans' trash collection
- Hotels, restaurants, or bars
- Properties containing more than four units
- Properties that generate more than the maximum volume limit.
These properties must file application for Litter Abatement with the Sewerage and Water Board.
How do I report a missed collection?
Residents should report missed collections by calling 311. 311 agents will log the missed collection and send a ticket to the proper collection company to address.
Please leave your trash cart on the curb so that the missed collection can be addressed the following day.
How do I receive a collection cart?
- Residential Trash Roll Carts: Orleans Parish residents should call 311 between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday, to request a Residential Trash Roll Cart.
- Business Roll Carts: Restaurants, hotels and bars are not eligible for garbage or recycling collection services by the City.
What type of collection cart will I receive?
Each residence and small business will receive one (1) 96-gallon standard trash collection roll cart free of charge. The 96-gallon cart can hold 250 pounds of household garbage.
Those who qualify for special assistance may request 35-gallon or 64 gallon roll cart. Special consideration is given to seniors (65 years of age and older) and persons with disabilities.
Additionally, service locations that cannot accommodate the storage of the standard 96-gallon trash roll cart off the public right-of-way, can request a smaller cart by calling 311.
When will my trash roll cart be delivered?
Residential trash roll carts should be delivered within two weeks of request.
What happens if my collection cart is stolen?
If this is the first time the trash collection roll cart associated with the respective property has been stolen, it will be replaced by the collection company at no cost. Should any additional carts be stolen from the property, replacement carts would need to be purchased from the collection company.
For more information on replacement residential collection roll carts, please contact 311 Monday through Friday, between 8am and 5pm.
I recently moved, or have forgotten who my trash collector is. How can I find out?
The City of New Orleans is divided into five Service Areas:
- Service Area 1: Richard's Disposal
- Service Area 2: IV Waste
- Service Area 3: Waste Pro
- Service Area 4: Richard's Disposal
- Service Area 5: KBS
To view your service area, service provider, and collection days, view the Trash & Recycling Schedule page.
How do I dispose of yard waste?
Yard waste such as leaves and grass clipping should be bagged and placed next to the cart on the scheduled collection day of the week. Yard waste items are tree limbs, grass clippings, scrubs, etc. Tree limbs should be bundled in 4-foot lengths, weighing no more than 75 pounds.
Residents who set out yard waste more than 24 hours before their scheduled pick-up will be subject to a fine.
How do I dispose of refrigerators, sofas and large items?
To collect bulky waste, sofas, mattresses, tires, and other large items, residents must call 311 to request collection of bulky waste. Bulky waste should not be placed out for collection 24 hours prior to the scheduled solid waste collection day. If residents place bulky items out more than 24 hrs prior to the scheduled collection, they will be fined. Small businesses do not receive bulky waste collection services.
Bulky waste includes those items that are not suitable to go into standard collection carts, generally due to weight and size, such as white goods, sofas, mattresses, tires and other large items.
Will dead animals be collected?
Dogs, cats, and other small animals weighing less than 25 pounds will only be collected from households and small businesses if the animal is put in a plastic bag and brought to the curb for collection.
In the event that such animals are discovered on City streets, contact 311 to have the animal removed.
Whom do I contact if with questions or concerns about my service?
Residents should call 311 for all questions and concerns about trash and recycling services.
What is holiday collection schedule?
The City of New Orleans observes the following holidays, with solid waste and recycling collections suspended outside of the French Quarter and Downtown Development District (DDD). Contractors will implement alternative collection services for those routes affected by observed holidays by shifting all affected collection days forward one day (e.g., Observed Holiday occurs on Thursday, scheduled Thursday collections will occur on Friday, scheduled Friday collections will occur on Saturday).
- New Year's Day
- Mardi Gras Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Solid waste collections occur 365 days per year in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District (DDD). Recyclable materials collections do not occur on the holidays listed above in the French Quarter & Downtown Development District (DDD) and will resume on the next scheduled collection day.
What is the size of the 35-gallon roll carts?
The 35-gallon Residential Trash Roll Cart is 37.5 inches high, 19 inches wide and 23.75 inches in depth.
Can I place tires out for residential trash collection?
Yes, up to 4 tires can be placed curbside for residential trash collection on the eligible location's scheduled solid waste collection day.
Is there a Recycling Drop Off Center?
Yes. The Recycling Drop Off Center is located at 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue. Residents can drop off items on Saturdays each month from 8:00am until 1:00pm.
Where can I take construction and demolition (C&D) materials, large amounts of vegetation & garbage
Currently two landfills accept Construction and Demolition (C&D) and other materials for a fee:
Gentilly C&D Landfill
10200 Almonaster Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70127
Phone: (504) 240-0380
RiverBirch Landfill
2000 S. Kenner Ave
Avondale, LA 70094
Phone: (504) 436-1288
Click here for information about general debris and debris drop-off locations.