Hopkinsville, KY – Hopkinsville Solid Waste will implement an update to residential trash collection services beginning April 13, 2026.
What is the change?
Starting on this date, only household trash placed inside approved containers will be collected during regular service. Bags, boxes, or other materials left outside of containers will not be picked up. Residents are asked to break down cardboard boxes and place them inside their containers.
Simply put, if it does not fit inside your container, it will not be collected as regular trash.
For clarity, household trash includes everyday waste such as bagged garbage, food waste, packaging, and small discarded items that fit inside a standard trash container.
Bulk items, or household junk, include larger items such as furniture, mattresses, appliances, and similar materials that cannot fit inside a container. These items will continue to be collected separately. Yard waste collection will also continue as normal.
Why is this change necessary?
Hopkinsville Solid Waste utilizes two types of equipment: standard garbage trucks for household waste and a boom truck for bulk item collection. Household trash collected in standard garbage trucks is taken to an out-of[1]town facility, which comes at an additional cost. Bulk items collected by the boom truck can be disposed of locally at no additional cost.
When household trash is placed outside of containers and collected with bulk items, all materials in that load must be transported to the out-of-town facility, increasing disposal costs. Keeping these materials separate allows for more efficient and cost-effective service.
“The rates we pay at the out-of-town facility are based on weight,” said Brian Silver, General Manager of Hopkinsville Solid Waste. “When larger items like couches or furniture are mixed in, it significantly increases
the total weight and the cost of disposal.”
The current residential rate of $25 per month covers the collection of household trash placed inside one container. Additional services, including the collection of bulk items and yard waste, have been provided at no extra charge. However, there are real costs associated with disposing of these materials, including equipment, labor, and transportation.
“These are important factors we have to consider as we continue operating in a fiscally responsible way,” said Brian Silver, General Manager of Hopkinsville Solid Waste.
By ensuring that household trash is contained and separated from bulk items, Hopkinsville Solid Waste can mitigate some of these additional expenses and help manage operational costs.
Silver added. “We appreciate our residents working with us as we make this change and remain committed to providing dependable service.”
Residents with questions or needing additional information are encouraged to contact Hopkinsville Solid Waste.
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