Memphis apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: solid waste and recycling enforcement in Memphis and Shelby County is driven by container management, nuisance prevention, and proper disposal, even though there is currently no dedicated multifamily recycling mandate with a unit threshold. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is engineered to work with Memphis City Code Chapter 15 (Garbage Collection and Disposal) and Shelby County’s waste disposal and nuisance standards, so you can keep residents happy while staying off code enforcement radar.
Within the City of Memphis, the Solid Waste Division provides curbside recycling for eligible residential accounts and operates recycling drop-off centers for residents and private developments not served by city collection. Apartment communities and mixed-use sites still face risk when dumpsters overflow, carts are mismanaged, or trash is illegally dumped, and both Memphis and Shelby County can enforce under solid waste, litter, and property maintenance codes. In other Shelby County cities and unincorporated areas, there is currently no county-wide apartment recycling mandate, but properties are still expected to maintain clean, compliant solid waste enclosures.
- Protect NOI & Reduce Citation Risk: Avoid costly solid waste, litter, and nuisance violations by designing a program that matches Memphis City Code expectations for storage, set-out, and container cleanliness.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service that keeps residents out of dark, overflowing enclosures, reduces trips to remote dumpsters or drop-off centers, and supports renewals and online reputation.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, storage locations, and collection patterns that follow Chapter 15 cart and container placement rules and reduce conditions that trigger enforcement.
- Hands-Off Compliance for Property Managers: We coordinate private haulers, integrate recycling options, support resident education, and maintain documentation so your team can focus on leasing and operations.
At a Glance: City of Memphis vs. Shelby County & Other Cities
City of Memphis (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: No dedicated apartment recycling mandate. Memphis focuses on cart-based solid waste and voluntary recycling access via curbside carts and drop-off centers.
- Applicability Threshold: Memphis Code Chapter 15 treats certain small multifamily (apartment units with seven units or less) as “residential” for solid waste fees, with larger properties treated as commercial customers. There is no codified recycling unit-count trigger for apartments.
- Owner & Property Manager Duties: Maintain adequate garbage capacity; use city-issued carts or compliant commercial containers; keep lids closed; place containers in approved locations; prevent litter and illegal dumping; and provide safe access for collection.
- Recycling Access: Eligible accounts receive curbside recycling, and the City operates Recycling Drop-Off Centers that can serve residents at apartment communities and private developments not collected by the City.
- Risk Profile: Non-compliance typically shows up as overflowing carts or dumpsters, loose trash, improper set-out, or illegal dumping around the property, which can trigger code enforcement and court-ordered fines.
- Key City Links: City of Memphis – Solid Waste Management · City of Memphis – Recycling · Recycle Right Memphis – Cart Program · Memphis Code of Ordinances – Chapter 15 (Garbage Collection and Disposal)
Shelby County & Other Municipalities
- Mandate Type: No county-wide apartment recycling mandate. Shelby County Chapter 44 (Waste Disposal) and related codes focus on disposal standards and nuisance control rather than an on-site recycling requirement for apartments.
- Applicability Threshold: Solid waste rules apply broadly to properties throughout the county, but there is no county ordinance requiring multifamily properties to provide on-property recycling service to residents.
- Program Duties: Maintain adequate trash service; prevent junk accumulation, overflow, and illegal dumping; follow local property maintenance and nuisance codes; coordinate recycling access through private haulers, city programs, or drop-off centers.
- Regional Infrastructure: Memphis and Shelby County operate a joint Household Hazardous Waste Facility and participate in the Municipal Solid Waste Regional Board, which coordinates regional solid waste planning and recycling goals.
- How National Doorstep Helps: We design valet trash & recycling programs that meet or exceed local expectations across Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland, and Millington, keeping communities “inspection ready” even as recycling policies evolve.
- Key County Links: Memphis–Shelby County Municipal Solid Waste Regional Board · Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility · Shelby County Public Works
Shelby County Cities & Apartment Recycling Mandates
As of today, none of the cities in Shelby County (including Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland, and Millington) have a codified apartment recycling mandate that requires multifamily communities to provide on-property recycling at a specific unit threshold. Each municipality regulates solid waste, container standards, and nuisance conditions, while recycling access is typically provided through a combination of curbside carts, central containers, and voluntary programs.
| City | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners, Asset Managers & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Memphis Solid Waste Management provides curbside trash and recycling for eligible residential accounts and operates Recycling Drop-Off Centers for residents and private developments not serviced by city collection. Apartment communities are billed under Chapter 15 solid waste fees depending on unit count and service type, but there is no ordinance that requires apartments to provide on-site recycling to residents. Key local links: City of Memphis – Solid Waste · City of Memphis – Recycling · Recycle Right Memphis |
| Bartlett | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Bartlett’s Solid Waste Division provides weekly household garbage, yard waste, and bulk collection, along with recycling centers open to residents. Multifamily communities are generally treated as commercial customers for collection, and there is no apartment-specific recycling ordinance requiring on-property recycling service. Key local links: City of Bartlett – Solid Waste · Bartlett Recycling Centers |
| Germantown | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Germantown provides trash and recycling collection for many single-family and condominium residents and promotes curbside recycling through city-issued containers. Apartments and private developments not covered by city collection typically arrange solid waste and recycling through private haulers, with no ordinance-based recycling requirement for residents. Key local links: City of Germantown – Trash & Recycling |
| Collierville | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Collierville’s Sanitation Division manages weekly household waste, yard waste, and curbside recycling for eligible residences. Multifamily properties generally use commercial containers and contracted haulers. There is no codified apartment recycling mandate with thresholds and fines, but properties are expected to maintain clean, well-managed enclosures. Key local links: Collierville – Solid Waste & Recycling |
| Arlington | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
The Town of Arlington provides garbage, recycling, and yard debris collection through a contracted hauler, with service billed on residents’ utility statements. Multifamily and commercial sites typically rely on private contracts and dumpsters, and there is no apartment-specific recycling requirement in town code. Key local links: Town of Arlington – Solid Waste & Recycle Collections |
| Lakeland | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Lakeland contracts with a hauler to provide household trash, recycling, and yard waste collection with city-issued carts. Apartments and private developments not served by this residential program coordinate their own solid waste and recycling with haulers, and there is no codified requirement to provide resident recycling service on-property. Key local links: Lakeland – Household Trash & Recycling |
| Millington | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Millington’s Sanitation Division provides residential waste collection; curbside recycling options and commercial service are typically handled via separate contracts. There is no apartment recycling ordinance specifying unit thresholds or fines, but properties can still be cited for improper storage, overflow, or nuisance conditions around enclosures. Key local links: Millington – Residential Waste Collection · Millington – Sanitation |
Memphis & Shelby County Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Solid Waste & Litter Violations: Under Memphis City Code Chapter 15 (Garbage Collection and Disposal) and related provisions, violations such as unlawful dumping, improper container use, and littering are enforceable as ordinance violations or misdemeanors. For example, Memphis’ littering section explicitly classifies improper disposal as a misdemeanor offense.
- Each Violation Can Stand Alone: Code enforcement can treat each instance or each day a condition persists (such as an overflowing dumpster or repeated improper set-out) as a separate offense, multiplying potential fine exposure.
- Utility & Service Consequences: Where solid waste fees are billed with utilities, Chapter 15 allows the City to terminate water service and suspend solid waste collection when charges remain unpaid after notice – a major operational risk for multifamily assets.
- County-Level Enforcement: Shelby County’s waste disposal and property maintenance codes allow enforcement against junk accumulation, illegal dumping, and nuisance conditions in unincorporated areas and, in some cases, within municipal limits through coordinated enforcement.
- Risk Management Tip for Property Managers: Keep container lids closed, right-size service with your hauler, document service frequencies and contamination issues, and photograph enclosure conditions regularly. A structured valet trash & recycling program can help demonstrate consistent good-faith effort if a complaint or citation occurs.
Memphis Multifamily Solid Waste & Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction, Units & Service Type | Verify whether your community is inside Memphis city limits or in another Shelby County municipality, and determine whether service is provided by the City or a private hauler. Review your total dwelling units and how they are classified for solid waste billing (small multifamily vs. larger apartment/commercial accounts). | Memphis Solid Waste Management · Memphis Code – Chapter 15 |
| ☑ Right-Size Garbage & Recycling Capacity | Work with your hauler and National Doorstep to ensure dumpster or cart capacity is sufficient for your resident count and collection frequency. Even without a multifamily recycling mandate, overflowing enclosures, loose bags, and chronic bulk pile-ups drive complaints, attract pests, and invite code enforcement. | Memphis Recycling Information · Search Recycling Mandates & Fees by City |
| ☑ Provide Residents with Practical Recycling Options | If your property is not served by city curbside recycling, provide residents with on-site recycling containers via your hauler and/or clear instructions for using Memphis recycling drop-off centers. Integrate easy, well-signed collection points into your valet trash program so residents can participate without guesswork. | Recycle Right Memphis – Cart & Drop-Off · Solid Waste – Drop-Off & Programs |
| ☑ Keep Enclosures Clean & Nuisance-Free | Design enclosures and collection points so that containers can be kept closed, access is safe, and loose trash does not accumulate. Establish daily or nightly checks by on-site staff or a valet provider. Address bulky items promptly so they do not become chronic nuisance conditions. | Memphis Code Enforcement · Shelby County Public Works |
| ☑ Educate Residents & Document Communication | Provide move-in packets, email/SMS campaigns, and on-site signage explaining where residents should place household trash, how valet pickup works, what materials are accepted for recycling, and the consequences of leaving bags in hallways or common areas. Keep copies of these materials as part of your compliance file. | City Recycling Guides |
| ☑ Maintain Service Logs & Inspection Photos | Keep a record of hauler invoices, service frequencies, contamination notices, and periodic enclosure photos. This documentation helps demonstrate that the ownership group and property manager are actively managing solid waste and recycling, which can be critical if a resident complaint escalates into a formal inspection or hearing. | Regional Solid Waste Planning Info |
Want to get ahead of inspections and resident expectations in Memphis and Shelby County? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Memphis-area property. We’ll review your current containers and hauler setup, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and help you document a plan that aligns with Memphis and Shelby County solid waste requirements while supporting NOI and resident satisfaction.
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