Recycling pickup day in Jefferson County, Alabama depends on where you live. Residents inside the City of Birmingham get curbside recycling every other week, on the same day as their trash.
If you live in Hoover, recycling is also bi-weekly. Pickup day and schedule vary by neighborhood and zone — so your first step is to confirm your jurisdiction below.
Quick Summary
- Jefferson County has multiple service areas — your city or neighborhood determines your schedule
- City of Birmingham: recycling is every other week (bi-weekly), same day as garbage
- City of Hoover: bi-weekly recycling, same day as trash, cart out by 6:30 AM
- Unincorporated Jefferson County: curbside recycling availability is not confirmed — call AmWaste at (205) 574-1930
- Birmingham residents must look up their neighborhood at birminghamal.gov/pickup
- All Birmingham recycling carts must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on pickup day
Jefferson County Recycling Schedule by Zone
Jefferson County, Alabama is not one single service area. The county includes dozens of incorporated cities — each with its own hauler and schedule.
It also includes unincorporated areas served directly by the county’s contracted hauler, AmWaste.
Use the table below to find your city and confirm your recycling pickup day.
| Area / Jurisdiction | Hauler | Recycling Frequency | Pickup Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Birmingham | City DPW | Every other week (bi-weekly) | Same as your trash day | Look up your neighborhood at birminghamal.gov/pickup |
| City of Hoover | AmWaste | Every other week (bi-weekly) | Same as your trash day | Cart out by 6:30 AM |
| Mountain Brook | AmWaste | Per address | Varies | Use interactive map at mtnbrook.org |
| Unincorporated Jefferson County | AmWaste | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Call (205) 574-1930 to verify |
| Vestavia Hills | AmWaste | Contact city directly | Varies | Call city or AmWaste |
| Homewood | AmWaste | Contact city directly | Varies | Call city or AmWaste |
Not sure which area you’re in? Visit jccal.org and use the address lookup tool on the Residential Trash page. This will tell you whether your address falls under the county or an incorporated city.
For Birmingham residents, the full neighborhood-by-neighborhood schedule is posted at birminghamal.gov/pickup.
Each neighborhood is assigned a pickup day plus a Week 1 or Week 2 recycling rotation — meaning your recycling cart goes out every other week, not every week.
What Time Should You Put Your Recycling Bin Out?
Getting your bin out on time is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid a missed pickup. Here are the confirmed curb-out times by area:
- City of Birmingham: Place your recycling cart at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day. You can also set it out the night before, any time after 6:00 PM.
- City of Hoover: All carts must be at the curb no later than 6:30 AM.
- Unincorporated Jefferson County (AmWaste): Carts must be curbside by 5:30 AM. Routes can begin as early as 6:00 AM.
Set an alarm the night before. Pickup crews run on tight schedules and will not double back.
What If You Put It Out Too Late?
If your cart is not at the curb when the truck passes, the driver will not stop. The truck will not come back that day. You will need to wait until your next scheduled bin day — which could be two weeks away if you are on a bi-weekly pickup rotation.
Can You Leave the Bin Out the Night Before?
Yes. For Birmingham residents, the city specifically allows you to place your cart out after 6:00 PM the evening before pickup.
This is actually the recommended approach if you tend to leave early in the morning.
For other areas, check with your hauler — AmWaste guidelines for unincorporated county areas and Hoover specify morning placement, but setting it out the night before is generally not restricted.
Is Recycling Pickup Every Week in Jefferson County?
No — most of Jefferson County is on a bi-weekly pickup schedule for recycling.
That means your recycling cart goes out every other week, not every week.
Here is how it works in the City of Birmingham: garbage is collected once per week. Recycling collection happens on the same day as your garbage, but only every other week.
When Birmingham launched its new neighborhood-based collection schedule on January 6, 2025, each neighborhood was assigned either Week 1 or Week 2 for recycling. Your recycling cart only goes out on your assigned week.
In Hoover, the same bi-weekly system applies. Your trash and recycling share the same pickup day, but recycling only rotates every two weeks.
Tip: The easiest way to track your next recycling pickup is to check your city’s official schedule page.
Birmingham residents can bookmark birminghamal.gov/pickup and sign up for BHAM Ready text alerts by texting BHAMREADY to 38276. Hoover residents can check hooveralabama.gov/559/Pickup-Schedule.
You can also use apps like RecycleCoach or Recollect — more on those in the tips section below.
What Happens If You Miss Recycling Day in Jefferson County?
Missing your recycling collection day is frustrating, but there are clear steps to follow depending on where you live.
Unincorporated Jefferson County (AmWaste)
- Download the MyJeffCo App (available on Google Play and Apple App Store)
- Open the app and tap “Create A Request”
- Select “Trash Service” as the request type
- Enter the address where the pickup was missed
- Tap “Submit”
You can also call the Jefferson County Action Center or reach AmWaste customer service directly:
AmWaste Customer Service: (205) 574-1930 AmWaste Email: customercare@amwasteusa.com National Line: 1-888-449-6277
The county’s 2025 AmWaste contract includes a $250 penalty per verified missed pickup complaint — so the hauler has a financial reason to make it right quickly.
City of Birmingham
Report a missed recycling pickup through any of these channels:
- Call 311 or dial (205) 254-2489
- Email: pickup@birminghamal.gov
- Online: birminghamal.gov/311
- App: MyBHAM311 (available at birminghamal.gov/311)
City of Hoover
Report service problems at hooveralabama.gov using the MyHooverConnect tool.
Jefferson County Recycling Holiday Schedule
Most major holidays cause a one-day delay in waste collection. If your recycling or garbage pickup day falls on or after a holiday, your collection typically shifts by one day that week.
Below are the 2026 holidays most likely to affect your Jefferson County recycling pickup day.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Typical Pickup Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2026 (Thursday) | Delay likely for Thu–Fri routes |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19, 2026 (Monday) | Delay likely for Mon–Fri routes |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 (Monday) | Delay likely for Mon–Fri routes |
| Independence Day | July 4, 2026 (Saturday) | Check with your hauler |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 (Monday) | Delay likely for Mon–Fri routes |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26, 2026 (Thursday) | Delay likely for Thu–Fri routes |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 (Friday) | Delay likely for Fri routes |
Always confirm holiday delays directly with your city or hauler. Birmingham residents should monitor birminghamal.gov/pickup for official updates. Unincorporated county residents should check with AmWaste at (205) 574-1930.
Tips for Jefferson County Residents to Never Miss Pickup
These simple habits will keep you on track with your curbside collection all year.
- Look up your exact zone first. Start at birminghamal.gov/pickup or jccal.org to confirm your specific day and rotation week.
- Set a recurring phone alarm. If you are on bi-weekly pickup, set an alarm every two weeks the night before your bin day.
- Sign up for text alerts. Birmingham residents can text BHAMREADY to 38276 for DPW notifications. Hoover residents can sign up through MyHooverConnect.
- Place your cart out the night before. After 6:00 PM is fine for Birmingham. It removes the risk of sleeping through your alarm.
- Rinse containers before placing them in your recycling cart. Dirty containers can get rejected. Give plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans a quick rinse before tossing them in.
- Sort correctly. Jefferson County’s What Can You Recycle Curbside? 2026 guide lists accepted materials. Common accepted items include cardboard, plastic bottles (#1 and #2), aluminum cans, glass bottles, and paper.
- Note holiday weeks. Mark the 2026 holiday dates on your calendar now so you are not caught off guard in May or November.
Best Apps to Track Recycling Day
These apps connect to your local sanitation department schedule and send reminders before pickup:
- RecycleCoach — Free app with local pickup reminders and accepted materials list
- Recollect — Used by many Alabama municipalities; check if your city is connected
- MyJeffCo App — For unincorporated county residents; submit service requests and track issues
- MyBHAM311 — For Birmingham residents; report missed pickups and get service updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What day is recycling in Jefferson County, AL?
Your recycling pickup day depends on your specific city or neighborhood. In Birmingham, it falls on the same weekday as your trash pickup — but only every other week. In Hoover, it is also bi-weekly on your trash day. Check your neighborhood’s schedule at birminghamal.gov/pickup or call AmWaste at (205) 574-1930 for unincorporated areas.
Q: Does Jefferson County have bi-weekly recycling?
Yes — most areas do. The City of Birmingham and the City of Hoover both operate bi-weekly curbside recycling, meaning your recycling cart goes out every other week. Pickup happens on the same day as your regular garbage collection. Unincorporated county curbside recycling availability is not publicly confirmed — call AmWaste to check.
Q: What time does recycling pickup start in Jefferson County?
Pickup can begin as early as 5:30 AM in unincorporated county areas served by AmWaste, and as early as 6:00 AM in Birmingham. Hoover requires carts out by 6:30 AM. To be safe, have your recycling cart at the curb the night before or no later than 5:30 AM on collection morning.
Q: How do I find my recycling zone in Jefferson County?
Birmingham residents should visit birminghamal.gov/pickup and look up their neighborhood. This will show your assigned pickup day and your Week 1 or Week 2 recycling rotation. Residents in other parts of the county should start at jccal.org to identify their jurisdiction, then contact their city or AmWaste.
Q: Who do I call about a missed recycling pickup in Jefferson County?
It depends on your area. Birmingham residents should call 311 or dial (205) 254-2489, or email pickup@birminghamal.gov. Unincorporated county residents should use the MyJeffCo App or call AmWaste directly at (205) 574-1930. Hoover residents can report issues at hooveralabama.gov.
Sources: Jefferson County Commission (jccal.org), City of Birmingham Department of Public Works (birminghamal.gov), City of Hoover (hooveralabama.gov), AmWaste (amwasteusa.com). All schedule information verified as of April 2026.