Metro crews begin countywide curbside debris pickup in Nashville after ice storm, with preparation steps required

Countywide debris removal ramps up as winter-storm recovery continues

Metro Nashville crews are beginning a countywide effort to collect debris from damaged homes, expanding storm recovery operations as residents clear downed branches and damaged materials following the recent winter storm. Metro officials have indicated the work will require multiple passes through Davidson County, focusing first on neighborhoods with the heaviest concentrations of debris.

As part of the operational plan, Metro is deploying large offloader trucks to remove bulky material and open space along curbs for additional set-outs. Metro has also set up four temporary staging sites intended to support ongoing collection and hauling.

What residents should do before crews arrive

Residents are being directed to place storm-related debris at the curb for collection. Metro’s debris operations rely on clear access for trucks and on debris being staged in a manner that allows crews to load safely and efficiently.

• Place storm debris at the curb or street side, not in parks or other Metro property that is not designated for resident disposal.

• Keep alleys and travel lanes clear so emergency vehicles, trash service and recovery equipment can move through neighborhoods without obstruction.

• Use regular household trash service for bagged household waste; do not mix household garbage into storm-debris piles intended for pickup.

How debris should be separated for collection

Metro guidance for storm cleanup emphasizes separating materials into distinct piles to improve safety and speed and to reduce the risk of rejected pickups. Residents should sort debris into separate categories so crews can handle each material stream appropriately.

• White goods and metals (such as appliances and scrap metal)

• Construction and demolition debris (such as lumber, drywall, windows and other building materials)

• Vegetative debris (such as brush, limbs and other yard waste generated by the storm)

How this intersects with regular trash service changes

The debris pickup rollout comes as Metro’s trash and recycling system transitions to a new collection schedule. Metro has stated that makeup collections for storm-disrupted household routes concluded on Monday, February 2, 2026, with the new schedule beginning Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Residents whose household trash was not collected during the makeup period are expected to receive service on their newly assigned day.

Residents should expect debris collection to occur in multiple rounds and should keep set-outs organized and accessible to avoid slowing neighborhood passes.

Where to direct questions and missed-service reports

Residents can report issues, request assistance and submit storm-related service needs through hubNashville (including by calling 311). Metro has also used temporary measures during storm recovery, including extended convenience-center availability and emergency drop-off coordination, to supplement curbside operations when conditions limit access in certain areas.

Metro has not provided a single completion date for debris removal and has indicated the scale of neighborhood damage will require repeated collection cycles across the county.