2x a month
Outside-the-Cart bulk collection on your regular day
10 cu yd
maximum pile, within 3 feet of the street
4
tires per home accepted at the curb
Every route for tires in Memphis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Memphis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Memphis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Memphis Outside-the-Cart bulk collection: tires
FreeMemphis homes with city service can set up to 4 tires at the curb per collection (sizes up to 11 by 22.5).
Who qualifies: Homes with City of Memphis solid waste service (the city cart). Apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment for ordinary bulk. Outside-the-Cart collection runs twice a month on your regular collection day (weeks 1 and 3 or weeks 2 and 4 depending on your address; check memphistn.gov/solid-waste, the Memphis Curbside Collection app, or 311). The city asks you to call 311 so crews know items are out.
Limits: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection.
Set-out: Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Memphis: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering tires, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Memphis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
If you live in Memphis, your bulk pickup runs on a system the city calls Outside-the-Cart, twice-monthly collection on your regular trash day. This page walks through how it works, what gets accepted, and every other free or low-cost disposal option in Shelby County.
The Memphis rule for tires: Memphis homes with city service can set up to 4 tires at the curb per collection (sizes up to 11 by 22.5).
Program basics: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection. Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (Shelby County facility at 6305 Haley Rd), construction debris from contractors, and roofing. Piles over 10 cubic yards are left.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Memphis Solid Waste: Household Garbage and Outside-the-Cart rules, City of Memphis: Solid Waste Convenience Center locations. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Memphis. Shelby County operates a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility for county residents. Note: no latex paint accepted, no televisions accepted, and no commercial waste. Bring your latest MLGW bill and picture ID. Several retailers offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications.
Why tires are different from ordinary bulk. Tires are widely banned from landfills (state laws in nearly every U.S. state) but easy to recycle through the established tire fee system. The disposal fee is built into every new tire purchase ($1 to $5 per tire), funding end-of-life processing.
Three mistakes that get tires left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit (no new tire purchase, no upcoming collection events, more than the per-event limit):
Auto Shop Tire-Only Disposal
$3 to $8 eachMost auto shops will accept old tires WITHOUT a new tire purchase for $3 to $8 per tire. The fee covers their disposal cost since they didn’t collect the tire fee on a new purchase from you.
The most universal paid option: Available at virtually every auto shop nationally, Discount Tire, Costco Tire Center, Walmart Auto Care, NTB, local independent shops. Many will let you drop off tires anytime during business hours, no appointment.
Volume limit: Most shops cap at 4 to 5 tires per visit. Larger volumes need specialized tire recyclers.
LoadUp paid tires pickup
$80+For households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your tires. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book tires pickup in Memphis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Memphis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Memphis junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national tires disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Memphis: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Memphis pick up tires for free?
Yes, up to 4 tires at the curb on your collection week.
How much does paid tire removal cost in Memphis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires pickup in Memphis starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s the cheapest way to dispose of tires?
If you’re buying new tires anyway: free with new tire purchase at any tire shop. The disposal fee is built into the new tire price by state law. If you have old tires without buying new ones: $3 to $8 per tire at most auto shops, or free at periodic city tire collection events. Auto shops are the most universal option, every Discount Tire, Walmart Auto Care, Costco Tire Center, and local independent shop accepts old tires for the disposal fee.
Why are tires banned from landfills?
Whole tires don’t compress in landfills, they trap air and rise to the surface over time, breaking the landfill cap and creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and Zika. Tire piles are also a major fire hazard, tire fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and release toxic smoke. Nearly every U.S. state has banned whole tires from landfills under solid waste laws. Recycled tires get shredded and used as tire-derived fuel for cement kilns and paper mills, crumb rubber for athletic field surfacing and playgrounds, and recycled rubber products.
How does the tire disposal fee work?
Every new tire sold in the U.S. includes a small disposal fee ($1 to $5 per tire built into the purchase price) that funds end-of-life recycling. Tire shops are required by state law to take old tires when you buy new ones, this is the simplest disposal channel and feels free because the cost was already paid when you bought the new tire. The fee varies by state: California $1.75 per tire, New York $2.50 per tire, most southern states $1 to $2 per tire.
What about specialty tires (agricultural, oversized, off-road)?
Most auto shops only accept passenger and light-truck tires. For agricultural tractor tires, oversized truck tires, motorcycle tires, and off-road tires, you’ll need a specialized recycler. Search “tire recycling” plus your tire type. Some farm equipment dealers accept their own brand back. Disposal fees for specialty tires are typically $20 to $100 per tire because of the larger volume of rubber.
Is this Memphis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Memphis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
