Shoals Landfill & Disposal Info

How Disposal Works in the Shoals

The Shoals straddles the Tennessee River, and waste is handled a little differently on each side. Lauderdale County and the City of Florence sit on the north bank; Colbert County - Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia - sits on the south. Each has its own facilities and rules, and the regional system has changed in recent years, so it always pays to call ahead before hauling a load. Below is the practical rundown.

Lauderdale County / Florence Side

Lauderdale County Landfill

The Lauderdale County landfill is located on Cloverdale Road in Florence (in the 35633 area). It accepts household and other waste for a tipping fee, with a general contact line at 256-760-5878. Hours and gate rates are set by the facility and can change, so call before you go to confirm the current schedule, what is accepted, and the fee for your load.

City of Florence Solid Waste

The City of Florence runs its own Solid Waste Department, including municipal disposal operations and a recycling program. City residents also have curbside services described below. The department is the right contact for questions about city trash, recycling and large-item collection.

Florence Recycling Center

Florence operates a recycling center that accepts standard recyclables and, notably, an electronics drop-off where residents can dispose of TVs, computers, monitors, printers and similar items. This is one of the most useful resources in the region for keeping e-waste out of the landfill.

Colbert County Side (Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia)

Disposal on the south side of the river is coordinated through the regional solid-waste authority. Household garbage from the Tri-Cities and Colbert County is handled through the transfer system and shipped to a permitted landfill, and construction-and-demolition (C&D) debris has been directed to a regional industrial landfill. Because the arrangements here have shifted in recent years - including changes to transfer stations and where C&D material goes - residents should check with their city sanitation department or the solid-waste authority for the current drop-off point and any resident access rules before hauling.

City Bulk / Heavy-Trash Pickup (Florence)

If you are a City of Florence resident, you may not need the landfill at all for many bulky items. The city collects "heavy trash" - large yard waste, furniture, and material from minor household projects such as cabinets or a toilet - on a schedule. Key rules to get it picked up:

• Place items no more than about two feet from the street's edge.
• Keep items roughly five feet clear of mailboxes, poles, fences and parked cars, and away from low utility lines.
• Keep any pile within about four feet high, ten feet long and five feet deep - larger piles will be left behind.
• Do not place items on a water meter.
• Not collected: liquids, paint and hazardous materials, and construction/demolition debris (that is the contractor's or homeowner's responsibility).

Other Shoals cities run their own bulky-item schedules - check with Muscle Shoals, Sheffield or Tuscumbia sanitation for yours.

Special Items: Where They Go

Item	Where it goes
Tires	Tire shop or ADEM-registered receiver; not regular trash (see our tire guide)
Refrigerators / freezers	Refrigerant must be recovered first; then scrap or landfill by policy
TVs & electronics	Florence electronics drop-off or e-waste recycling
Paint & chemicals	Household hazardous waste - never the landfill or curb
Usable furniture	Donate: Shoals Habitat ReStore, Salvation Army, Goodwill
Construction debris	C&D landfill / regional facility; not city bulk pickup

Before You Make a DIY Run

• Call ahead. Confirm the facility is open, takes your material, and what it charges that day.
• Bring the right vehicle. Many items need a truck or trailer; secure your load so nothing blows out en route (an unsecured load is a ticketable offense).
• Separate special items. Tires, appliances and electronics are usually handled apart from general trash.
• Bring cash or a card. Tipping fees are due at the gate.

Prefer to Skip the Landfill?

If a DIY run sounds like more truck, fuel, fees and lifting than you want, we do it for you. We haul your junk to the correct destination - landfill, recycler, or donation - as a single flat-rate junk removal visit, and we are a simple alternative to renting a dumpster. Call or text (256) 967-3054.

Last verified August 2026. Facility hours, fees and the regional disposal arrangements in the Shoals have changed in recent years and continue to evolve; always confirm current details with the facility, your city, or the solid-waste authority before hauling a load.

Recycling in the Shoals

Beyond the landfill, the Shoals has curbside and drop-off recycling worth using before you throw things away. The City of Florence runs a recycling program and operates a recycling center, and Keep the Shoals Beautiful serves as a regional resource that helps residents find where various materials go. Commonly recycled items include cardboard and paper, aluminum and steel cans, certain plastics, and - through the dedicated electronics drop-off - old TVs and computers. Separating recyclables not only keeps material out of the landfill, it can shrink the load you would otherwise pay to dump.

Yard Waste and Brush

Yard debris is usually handled separately from household trash. The City of Florence collects large yard waste and brush as part of its heavy-trash program within the size limits noted above, and other Shoals cities run their own brush and limb pickup. Keeping grass, leaves and limbs in the yard-waste stream - rather than mixing them into general trash - is both the rule in many areas and the cheaper path.

Which Route Is Right for You?

For a small, sorted, non-bulky load and a free Saturday, a DIY landfill or recycling run is perfectly reasonable. For anything heavy, mixed, upstairs, or larger than your vehicle can safely carry, a single full-service pickup usually beats multiple trips - and we sort the donatables and recyclables out of your load so more of it stays out of the landfill.

Sources

• Lauderdale County - Solid Waste
• City of Florence - Solid Waste Department
• City of Florence - Large Yard Waste / Curbside Collection
• City of Florence - Recycle Right (electronics)
• Shoals Solid Waste Authority