Henderson is the Ohio River city just across the water from Evansville, and the county seat of Henderson County, Kentucky. It’s a river town, and the city runs its own power, water and trash services. If you live inside city limits, all of those go through city-owned utilities. Out in the county, some of the answers change.
This hub covers the fall and winter jobs Henderson homeowners ask about most: leaves and limbs, where chemicals and old paperwork go, who to call about power or water, and how to keep an eye on the river. Every date, hour and phone number below was checked on an official city, county or utility site on October 8, 2026. Schedules can shift, so a quick look at the sources before you load the truck is a good idea.
Fall and winter at a glance
| What | Henderson details |
|---|---|
| Leaf collection | An annual city pickup. The 2026 start date wasn’t posted as of Oct 8. Call Public Works at (270) 831-1234. |
| Brush with your trash | One tied bundle next to your cart, free. |
| Bigger brush piles | A special load, with a fee on your utility bill, or haul it to the landfill yourself. |
| Landfill and transfer station | 790 Wolf Hills Road. Monday–Saturday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
| Batteries, used oil, shredding | Henderson County Recycling, 398 Sam Ball Way (see below) |
| Electronics and TVs | Not currently accepted at the county recycling center |
| Christmas trees | An annual city pickup |
Leaves, limbs and yard waste
Leaves. The city’s Traffic Control crew handles annual leaf pickup, and Public Works at (270) 831-1234 takes leaf questions. The 2026 start date wasn’t posted when we checked, so watch the city’s news page or its Notify Me alerts. Until then, rake leaves to the edge of your lawn, not into the street. Leaves in the street wash into storm drains, and clogged drains leave water standing after a fall rain. Piles without sticks mixed in are easier for crews to pick up.
Limbs and brush. The city’s sanitation rules allow one bundle of branches or twigs, tied with twine, next to your roll-out cart on trash day. It can be up to 5 feet long, with branches no thicker than 1½ inches, and no heavier than 50 pounds. Anything bigger counts as a special load, and the fee goes on your utility bill. You can also haul brush yourself. At the landfill on Wolf Hills Road, tree limbs and yard waste go to the construction and demolition (CD&D) side, which charges residents by weight. Household trash, mattresses, carpet and upholstered furniture go to the Solid Waste Transfer Station, which is free for Henderson city and county households with proof of residency, such as a driver’s license with a Henderson County address or a city utility bill.
Cart basics. Carts go out by 5:00 a.m. on collection day, within 5 feet of the curb and at least 3 feet from cars, mailboxes and other carts. Check the city’s 2026 altered trash schedule before Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks.
Next spring. The city’s annual Spring Cleanup ran in two phases in 2026, starting March 23 and April 20. If a big brush pile can wait, watch for the 2027 announcement.
Hazardous waste, shredding and electronics
Fall garage clean-outs turn up old paint, pesticides and batteries. The city’s trash rules keep batteries, liquids, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, mercury thermostats and hot ashes out of your cart, and the landfill turns away tires, oil, paint and chemicals.
Henderson County Recycling is at 398 Sam Ball Way and is open Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. It’s a free drive-through drop-off for city and county residents, and the phone is (270) 827-1979. It accepts:
- Household and lead-acid batteries, plus lithium batteries with both terminals taped
- Used motor oil and oil filters
- Residential tires
- Sorted cans, glass bottles, #1 and #2 plastics, cardboard and paper
- Documents for shredding, and hard drives for destruction (take the drive out of the computer first)
Electronics: The center lists electronics, including TVs, as currently not accepted.
Paint and household chemicals: Call Henderson County Solid Waste & Recycling at (270) 827-1979 to ask when the next household hazardous waste collection is. Until then, store those items sealed, labeled and out of reach. The Tri-State Clear-Out Calendar tracks dump days and hazardous waste events across the region as counties post them.
Freeze prep for Henderson homes
Henderson winters are usually mild, but a few hard cold snaps are normal. This short list heads off most of the expensive problems:
- Outdoor faucets: Disconnect hoses and cover the spigots before the first hard freeze.
- Exposed pipes: Insulate pipes in crawl spaces and unheated garages. On the coldest nights, a slow drip at a faucet on an outside wall and open cabinet doors under the sink help keep water moving.
- Main shutoff: Find your main water shutoff and make sure it turns, so a leak can be stopped in seconds.
- Heating: Change the filter and test your carbon monoxide alarms. Our fall furnace checkup guide covers what to do yourself and when to call a pro.
- Drafts and attic: A door sweep check and a look at your attic insulation pay off all winter, especially in older homes.
- Outage kit: Put fresh batteries in your flashlights and radio. Our emergency kit refresh has a quick list.
A late-fall gutter cleanout keeps frozen leaves from backing water up under the roof edge.
Water, power and utilities
Henderson’s electric and water utilities are both run by the city.
Henderson Municipal Power & Light (HMP&L) provides electric and fiber service. Its service center is at 1213 Barret Blvd., and the main office line is (270) 826-2726 (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). To report an outage at any hour, call or text “Outage” to (888) 579-2726. HMP&L also asks customers to report trees growing into power lines. You can text “Tree Problem” to the same number or call dispatch at (270) 631-0660. Fall winds and early ice bring those limbs down.
Henderson Water Utility (HWU) handles water and sewer. For billing, call Customer Service at (270) 831-1200 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.). For a water or sewer emergency, HWU answers (270) 826-2824 around the clock.
Help with bills: The city runs a utility assistance fund for qualifying residents’ water bills, in partnership with Henderson Christian Community Outreach (HCCO). Eligibility screening goes through HCCO at (270) 826-5592.
Alerts: Sign up for the city’s free Hyper-Reach emergency notifications on a cell phone or landline. Before you dig for a fence post or a new shrub bed, call 811 or visit Kentucky 811 to get underground lines marked.
Flood and Ohio River awareness
Living near the river is part of Henderson’s character, and a little awareness goes a long way. Henderson County Emergency Management uses the Ohio River gauge at Evansville for its forecasts and response planning. Flood stage there is 42.0 feet. For reference, the county lists past crests of 53.75 feet in 1937, 47.52 feet in 1997, 46.78 feet in 2011 and 47.50 feet in 2025. The county says river-basin flooding is most common from February through April. The hardest-hit areas have historically been low-lying land in the Ohio River, Green River and Canoe Creek basins.
You can follow the Evansville gauge on the National Weather Service’s river page. The NWS office in Paducah issues the warnings that cover Henderson County.
What to do now, while it’s dry:
- Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. The map for your own address is the one that counts.
- Ask your agent about flood coverage. FEMA notes that most homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage, and NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period, so it’s not something to buy once the river is already rising.
- Keep storm drains and ditches near your home clear of leaves.
- Save the number for Henderson County Emergency Management. Its office is at 1990 Barret Court, Suite A, and the phone is (270) 831-1235.
Our Tri-State storm prep guide covers flood and tornado kits and plans. After a storm, start with post-storm tree damage first steps.
Finding contractors and understanding costs
Fall and winter are good months to plan spring projects and collect quotes before the busy season. Our cost guides explain what drives a price and include estimate ranges from cited sources. Your real number comes from written quotes for your address.
- Fencing: Fence installation cost in Henderson and the Tri-State
- Roofing: New roof cost and roof repair vs. replace
- Heating and cooling: HVAC replacement cost
- Gutters: Gutter replacement cost
- Outdoor living: Concrete patio cost and screen room and patio cover cost variables
Some guides were written for the Indiana side, but the cost drivers carry over. Kentucky handles many trade licenses through the state rather than the city, so check the license for your specific job type. Our how to hire a contractor checklist and how to read a contractor quote help you compare bids line by line. For anything structural or near the property line, it’s worth confirming with the city or county building office for your address before work starts.
Neighboring hubs
Across the river and around the region: Evansville, IN, Owensboro, KY, Newburgh, IN, Mount Vernon, IN, Chandler, IN, Boonville, IN, Rockport, IN and Tell City, IN.
Next steps
- Work through the free Fall Clear-Out Checklist one weekend at a time.
- Browse the contractor directory by trade.
- Request a contractor and tell us about your project.
- Subscribe to get Tri-State seasonal reminders and new local dates as they’re posted.
Sources
Checked October 8, 2026.
- City of Henderson: Sanitation Collection (cart rules, brush bundle, prohibited items)
- City of Henderson: Solid Waste FAQs (special-load charge, landfill items)
- City of Henderson: Landfill / Transfer Station (address, phone, hours, residency rules)
- City of Henderson: Traffic Control (leaf and Christmas tree pickup, phone)
- City of Henderson: News Flash (2026 Spring Cleanup dates)
- City of Henderson: Utility assistance fund, June 23, 2026
- City of Henderson: Hyper-Reach
- Henderson County: Recycling & Solid Waste
- Henderson Municipal Power & Light and HMP&L Outage Info
- Henderson Water Utility
- Henderson County Emergency Management: Flooding
- Henderson County Emergency Management: About Us
- NWS: Ohio River at Evansville and NWS Paducah
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- FEMA: Flood Insurance
- Kentucky 811
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