Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Chandler
Arizona residential routes operate weekly (Mon-Fri) depending on your neighborhood zone. Some municipalities shift to earlier collection hours during extreme summer heat.
State Mandate
Ensure trash is bagged to prevent debris from scattering during high desert winds.
Black Bin (Trash)
All perishable garbage and yard clippings must be securely bagged and tied. Bins must be at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day and removed by 9 a.m. the following day. Max weight is 200 lbs for curbside.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Diapers and pet waste (bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely in the blue bin. Ensure all containers are lightly rinsed and free of food residue before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel food/beverage cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, wraps, or films
- ✕Styrofoam (Polystyrene #6)
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Grass and leaves must be bagged and placed in the black trash bin. Large yard debris like branches (cut to max 5 feet in length and under 5 inches in diameter) and palm fronds must be scheduled for bulk pickup or hauled to the RSWCC.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Tree trunks and palm fronds (bulk only)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Up to 4 free visits/pickups per year combined with RSWCC)
Placement
Place items at the edge of your front property within 4 feet of the curb or sidewalk. Do not place bulk items in the alley. The total size cannot exceed 4 ft wide x 4 ft high x 16 ft long (about two pickup truck loads).
Accepted
- ✓ Broken furniture
- ✓ Large appliances (Freon appliances incur a $15 fee)
- ✓ Tree trunks and branches (max 5' length, 5" diameter)
- ✓ Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓ Cactus (must be securely boxed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid waste
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or asphalt
- ✕ Food waste and diapers
Chandler ratepayers receive 4 free bulk pickups or RSWCC visits per year. After 4 uses, the fee is $43 per curbside bulk pickup. Refrigerators and AC units have a $15 Freon removal fee regardless of your free credits.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Trash and recycling are NOT collected on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your regular collection falls on one of these days, service is pushed back one day (e.g., Thursday moves to Friday, Friday moves to Saturday). For all other holidays (like Memorial Day or Labor Day), collections proceed on their regular schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Bulk yard waste collections will not be scheduled on major holidays, and regular bagged yard waste in the trash bin will follow the standard holiday delay schedule.
Alley trash collection may occur on a different day than curbside. Bins must always be set out by 6 a.m. regardless of the holiday schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
The number one recycling contaminant in Chandler is plastic bags. Never put your recyclables in garbage bags or grocery sacks. Empty items loosely into the blue bin, and take plastic grocery bags back to local retail drop-off bins.
Keep Grass Out of the Blue Bin
Grass clippings, leaves, and dirt belong in your black trash can, securely bagged and tied. Yard waste severely contaminates the recycling stream and damages sorting machinery at the processing facility.
Say No to Styrofoam
Even if it has a recycling triangle on it, Styrofoam (polystyrene) cups, egg cartons, and packing peanuts cannot be processed in Chandler's curbside recycling program. These items must go directly into your black trash can.
Seasonal Information
Summer
May to SeptemberDuring Chandler's extreme summer heat, organic waste decomposes rapidly. Always double-bag food scraps and diapers to prevent severe odors and maggot infestations. Additionally, the RSWCC shifts to summer hours (6 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to protect workers from extreme afternoon temperatures.
Monsoon
July to SeptemberStrong microbursts and high winds during monsoon season can easily tip over trash bins. Ensure your container lid is completely closed, and place bins at least 3 feet away from vehicles and light poles to prevent property damage if they blow over.
Winter / Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryThe city experiences high waste volumes after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Expect one-day delays if your pickup falls on or after these holidays. Chandler also offers specific drop-off locations for live Christmas trees in January—be sure to remove all lights, ornaments, and stands before recycling.
About Chandler Waste Management
Navigating Chandler's Solid Waste Services
The City of Chandler manages its own municipal waste collection, providing residents with reliable weekly curbside pickup for both trash (black cans) and recyclables (blue cans). As a 'Community of Innovation,' Chandler strongly emphasizes waste diversion and environmental responsibility. Ratepayers benefit from comprehensive services that include curbside pickup, scheduled bulk collection, and access to a dedicated self-haul facility, ensuring neighborhoods remain clean and sustainable year-round.
Strictly Enforced: Chandler's Bag and Tie Ordinance
Unlike some neighboring Maricopa County cities, Chandler City Code strictly requires all perishable garbage to be securely bagged and tied before being placed in the black trash container. This ordinance specifically targets food waste, animal waste, diapers, and grass clippings. By keeping these items tightly sealed, residents help mitigate unsanitary conditions, prevent the breeding of flies in the intense Arizona heat, and eliminate offensive odors and roadway spillage.
Maximizing Your Four Free Bulk Visits
Chandler offers a highly flexible bulk waste program for active utility customers. Every calendar year, residents are entitled to four free bulk waste credits. You can mix and match how you use them: schedule four curbside bulk pickups, make four self-haul trips to the Recycling-Solid Waste Collection Center (RSWCC), or do a combination of both. Once these four free credits are utilized, standard fees apply for subsequent pickups or drop-offs, making it essential to plan your major home cleanouts strategically.
The Recycling-Solid Waste Collection Center (RSWCC)
Located at 955 E. Queen Creek Road, the RSWCC is a premier amenity exclusively for Chandler residents. It serves as a self-haul facility where you can drop off extra trash, recyclables, cardboard, and yard waste. To enter, you must present a photo ID and a current City of Chandler utility bill proving you pay for city solid waste services. Keep in mind that loads consisting entirely of recyclables or household hazardous waste (by appointment) do not count against your four free annual trash visits.
Drop-off Facilities
Recycling-Solid Waste Collection Center (RSWCC)
955 E. Queen Creek Road, Chandler, AZ 85286
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use trash bags for my garbage in Chandler?
Yes. Chandler City Code strictly requires residents to bag and tie all perishable garbage—including food waste, diapers, pet waste, and grass clippings—before placing it in the black trash container. This helps control odors, pests, and litter.
How many free bulk trash pickups do I get a year in Chandler?
Chandler utility customers receive a combined total of four (4) free curbside bulk collections or disposal visits to the Recycling-Solid Waste Collection Center per calendar year. Once you use those four credits, a fee of $43 applies for each additional curbside bulk collection.
Can I put yard clippings in my blue recycling bin?
No. Yard waste, including grass, leaves, and branches, is prohibited in the blue recycling bin. Small yard waste like grass must be bagged and tied and placed in your black trash bin. Larger branches should be scheduled for a bulk pickup or taken to the RSWCC.
What do I need to bring to use the Chandler Solid Waste Collection Center?
To drop off materials at the RSWCC on Queen Creek Road, you must present a valid photo ID and a current City of Chandler utility bill that shows you pay for city-provided solid waste services. The name on the ID must match the account holder or an approved user.