Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Drexel Heights
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.
Typically Black, Green, or Grey (varies by private hauler) Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be securely bagged and tied to prevent windblown litter. Lids must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Small, securely boxed thorny plant trimmings
Typically Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables; place them loose inside the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Office paper and mail
- ✓Aluminum and tin beverage cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (labeled #1 and #2)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags or wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, clothing)
Yard Waste Bin
Unless your specific hauler provides a dedicated green waste bin, yard waste is typically disposed of in the regular trash. Cacti and thorny plants must be boxed in cardboard (max 25 lbs) to prevent worker injury.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches (cut to size)
- ✓Boxed cactus trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by subscription or self-haul
Placement
Place approved bulk items neatly at the curb no earlier than 24 hours before your scheduled special pickup. Do not block sidewalks or mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Broken furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large yard debris (bundled)
- ✓ Appliances (non-freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rock
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (unless a specific fee is paid)
Private haulers charge separate fees per scheduled bulk collection. Self-hauling to a Pima County landfill or transfer station incurs a gate fee based on load weight or volume.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday falls on or before your scheduled pickup day, service will typically be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Friday pickups will occur on Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste schedules follow the same delay pattern as regular trash for private haulers.
Because Drexel Heights relies on private haulers, always verify specific holiday modifications directly with your chosen provider, as minor regional holidays may not disrupt service.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Blue Bin
Glass breaks during transit and embeds itself into paper and cardboard, ruining entire batches of recyclables. Utilize Pima County's purple drop-off bins instead.
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Never place plastic grocery bags or garbage bags in your recycling bin. These soft plastics wrap around the gears at the sorting facility, causing hazardous equipment jams and delays.
Empty, Clean, and Dry
A half-full soda can or unrinsed salsa jar can attract desert ants and contaminate surrounding paper materials. Give all containers a quick rinse and shake dry before tossing them in.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to AugustDue to extreme desert heat, many private haulers start their routes earlier than usual. Place your bins at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day to ensure you aren't missed.
Monsoon
July to SeptemberHigh winds and flash storms can scatter trash across the neighborhood. Do not overfill your bins, ensure lids snap shut, and consider delaying curb placement until morning if a storm is forecasted overnight.
Winter/Spring
January to AprilThis is prime time for trimming back desert landscaping. Remember to chop branches into manageable pieces and securely box all thorny materials, such as cholla and prickly pear, to protect sanitation crews.
About Drexel Heights Waste Management
Navigating Drexel Heights' Open-Market Trash System
Because Drexel Heights is an unincorporated census-designated place within Pima County, residents do not receive municipal trash collection. Instead, households operate on an open-market system. You have the freedom to hire a permitted private solid waste hauler, such as Republic Services or Hughes Sanitation, or you can opt to self-haul your household waste directly to nearby Pima County transfer stations or landfills.
Desert Wildlife and Waste Containment
Living near the beautiful Sonoran Desert means sharing the environment with local wildlife, including coyotes, javelinas, and ants. To prevent these animals from scattering your garbage, it is essential to keep all household trash securely bagged and ensure your bin lids are closed tightly. Rinsing food residue from recyclable containers is also a highly effective way to keep desert pests away from your property.
Handling Cactus and Thorny Yard Debris
Maintaining desert landscaping often involves trimming cacti, agave, and other thorny vegetation. For the safety of the sanitation workers hauling your waste, Pima County guidelines require that all thorny green waste be placed inside sturdy cardboard boxes rather than loose in your trash bin or in plastic bags. Boxes should typically not exceed 25 pounds to ensure safe lifting.
The Glass Recycling Shift in Pima County
In alignment with broader regional practices in the Tucson metropolitan area, glass is generally no longer accepted in curbside blue recycling bins. Glass shatters easily during transit, contaminating other valuable recyclables like paper and cardboard. Drexel Heights residents should save their glass bottles and jars and take them to designated purple glass drop-off containers located throughout Pima County.
Securing Bins During Monsoon Season
Arizona's summer monsoon season brings sudden, severe thunderstorms and powerful microbursts that can easily overturn standard residential waste bins. During periods of high wind, try to place your bins out on the morning of your collection rather than the night before, and ensure they are positioned on flat ground with the lids firmly shut to prevent litter from blowing into the desert ecosystem.
Drop-off Facilities
Los Reales Sustainability Campus
5300 E Los Reales Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756
Materials Accepted
Sahuarita Transfer Station
16605 S La Cañada Dr, Sahuarita, AZ 85629
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up trash collection in Drexel Heights?
Because Drexel Heights is an unincorporated part of Pima County, the local government does not provide trash pickup. You must set up an account with a private waste hauler permitted by the county (such as Republic Services or Hughes Sanitation) or choose to self-haul your waste to a local transfer station.
Where should I dispose of my glass bottles in Drexel Heights?
Glass is not accepted in curbside recycling bins in the Pima County region. Instead, residents should rinse their glass jars and bottles and drop them off at one of the designated purple glass recycling containers located throughout the Tucson area.
Can I throw cactus trimmings into my regular garbage bin?
Yes, but they require special preparation. Pima County solid waste guidelines mandate that all thorny plants and cactus trimmings be placed inside thick cardboard boxes (weighing no more than 25 pounds) before being thrown away to prevent sanitation workers from being stuck or injured.
What should I do if a monsoon blows my trash bin over?
It is the resident's responsibility to pick up any spilled trash. To prevent this, ensure your garbage is bagged, keep the bin lid fully closed, and try to place your cart at the curb on the morning of collection rather than the night before during active storm warnings.