Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Flagstaff
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.
Brown or Green (Varies by neighborhood) Bin (Trash)
Place containers curbside by 6:00 a.m. with wheels against the curb and the handle facing your home. Ensure a 4-foot clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, and snow berms. Maximum weight is 150 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Small amounts of bagged yard debris
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely in the cart. All glass is strictly prohibited in the blue cart and will be treated as contamination.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (Must use drop-off locations)
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste or greasy pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Flagstaff does not provide a dedicated weekly green waste cart. Small debris must be bagged and placed in your regular trash. Large branches must be bundled and saved for your 5-week bulky waste collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs (less than 5 ft long and 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓Pine needles and pine cones (bagged)
- ✓Bagged leaves and weeds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once every 5 weeks (based on 5 geographic sections)
Placement
Place items on the yard side of the sidewalk or the parkway strip. Do not block the sidewalk or the street. Keep piles a minimum of 3 feet away from fences, utilities, and mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Small furniture (chairs, small tables)
- ✓ Bagged or boxed extra trash
- ✓ Yard debris and pine needles (under 35 lbs per bag)
- ✓ Tree limbs (under 5 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Queen or King size mattresses
- ✕ TVs and electronics
- ✕ Appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✕ Construction materials and tires
Out-of-schedule pickups, Queen/King mattresses, and large appliances with refrigerants require a Special Bulk Pickup appointment and an additional fee by calling 928-213-2110.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling services for that day and the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day (e.g., Friday pickup moves to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
The 5-week bulky waste schedule continues year-round, but specific neighborhood sweep days within a holiday week may fluctuate slightly based on the holiday delay.
Flagstaff partners with 'Recycle by City' for scheduling. Residents are highly encouraged to sign up for email or text notifications at recyclebycity.com/flagstaff for exact holiday shifts.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Zero Glass in the Blue Bin
Never place glass in your curbside recycling bin. Broken glass contaminates paper bales and damages sorting equipment at the Phoenix-based MRF. Take all glass to the city's purple community drop-off bins.
Keep Ashes Completely Out
Never put fireplace or woodstove ashes in your curbside carts, even if they seem cold. Ashes must be allowed to completely cool for days and then self-hauled to the Cinder Lake Landfill to prevent truck fires.
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Plastic shopping bags and trash bags are the number one contaminant at the sorting facility. Always toss your recyclables directly into the blue bin loosely. Return plastic grocery bags to local supermarkets.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring heavy snowstorms, do not place your carts in the street where they will be hit by snowplows. Place them at the end of your driveway, keeping them slightly behind the snow berm while remaining accessible to the automated truck arm.
January
JanuaryThe city hosts an annual 'Treecycling' program. Real Christmas trees stripped of all ornaments and tinsel can be dropped off 24/7 at locations like the Thorpe Park Annex or Jay Lively Activity Center for mulching.
Spring
March to MaySpring winds in Flagstaff can easily blow trash into the surrounding national forest. Ensure your trash and recycling lids are completely closed. Do not overfill carts, and bag all lightweight trash tightly.
About Flagstaff Waste Management
The End of Curbside Glass Recycling
In a major operational shift effective July 2026, the City of Flagstaff completely discontinued its residential curbside glass collection program. To maintain glass recycling efforts while improving efficiency, the city introduced six designated glass drop-off locations, including the Continental Little League Field and the Jay Lively Activity Center. Glass must no longer be placed in any curbside bin.
Five-Week Geographic Bulk Rotation
Flagstaff handles bulky waste differently than most Arizona cities by utilizing a continuous five-week geographic rotation. The city is divided into five sections, and crews sweep one section per week. Residents must have their 5-foot by 5-foot pile placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the Monday of their designated week, as trucks will not return to a neighborhood once it is cleared.
Mountain Town Snow Protocols
At an elevation of 7,000 feet, Flagstaff experiences heavy winter snowfall, which directly impacts trash collection. During snow events and plow operations, residents are instructed to place their carts in their driveways slightly set back from the snow berms, ensuring they do not block the street or obstruct the path of city snowplows.
The Hazardous Products Center at Cinder Lake
To protect the local ponderosa pine environment, the city operates the Hazardous Products Center (HPC) at the Cinder Lake Landfill. This facility provides a centralized, free drop-off point for Flagstaff and Coconino County residents to safely dispose of toxic household chemicals, diverting over 150 tons of hazardous waste from the landfill annually.
Disability Roll-Out Service
For elderly or disabled residents who cannot maneuver heavy 150-pound carts, Flagstaff offers a specialized Roll-Out Service. Upon providing a doctor's note or medical letter, city maintenance will affix a yellow lid to the resident's containers, signaling the driver to physically retrieve, empty, and return the carts to the home's designated service area.
Drop-off Facilities
Cinder Lake Landfill & Hazardous Products Center
6770 E. Landfill Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Materials Accepted
City of Flagstaff Recycling Transfer Facility
1800 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put glass in my curbside blue bin in Flagstaff?
No. As of July 2026, Flagstaff transitioned entirely to a drop-off model for glass to improve recycling efficiency. Glass must be taken to one of six community drop-off bins, such as the Jay Lively Activity Center or Continental Little League Field.
How does the bulk trash pickup work in Flagstaff?
Flagstaff rotates bulk pickup on a 5-week schedule based on five geographic sections. You do not need to call ahead for your scheduled week. Just place a pile no larger than 5'x5'x5' at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the Monday of your designated week.
What should I do with my trash bins when it snows?
During snow events, keep your carts out of the street so city snowplows can pass safely. Place your bins at the end of your driveway, slightly behind the snow berm, while ensuring the automated truck arm can still reach them.
Where can I dispose of old paint and electronics in Flagstaff?
City and Coconino County residents can drop off household hazardous waste (paint, oil, batteries) and e-waste for free at the Hazardous Products Center located at the Cinder Lake Landfill (6770 E. Landfill Rd). Bring your ID and a recent water bill.