Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gilbert
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 household garbage, food waste, and yard clippings must be securely bagged and tied to prevent odors, pests, and spillage. Bins must be placed out by 5:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Bagged leaves and weeds
- ✓Small non-hazardous household items
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue bin. All accepted bottles, jugs, jars, and cans must be empty, clean, and dry before being tossed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (broken down, tape/labels can stay)
- ✓Paper (junk mail, magazines, newspaper, office paper)
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum, steel, tin food and beverage cans)
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (bottles, jugs, and jars ONLY)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass of any kind
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7 (yogurt tubs, clamshells, trays)
- ✕Plastic bags, wrap, or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard debris must be bagged and thrown in the black trash bin. Large yard trimmings must be under 5 feet in length and 12 inches in diameter to be eligible for bulk pickup. Cacti must be boxed and labeled.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds (bagged in black bin)
- ✓Tree trimmings and branches (bulk collection)
- ✓Cacti (bulk collection, boxed)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every five weeks per zone schedule.
Placement
Limit one pile per household. Maximum size is 10' long x 5' wide x 5' high. Place on the street directly against the curb, keeping at least 5 feet away from trash bins, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Broken furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Microwaves and dishwashers
- ✓ Tree trimmings (under 5 feet long and 12 inches diameter)
- ✓ Boxed and labeled glass or cacti
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household garbage (put in black bin)
- ✕ Refrigerators, washers, dryers (requires scheduled special pickup)
- ✕ Construction debris (lumber, tile, concrete, drywall)
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste and flat-screen TVs
Standard bulk pickup is free. Special pickups for oversized piles (up to 20'x5'x5') cost $100. Large appliances can be scheduled for a $16 trip fee during your bulk week, or $85 if requested outside of it.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holidays NEVER affect your weekly trash and recycling pickup days in Gilbert. Your regular collection day remains the exact same every week of the year, including on major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Yard Waste Exception
The curbside bulk trash schedule is suspended for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Even on holidays, operators start their routes at 5:00 a.m. Trash and recycling bins are serviced by different trucks at different times of the day, so leave them out until both are emptied.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Stop Placing Glass in the Blue Bin
Glass is strictly prohibited in Gilbert's curbside recycling carts. If you have glass bottles or jars, either place them in your black trash bin or transport them to one of the town's purple glass drop-off containers located at various parks.
Shape Matters for Plastics
Gilbert only accepts plastics labeled #1 or #2 that are in the shape of a bottle, jug, or jar. Even if your yogurt tub, produce clamshell, or margarine container has a #1 or #2 on it, it must go in the trash. No plastics #3 through #7 are allowed.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Plastic garbage bags completely jam the machinery at the local sorting facility. Keep all cardboard, metal cans, and plastic bottles loose in your blue bin. Take clean, dry plastic grocery bags back to participating retail stores for specialized recycling.
Seasonal Information
Winter Holidays
November to DecemberWhile regular weekly black and blue bin services operate normally on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the town's 5-week bulk trash program goes on a scheduled pause during those specific holiday weeks. Check the bulk calendar carefully around the holidays.
Summer
May to SeptemberArizona's excessive summer heat rapidly accelerates decomposition. It is critical to double-bag food scraps and ensure the lid of your black trash can closes completely. Crews hit the streets before dawn, so ensure bins are out by 5:00 a.m. sharp to avoid missed pickups.
Monsoon Season
July to SeptemberMonsoon storms bring sudden, powerful microbursts that can easily blow over empty or partially filled bins. Always maintain a 5-foot clearance between your bins and other obstacles, and ensure your container lid is completely closed so trash doesn't blow into the street.
About Gilbert Waste Management
Same-Day Collection Guarantee
The Town of Gilbert simplifies waste disposal by utilizing a same-day pickup schedule for both household garbage and recycling. Running Monday through Friday by designated neighborhood zones, residents can place both their black trash container and blue recycling bin at the curb on the same morning. Because automated side-loading trucks are used, bins must be out by 5:00 a.m. and kept at least five feet apart from each other and surrounding obstacles like parked cars or mailboxes.
Uninterrupted Holiday Service
A unique feature of Gilbert's residential waste program is its uninterrupted curbside schedule. Unlike neighboring Maricopa County cities that shift service by one day for major holidays, Gilbert's weekly black and blue bin collections are never affected by holidays. Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day, your regular collection day remains exactly the same year-round. The only holiday interruption applies to the bulk trash program.
Gilbert's Bulk Trash 101
Gilbert provides a reliable curbside bulk trash collection every five weeks per designated zone. This service is intended for items too large for the black trash container, such as broken furniture, mattresses, and tree trimmings. Residents must place their bulk piles (which cannot exceed 10' x 5' x 5') on the street against the curb. Timing is strict: items can be set out no earlier than the Saturday prior to your collection week and no later than 5:00 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled week.
Glass Recycling Drop-Off Locations
To improve processing sustainability and the value of recovered paper and plastics, the Town of Gilbert officially removed glass from its curbside blue bin program. Instead, the town deployed specialized purple glass recycling bins throughout the community. Residents can drop off empty and clean glass bottles, jugs, and jars at convenient locations including Freestone Park, Discovery Park, Cactus Yards, McQueen District Park, and the South Recharge Facility.
Free Transfer Station Access
If you miss your bulk collection week or have an excessive amount of waste to get rid of immediately, Gilbert provides a helpful self-haul alternative. Residents are entitled to dispose of one single load of waste (up to one ton) at no cost once every 30 days. This service is available at the Waste Management San Tan Transfer Station or the Republic Services Mesa Transfer Station, provided you present a valid photo ID and a current Town of Gilbert utility bill matching the address.
Drop-off Facilities
Gilbert Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
2224 E Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, AZ 85297
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my pickup day change on holidays in Gilbert?
No. The Town of Gilbert does not delay weekly trash and recycling collections for any holidays. Bins should go out on your regular scheduled day, even on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. However, the bulk trash program does pause during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or washing machine?
Large appliances like refrigerators, freezers, washers, and water heaters are not accepted in standard bulk trash piles. You must schedule a special appliance pickup by calling 480-503-6400. There is a $16 trip fee if scheduled during your bulk week, or an $85 fee outside of that week.
Can I put glass bottles in my blue recycling bin?
No. Gilbert removed glass from its curbside recycling program to improve the quality of other recyclables. You should take empty, clean glass bottles, jugs, and jars to one of the town's designated purple glass recycling drop-off bins located at various parks.
What happens if my bulk trash pile is too big?
The maximum size for a standard bulk trash pile is 10 feet long by 5 feet wide by 5 feet high. If your pile exceeds these dimensions, but is no larger than 20' x 5' x 5', you can call 480-503-6400 to arrange a special bulk pickup for a $100 fee.