Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lake Havasu City
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.
Republic Services Issued Cart (Typically Blue or Green) Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the street the night before your service day, as trucks start at 5:00 a.m. Ensure the wheels face the house, the lid is closed, and the cart is within 3 feet of the street with 4 feet of clearance from obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Small amounts of bagged green waste
- ✓Dried latex paint (mixed with kitty litter)
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. Place items loosely inside the blue cart. Cardboard boxes must be completely flattened. Excess cardboard can be dropped off at the Republic Services office on College Drive.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and clean paper
- ✓Plastics numbered 1 through 6
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles (rinsed)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✕Motor oil containers
- ✕Food waste and greasy boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Lake Havasu City does not have a separate weekly green waste cart. Small debris must be securely bagged and placed in your regular trash cart. Large branches must be bundled and scheduled under your bulky pickup allowance.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (bagged)
- ✓Leaves and weeds (bagged)
- ✓Tree limbs (cut to 4 feet and bundled)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Six (6) free on-demand pickups per calendar year.
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky items at the curb, ensuring they do not block sidewalks, traffic, fire hydrants, or your standard trash carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Water heaters and large appliances
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Bundled tree limbs (max 4 feet long, 18 inches diameter)
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Unbundled loose landscaping materials
- ✕ Tires and items with Freon (accepted only with an additional fee)
The service is completely free up to 6 times a year, except for tires and appliances containing refrigerants (Freon), which require a specialized professional certification fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Republic Services only alters its schedule for three major holidays. If your trash day falls on or after one of these holidays, your collection will be delayed by one calendar day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Bulky item appointments will not be scheduled on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day.
Minor federal holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day do NOT interrupt the standard Monday through Friday collection schedule in Lake Havasu City.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Dry the Paint with Kitty Litter
Wet liquid paint is strictly banned from curbside carts because it spills inside the trucks and onto the streets. However, you can safely dispose of latex paint by mixing it with cheap kitty litter or sand until it turns rock solid, then tossing the dried can in the trash.
Return the Motor Oil Jugs
Even though Lake Havasu City accepts hard plastics numbered 1 through 6 in the recycling bin, empty plastic motor oil containers are strictly prohibited. The residual petroleum permanently ruins the plastic recycling process.
Keep Heavy Debris Out
Never throw remodeling debris, concrete, heavy dirt, rocks, tile, or roofing shingles into your residential trash cart. This is classified as construction debris, which breaks the automated collection arms and requires a rented commercial dumpster.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to SeptemberDue to extreme desert temperatures, Republic Services begins its collection routes at 5:00 a.m. to protect workers and equipment. The city strictly mandates placing your carts out the night before your collection day so you do not miss the early trucks.
Winter (Snowbird Season)
November to AprilThe population of Lake Havasu City surges during the winter months. This heavy influx of seasonal visitors drastically increases trash volumes, meaning the truck may arrive at your house at a completely different time than it does during the summer.
Summer Monsoon
July to SeptemberSudden desert microbursts easily blow lightweight trash down the street and into the lake. Take extra care to bag all lightweight materials, especially packing peanuts and ashes, before placing them in the cart.
About Lake Havasu City Waste Management
The Shift Away from Annual HHW Days
Lake Havasu City has progressively moved away from the traditional, once-a-year Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event. Instead, the city has implemented a decentralized, year-round approach to keep toxic chemicals out of the landfill. Residents are instructed to contact the local Fire Administration directly to get precise, real-time instructions for safely dropping off specific hazards like pesticides, oil, and batteries on an ongoing basis.
The Excess Bag Allowance
Republic Services transitioned Lake Havasu City to automated cart collections. However, in a highly unique departure from the strict 'lid-must-close' rules found in almost every other municipality, Lake Havasu City explicitly allows residents to bag excess household garbage. If your trash cart is completely full, you can securely tie the extra bags and set them directly next to your cart on the street for collection.
Six Free On-Demand Bulky Sweeps
Lake Havasu City provides residents with exceptional flexibility for large home cleanouts. Every residential household is granted six free curbside bulky item pickups per calendar year. Instead of waiting for a pre-assigned neighborhood sweep week, residents must proactively call the local Republic Services office to arrange an exact pickup date for their broken appliances, old couches, or heavy yard brush.
Tying Up Your Desert Landscaping
When dealing with intense monsoon winds and dry desert landscaping, unsecured brush is a major neighborhood hazard. While small yard waste and leaves should go inside your main trash cart, large branches must be carefully prepared. The city requires all tree trimmings to be cut down to four-foot lengths, tied securely with sturdy rope, and kept under 18 inches in diameter before being set out.
Drop-off Facilities
Republic Services Local Office & Drop-Off
2011 College Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Materials Accepted
Lake Havasu City Fire Administration (HHW Info)
2330 McCulloch Blvd N, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my trash cart is full in Lake Havasu City?
In a helpful exception to many municipal rules, if you have more household trash than will fit inside your Republic Services cart, you can securely bag the excess garbage and set it directly next to your full cart on your designated collection day.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup for old furniture?
Lake Havasu City residents are entitled to six free curbside bulky item pickups per calendar year for large items like furniture and water heaters. You must proactively call Republic Services at 928-855-9441 to schedule your on-demand collection.
Can I throw yard waste and branches in my regular trash bin?
Yes, small green waste and grass clippings should be bagged and placed inside your regular trash cart. For larger branches, you must cut them to a maximum of 4 feet in length, bundle them, and tie them securely before setting them out for a scheduled bulk pickup.
Does Lake Havasu City host a Household Hazardous Waste drop-off day?
Lake Havasu City no longer hosts a single, annual HHW drop-off event. Instead, the city encourages safe year-round disposal. Residents should call the Fire Administration at 928-855-1141 to receive specific, real-time drop-off instructions for their toxic items.