Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Tempe
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 or Grey Bin (Trash)
All household refuse, food scraps, and grass must be securely bagged and tied inside the container. The lid must close completely, and no overflow material outside the cart will be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage and food waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings and yard waste
- ✓Bagged animal waste and diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable domestic items
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable items must be clean, dry, and dumped loosely into the blue bin. Never bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Paper, newspapers, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and steel food/beverage cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags, film, or wrap
- ✕Styrofoam and foam packaging
- ✕Food-soiled containers or liquids
- ✕Yard waste and branches
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard debris must be bagged in your regular trash cart. Larger green organic material must be placed in a separate pile during your designated bi-monthly bulk collection week, kept 4 feet away from general bulk trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged grass and small leaves (in trash bin)
- ✓Tree trimmings and branches (for green organics collection)
- ✓Untreated wood and shrubbery
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Bi-monthly (every two months, based on your neighborhood schedule zone).
Placement
Limit total material volume to 10 cubic yards (roughly the size of a small SUV). Bulk trash and green organics must be formed into two distinct piles separated by at least 4 feet, and kept 4 feet away from bins, hydrants, and utility boxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture that cannot be donated (couches, tables, mattresses)
- ✓ Tree trimmings and branches (for green organics pile)
- ✓ Untreated wood and shrubbery
- ✓ Scrap metal items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial landscaper debris
- ✕ Household garbage or unbagged refuse
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals, paint, and automotive fluids
- ✕ Tires, batteries, and large vehicle parts
- ✕ Construction, drywall, concrete, or dirt
Standard bi-monthly residential bulk and green organics collection is included in city services. Illicit dumping or excess commercial debris is subject to municipal fines.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For most federal holidays throughout the year, Tempe's solid waste collection schedule remains entirely unaffected. Adjustments typically only occur during the specific weeks of Christmas and New Year's, where Thursday collections are pushed back to Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
Bi-monthly bulk trash and green organics collections are generally unaffected by mid-week holidays, though minor operational shifts can occasionally happen.
Always place your trash and recycling carts at the curb or alley line by 6:00 a.m., regardless of whether it is a holiday week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Recyclables
Placing recyclables inside plastic garbage bags or retail sacks causes equipment jams at Tempe's sorting facilities. Always drop your paper, cardboard, and plastic bottles loosely into the blue bin.
Keep Green Waste Out of Trash and Recycling
While small amounts of grass can go into your bagged trash cart, large volumes of tree branches and yard trimmings belong exclusively in the designated green organics pile during your bi-monthly collection window—never in the blue recycling cart.
Say No to Commercial Landscaper Dumping
By city code, commercial landscapers are strictly prohibited from leaving green organic waste or bulk trash at the curb for city pickup. Homeowners performing their own yard work are the only authorized users of this residential program.
Seasonal Information
Summer Heat
June to SeptemberIntense desert temperatures cause organic materials to decompose rapidly. Double-bag food waste and animal refuse securely to suppress foul odors and prevent pest activity inside your rollout container.
Monsoon Season
July to SeptemberSudden high winds and severe storm microbursts can easily displace rollout carts or scatter loose bulk piles. Keep container lids tightly shut and ensure your bulk piles are neatly stacked so they do not blow into the street or block storm drains.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryHoliday packaging generates heavy cardboard and waste volumes. Break down all cardboard boxes flat to maximize space inside your blue bin, and note that collections during Christmas and New Year's weeks may shift (such as Thursday routes moving to Friday).
About Tempe Waste Management
Tempe's Bi-Monthly Bulk Trash and Green Organics Program
The City of Tempe provides a systematic, every-other-month bulk trash and green organics collection schedule for residential neighborhoods. Unlike cities that require individual appointments, Tempe establishes a fixed regional schedule. Homeowners can place heavy items and yard trimmings out no earlier than 10 days prior to their designated collection week. Everything must be out by 6:00 a.m. on the Monday of the scheduled collection week, as sanitation crews pass through each zone only once.
Strict Separation of Bulk Trash and Green Waste
When preparing for your scheduled collection window in Tempe, you must separate your discards into two distinct, separate piles: one for general bulk trash (such as old furniture and mattresses) and another for green organic material (such as tree branches and shrub trimmings). Furthermore, these two piles must maintain at least a four-foot clearance from each other, as well as from utility meters, fire hydrants, and your automated rollout bins, ensuring safe mechanical and manual loading.
Mandatory Bagging Guidelines for Household Refuse
Tempe City Code requires that all loose household garbage, grass clippings, and pet waste be securely bagged and tied before being placed inside your primary trash container. This critical ordinance prevents windblown litter during stormy desert weather, eliminates foul odors in the intense heat, and controls pest attraction. Conversely, recyclables must always remain entirely loose in your blue cart and never be enclosed in plastic bags.
Alley versus Curbside Service Mechanics
Depending on your specific Tempe neighborhood layout, your weekly waste services will be handled either curbside or via an alleyway. If you have alley collection, your black and blue bins—as well as your bi-monthly bulk piles—must be positioned neatly along your property's fence line without blocking the thoroughfare. For curbside homes, containers must sit on the street edge or front driveway by 6:00 a.m. and be safely pulled back by 8:00 p.m. on collection day.
Drop-off Facilities
Tempe 311 Customer Service Center
31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my neighborhood's bi-monthly bulk trash collection week in Tempe?
You can look up your specific schedule and view the annual Residential Collection Map by visiting the official City of Tempe Solid Waste and Recycling webpage.
Do I need to schedule an appointment for bulk trash pickup in Tempe?
No. Tempe operates a fixed, regional bi-monthly schedule rather than an on-demand appointment system. You simply place your items out during your designated collection month.
Why must I separate my bulk trash from my green organics pile?
Tempe collects bulk items and green organic waste separately so that organic material can be diverted to a local contractor and processed into compost. Piles must be kept at least 4 feet apart for processing.
What should I do if my trash collection day falls on a holiday?
Most holidays do not change Tempe's collection schedule. Shifts typically only occur during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's, where Thursday routes move to Friday.