Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Alton
Texas residential services run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your neighborhood's specific zoning map for your exact day.
State Mandate
Bag all trash to prevent pests.
City-Issued Cart Bin (Trash)
All household waste must be securely bagged and placed inside the cart. Carts must be placed at the curb by early morning on the designated service day, keeping clearance from vehicles and mailboxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable household packaging
Drop-Off Facility Only Bin (Recycling)
Alton does not feature curbside recycling. Residents must manually drop off sorted, clean recyclables at the City of Alton Recycling Center on S. Alton Blvd.
Accepted Items
- ✓Rinsed aluminum cans
- ✓Clean cardboard
- ✓Dry paper products
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household trash
- ✕Plastic bags
Yard Waste Bin
Brush must be transported to the Hidalgo County Collection Station in Alton. Limbs must be cut into 3 to 4-foot lengths and securely tied. Alternatively, brush can be disposed of via the Project Clean Neighborhood roll-off containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Demand (Via Project Clean Neighborhood or Self-Haul)
Placement
For Project Clean Neighborhood, items must be placed directly into the provided roll-off container, maintaining a clean perimeter around the bin.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ White goods (Freon removed)
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger tires per month
- ✓ Scrap metal
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial construction materials (shingles, concrete)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Automotive parts and engines
- ✕ Tractors or commercial truck tires
Project Clean Neighborhood is a free city service upon application approval. Using the Hidalgo County Collection Station requires a paid vehicle permit ($25 to $100 depending on duration).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Alton Public Works and the Hidalgo County solid waste facilities observe major federal holidays. Collections falling on these days will be delayed, and drop-off stations will be closed.
Yard Waste Exception
Neighborhood roll-off containers requested through Project Clean Neighborhood will not be delivered or hauled away on city-observed holidays.
Always refer to the City of Alton's official notices on their website or call Public Works at (956) 432-0792 for exact holiday route adjustments.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Freon Before Dumping
If you are taking an old refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioning unit to the Hidalgo County Collection Station in Alton, you must have the Freon professionally evacuated first. Untagged appliances pose a severe environmental hazard and will be turned away.
Tie Your Brush Properly
When hauling yard waste to the local collection station, do not arrive with a truck full of loose, tangled branches. Hidalgo County strictly requires all brush and limbs to be cut into 3 to 4-foot segments and securely tied into manageable bundles.
Keep Food Off Cardboard
When utilizing the City of Alton Recycling Center, ensure your cardboard is completely clean. Greasy fast-food packaging and soiled pizza boxes contaminate the paper bins and must be thrown in your standard household trash.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June - AugustDuring South Texas hurricane season, uncollected bulk items and loose brush can clog storm drains and exacerbate flooding. Do not place loose debris at the curb if a tropical storm or hurricane is forecast for Hidalgo County.
Spring
March - MaySpring is the optimal time to organize a Project Clean Neighborhood event. Gather 15 signatures from your neighbors and apply through Keep Alton Beautiful to receive a free roll-off container for neighborhood-wide spring cleaning.
Winter
December - JanuaryDuring major winter holidays, the Hidalgo County Collection Stations are typically closed on county-observed holidays. Verify the operating hours before loading your truck with post-holiday bulk waste and cardboard.
About Alton Waste Management
Municipal Trash Collection and Public Works in Alton
The City of Alton manages its solid waste operations internally through the dedicated Public Works Department. Serving over 21,000 residents in Hidalgo County, the city provides standard curbside garbage collection designed to keep neighborhoods sanitary and prevent storm drain blockages—a top priority for Alton's flood mitigation efforts. Residents must ensure their trash is properly bagged and placed inside their designated containers at the curb early on their scheduled service day.
The Innovative 'Project Clean Neighborhood' Initiative
Alton offers a unique community-driven bulk disposal program called Project Clean Neighborhood. Instead of waiting for a city-wide heavy trash day, a minimum of 15 neighbors can band together and apply through Keep Alton Beautiful. Once approved, the Public Works Department delivers a large roll-off container directly to the neighborhood. This allows residents to collectively dispose of excess brush, debris, and bulk items that might otherwise be illegally dumped, fostering neighborhood pride and collaboration.
Utilizing the Hidalgo County Collection Station
For immediate bulk waste disposal, Alton residents utilize the Hidalgo County Solid Waste Collection Station located off Los Ebanos Road. This facility accepts bulky items, mattresses, furniture, and up to four passenger tires per month. However, residents must purchase a valid Hidalgo County disposal permit—displayed clearly on their windshield—to use the site. Permits range from $25 for 90 days to $100 for an entire year and can be purchased at the local Precinct 3 office.
Centralized Drop-Off Recycling at S. Alton Blvd
Because curbside recycling routes are difficult to maintain effectively in the region, the City of Alton utilized a Regional Solid Waste Grant to construct a dedicated community recycling center. Located at 416 S. Alton Blvd, the facility is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Residents can independently drop off rinsed aluminum cans, paper, and uncontaminated cardboard, keeping valuable recyclables out of the Hidalgo County landfill.
Strict Limits on Hazardous and Construction Waste
Alton and Hidalgo County officials strictly prohibit the dumping of hazardous materials and heavy commercial construction waste at local collection stations. Materials like asbestos, pesticides, liquid paints, concrete, bricks, and roofing shingles must be transported to a licensed regional landfill. For standard household appliances (white goods), items like refrigerators and AC units are accepted at the local collection station only if the Freon has been certified as completely removed.
Drop-off Facilities
Hidalgo County Collection Station (Alton)
6 3/4 Mile North or 1/4 Mile South Hwy 107 Los Ebanos Rd, Alton, TX 78573
Materials Accepted
City of Alton Recycling Center
416 S. Alton Blvd, Alton, TX 78573
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alton provide curbside recycling bins to my house?
No, the City of Alton does not have a curbside recycling program. Instead, residents can take their clean cardboard, paper, and rinsed aluminum cans to the City of Alton Recycling Center located at 416 S. Alton Blvd, which is open seven days a week.
What is the Project Clean Neighborhood program?
Project Clean Neighborhood is an initiative by Keep Alton Beautiful where a minimum of 15 neighbors can apply to have a large roll-off container delivered to their street. It allows the community to collectively dispose of heavy debris and bulk waste for free.
Where can I throw away an old couch or mattress in Alton?
You can transport large furniture to the Hidalgo County Collection Station on Los Ebanos Road in Alton. However, you must first purchase a solid waste disposal permit for your vehicle at a Hidalgo County Precinct office.
Can I throw tree branches into the county collection station?
Yes, but they must be properly prepared. Hidalgo County regulations require that all brush and tree trimmings be cut into 3 to 4-foot lengths and securely tied into bundles before they will be accepted at the Alton station.