Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Arlington
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.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged and placed inside the cart with the lid fully closed. Carts must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. No bags outside the cart will be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and dry. Keep recyclables loose inside the cart; do not bag them. Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with 3 feet of clearance.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Clean paper (newspapers, junk mail, magazines)
- ✓Empty plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Glass bottles and window glass
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Collected alongside bulk waste. Brush must be cut to 4-foot lengths, tied into bundles under 50 pounds, with branches no wider than 6 inches in diameter. Limited to 2 cubic yards per week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Bagged leaves
- ✓Grass clippings (though grasscycling is encouraged)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled trash collection day
Placement
Place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure they are at least three feet away from your carts, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Rolled carpet (cut to under 4 feet)
- ✓ Fence panels (cut to 4ft x 6ft, nails removed)
- ✓ Appliances (Freon must be professionally removed with a tag attached)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris from contractors
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Items exceeding the 2-cubic-yard weekly limit
If you have more than 2 cubic yards, you must leave it for the next week, self-haul it to the Arlington Landfill, or call Republic Services at 817-317-2000 to schedule a paid special collection.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all collection services for the remainder of that week are delayed by one day. For example, a Thursday Thanksgiving will push Thursday service to Friday, and Friday service to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Because trash, recycling, bulk, and brush are all collected on the exact same day in Arlington, yard waste is delayed following the identical schedule as regular trash.
Holidays not listed, such as Memorial Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day, do not disrupt the schedule. Place your carts out on your normal service day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass and Greasy Boxes Out
Unlike some neighboring cities, Arlington's curbside recycling program does not accept glass of any kind. Keep all glass bottles, mirrors, and ceramics out of the blue cart. Additionally, discard heavily soiled items like greasy pizza boxes into the gray trash cart.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Do not put your recyclables inside plastic grocery or garbage bags. These films tangle the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility. All plastic, paper, and metal should be tossed loosely into your blue cart.
Safely Redirect Batteries and Paint
Household hazardous waste such as lithium-ion batteries, liquid latex or oil paints, and pool chemicals can cause dangerous fires in collection trucks. Never place them in your carts. Instead, take them to the Fort Worth Environmental Collection Center.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
March - JuneSevere North Texas thunderstorms often leave behind significant yard debris. Remember that tree limbs blown down by storms must be cut to four feet, bundled, and adhere to the 2-cubic-yard weekly limit. For larger storm cleanups, self-haul to the Arlington Landfill.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring heavy leaf-fall months starting in December, residents may place up to 12 tightly sealed 30-gallon bags of leaves at the curb each week. These will be manually collected by the bulk/brush crews and do not count toward your regular garbage cart capacity.
Year-Round
January - DecemberBecause extreme Texas heat accelerates odors and bacterial growth in waste bins, it is highly recommended to drain all liquids from food containers, tie your trash bags securely, and periodically wash out your gray cart with soap or a mild bleach solution.
About Arlington Waste Management
Automated Cart System and Zone-Based Service Days
In early 2024, the City of Arlington transitioned to a fully automated, once-a-week collection system operated by Republic Services. This system eliminates manual bag collection in favor of standardized 95-gallon or 65-gallon gray carts. The city is divided into five geographical zones, with each section receiving all core services—trash, recycling, bulk waste, and brush collection—on a single designated day of the week (Monday through Friday).
Strict Cart Placement and Overflow Policies
For the automated robotic arms on Republic Services' trucks to operate safely, residents must adhere to strict cart placement guidelines. Gray garbage carts and blue recycling carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with the wheels facing the property. You must leave a minimum of three feet of space between carts, parked cars, or bulky items, as well as ensure 15 feet of overhead clearance. Any extra trash bags left on the ground outside of the gray cart will be tagged and ignored.
Accommodations for Mobility-Challenged Residents
Arlington offers a door-side assistance program to ensure waste removal remains accessible for all residents. Those who are visually impaired or have physical mobility challenges can apply for this service by providing a doctor's note or handicap placard. Approved households receive carts with distinct light blue lids, signaling route drivers to retrieve the carts from the house, empty them, and return them to the designated storage area.
Managing Excess Waste and Free Landfill Privileges
If your household consistently generates more refuse than the standard 95-gallon cart can handle, you can rent up to two additional gray carts for a monthly fee. For large cleanout projects, the city provides a valuable perk: eligible Arlington Water Utilities account holders get three free visits per year to the Arlington Landfill (located in Euless). Residents must bring a valid Texas ID or water bill to utilize this benefit for disposing of extra household waste, furniture, and brush.
Weekly Allowance for Bulky Items and Yard Brush
Residents do not need to schedule a special pickup for standard bulky items. The weekly service includes the removal of up to two cubic yards of bulk waste and brush—roughly the volume of a standard washer and dryer side-by-side. Items must be neatly stacked or bundled next to the trash cart, with no single item or bundle exceeding 50 pounds. Fence panels must be cut down to 4-foot by 6-foot sections before placement.
Drop-off Facilities
Arlington Landfill
800 Mosier Valley Road, Euless, TX 76040
Materials Accepted
Environmental Collection Center (Fort Worth)
6400 Bridge St, Fort Worth, TX 76112
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave extra bags of trash on the ground next to my cart in Arlington?
No. With Arlington's automated cart system, all household trash must fit inside your gray cart with the lid completely closed. Republic Services will not collect stray bags left on the ground. If you consistently have overflow, you can request an additional cart for a monthly fee.
Is there a limit on how much brush and bulky waste I can put out?
Yes. Arlington residents are allowed a maximum of 2 cubic yards of bulk and brush combined per week. This is roughly equal to the size of a standard washer and dryer side-by-side. Items exceeding this limit will be left at the curb and must be removed within 24 hours to avoid a code compliance fee.
Does Arlington recycle glass in the curbside blue carts?
No, the City of Arlington's curbside recycling program does not accept glass bottles, jars, windows, or ceramics. All glass items should be securely bagged and placed in your gray trash cart.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or AC unit?
You can place large appliances out for your weekly bulk pickup, but any appliance that uses Freon (like refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners) must first have the refrigerant professionally removed. A certified technician must attach a tag verifying the removal before Republic Services will collect it.