Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Copperas Cove
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling services are billed monthly alongside city water, sewer, and drainage fees.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, In Person, Drop Box, Auto-Pay
City-issued Cart (Standard) Bin (Trash)
Place on the address side of the residence by 7:00 a.m. Ensure a 4-foot separation from obstacles. Grass clippings and leaves are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Bagged trash (highly recommended for odor control)
- ✓Standard non-hazardous waste
Green Bin (Recycling)
Collection is every other week. Place the 96-gallon green container on the address side of your property by 7:00 a.m. on your designated day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Office paper and newspaper
- ✓Magazines and phone books
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and metal cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Household garbage
- ✕Glass (unless specified at drop-off)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable Kraft paper bags. Bags cannot weigh more than 40 pounds each. Collected twice a month.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice monthly, aligned with your scheduled collection day.
Placement
Place items on the address side of the residence at least 4 feet away from standard waste containers, power lines, or low-hanging limbs.
Accepted
- ✓ Televisions
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (CFCs removed and tagged)
- ✓ Large brush and tree limbs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor or construction materials
- ✕ Liquid waste or hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Tires (accepted only at the Transfer Station for a fee)
Overage fees are $7.89 per cubic yard for large household items exceeding 3 cubic yards, and $6.77 per cubic yard for brush exceeding 8 cubic yards.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular collection day falls on an observed holiday, your collection for all services will take place on the next day. Subsequent collection days during that holiday week will also be pushed back by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush, bulk, and bagged yard waste collections follow the exact same holiday shifting schedule as regular residential garbage pickups.
The Solid Waste Transfer Station is closed on Saturdays and Sundays year-round, except for 4 or 5 specially designated collection Saturdays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Use Kraft Bags for Yard Waste
Per City Ordinance, yard waste cannot be placed in the automated trash container. Use biodegradable Kraft bags to support the local compost program and avoid service rejections.
Dry Out Your Old Paint
Wet paint is strictly prohibited from curbside pickup. However, if you dry it out using sand or kitty litter until absolutely no liquid remains, you can safely toss the dried paint can with your regular waste.
Clear the Freon First
Before setting out old refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioning units for bulk pickup, federal EPA laws require all CFCs (Freon) to be legally removed by a licensed technician and properly tagged.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning often results in extra household waste and landscaping debris. If your curbside piles exceed the 3-cubic-yard limit for bulk items or the 8-cubic-yard limit for brush, a per-cubic-yard overage fee will be added to your next utility bill.
Autumn
September to NovemberAs leaves begin to drop, remember that they cannot be blown into the street or tossed in your standard trash cart. Opt to mulch them with your mower, or bag them in 40-pound Kraft bags for your twice-monthly collection.
Winter
December to FebruaryCopperas Cove observes 11 holidays throughout the year. During the winter holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, scheduled services slide one day later for the remainder of that specific week.
About Copperas Cove Waste Management
Automated Curbside Collection with Copperas Cove Solid Waste
The City of Copperas Cove manages its residential trash collection through a highly efficient automated system divided into eight unique collection areas. Residents receive once-a-week garbage service from Monday through Thursday, utilizing city-issued 96-gallon roll-out containers. To ensure seamless service, carts must be placed on the address side of the residence by 7:00 a.m. with a strict four-foot clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, or other obstacles.
Strict No-Yard-Waste Ordinance for Trash Carts
A distinctive feature of Copperas Cove's waste management program is its strict prohibition of yard waste inside standard trash carts. Grass clippings, leaves, and shrub trimmings must never be mixed with household garbage. Instead, the city encourages residents to use the 'Don't Bag It' lawn care approach or compost at home. If disposal is necessary, yard organics must be packed exclusively in biodegradable Kraft bags for specialized twice-monthly pickup, completely bypassing the landfill.
Convenient Twice-Monthly Bulk and Brush Service
Handling large home cleanouts and intense landscaping projects is straightforward with the city's robust bulk and brush program. On two designated days per month, which align with standard collection days, residents can set out large household items like TVs and mattresses, as well as tree limbs. The city generously provides up to 3 cubic yards of free bulk household waste disposal and up to 8 cubic yards of free brush removal per scheduled pickup, charging a low per-cubic-yard fee for any overages.
Every-Other-Week Single Stream Recycling
Copperas Cove is dedicated to environmental sustainability through its comprehensive single-stream recycling program. Participating residential utility customers are equipped with a designated 'green' 96-gallon recycling cart collected every other week. Clean cardboard, office paper, magazines, and aluminum cans should be placed loosely inside the green cart to reduce the community's reliance on landfills and conserve natural resources.
Additional Disposal Options at the Transfer Station
For waste that doesn't fit the standard curbside criteria, the Solid Waste Transfer Station Complex on S FM 116 is an invaluable local resource. Open primarily on weekdays, the facility accepts a wide range of tricky materials such as sheet rock, tires, cooking oil, and construction debris. It also hosts a free drop-off recycling center where residents can easily discard excess cardboard, steel, and scrap metal that overflows from their residential green bins.
Drop-off Facilities
Copperas Cove Solid Waste Transfer Station
2605 S FM 116, Copperas Cove, TX 76522
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I have more trash than fits in my Copperas Cove container?
If you have extra trash, you can place it in plastic bags up to 33 gallons in capacity and set them near your cart. The driver can reload the cart up to twice per collection day for a fee of $5.07 per reload, which will be conveniently added to your municipal utility bill.
Why didn't the city pick up my grass clippings in the trash cart?
Copperas Cove city ordinance strictly prohibits placing any yard waste inside your automated trash container to reduce landfill usage. All leaves and grass clippings must be placed in biodegradable Kraft bags (weighing no more than 40 pounds each) for the twice-monthly special collection.
How does the holiday schedule work in Copperas Cove?
The city observes 11 major holidays, including Good Friday, Memorial Day, and Christmas Day. If your scheduled pickup day falls on one of these holidays, all services (trash, recycling, bulk, and yard waste) are delayed by one day, pushing the rest of the week's collections back one day as well.
Can I throw away an old TV or mattress at the curb?
Yes. Large household items like TVs, mattresses, and furniture are collected twice a month directly from your curb. The first 3 cubic yards are free of charge, with a $7.89 per-cubic-yard fee applied for any volume beyond that.