Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Denison
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.
Standard 95-Gallon Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged and fit entirely inside the cart with the lid closed. No extra bags or boxes on the side. Place at the curb by 6:30 a.m., keeping at least 3 feet of clearance from the recycling cart and other obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue 95-Gallon Cart (Republic Services) Bin (Recycling)
Single-stream recycling is collected every other week. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart. Ensure a 3-foot gap between the recycling and trash carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Collected during odd-numbered months only. Place in a manageable pile no larger than 4' x 4' x 5'. Place at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Monday of your designated week, but no earlier than 7:00 a.m. the Saturday prior.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs (6 feet or less preferred)
- ✓Shrubbery
- ✓Bagged leaves (in biodegradable bags ONLY)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Six times a year (Even-numbered months: Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec)
Placement
Place items curbside by 6:30 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week, but no earlier than 7:00 a.m. the Saturday prior. Do not block utility poles, meters, or sidewalks.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Regular bagged trash overflow (if within the 2 cubic yard limit)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Chemicals and wet paint
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Brush and limbs (collected alternate months)
Included in standard rates. If you need an out-of-schedule Special Pick-up (SPU), you can call Public Works to schedule one for $17.25 per cubic yard. A 'forced' unscheduled pickup carries a penalty rate of $34.50 per cubic yard.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Denison solid waste services run on EVERY holiday throughout the year except for Christmas Day. If your collection day falls on Christmas, monitor city announcements for specific sliding schedule details for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush and bulk collection weeks proceed normally regardless of minor holidays, adhering to the 'first full week of the month' zone schedule.
Unlike most cities, you must place your carts out on Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July if they fall on your regular trash day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Leaves Require Biodegradable Bags
When putting out leaves during your odd-numbered brush collection month, never use plastic garbage bags. The city will only accept bagged leaves if they are placed in specifically marked biodegradable paper or compostable bags.
Keep the Curb Clear of Loose Trash Bags
Do not leave overflow trash bags or broken-down cardboard boxes leaning against your 95-gallon trash cart. The city uses automated arms, and items left outside the cart will not only be left behind, but can also trigger a mandatory $14.95 monthly charge for a second cart after three violations.
Unbag Your Recyclables
Republic Services requires all materials in the blue 95-gallon cart to be loose. Plastic grocery bags wrap around the sorting equipment at the recycling facility and cause significant delays. Empty your recyclables directly into the bin.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - FebruaryDecember is a bulk collection month, while January is a brush collection month. Be sure to separate your post-holiday waste accordingly. Christmas Day is the only holiday where trash routes do not run in Denison.
Spring
March - MaySpring severe weather often downs branches. Take advantage of the brush collections in March and May. Ensure your brush pile does not exceed the maximum dimensions of 4 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet, or you may be subject to a special pickup fee.
Summer
June - AugustJune and August are dedicated to bulk trash (furniture, appliances), not brush. Do not mix any yard waste or limbs in with your summer bulk piles, as the city strictly forbids mixed piles and will refuse collection.
About Denison Waste Management
The Hybrid Waste Partnership and Strict Cart Limits
The City of Denison manages solid waste through a hybrid model, utilizing its own Public Works department for weekly garbage and bi-monthly bulk collections, while partnering with Republic Services to handle the bi-weekly automated recycling routes. The city strictly enforces capacity limits: all residential trash must fit completely inside the provided 95-gallon cart, and every piece of trash must be bagged. Absolutely no boxes or extra bags may be placed beside or on top of the cart. If a household receives three overflow violations within a two-month period, the city will automatically mandate an additional 95-gallon cart at a recurring monthly charge of $14.95 plus tax.
Alternating Months: The 6-and-6 Bulk and Brush System
Instead of weekly bulky item collection, Denison utilizes a unique alternating bi-monthly schedule. Heavy bulk items like furniture and appliances are exclusively collected six times a year during even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, December). Conversely, brush and limb collections occur during odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, November). You cannot mix brush with bulk items, and you must adhere strictly to this calendar to ensure your piles are picked up by the correct specialized trucks.
Navigating the 'First Full Week' Timing Rules
Denison assigns every address to a specific bulk/brush week (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Monday week of the month). A critical nuance is that collection weeks begin with the 'first full week' of the month; partial weeks at the start of a month are not counted. Once you know your week, timing your curb placement is highly regulated to avoid citations. Material must be placed at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the Monday of your assigned week, but absolutely no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on the preceding Saturday.
Biodegradable Bag Mandate for Fall Leaves
During the designated odd-numbered brush collection months, residents often need to dispose of seasonal lawn clippings and falling leaves. While small tree limbs (preferably cut to 6 feet or less) can be neatly stacked, the City of Denison strictly requires all leaves set out for brush collection to be contained exclusively in biodegradable bags. Placing leaves in standard plastic garbage bags will result in the pile being rejected by the brush truck.
The Extremely Rare Holiday Delay
While most municipalities constantly adjust their trash schedules around federal holidays, the City of Denison operates on a remarkably consistent calendar. The municipal solid waste collection crews run their normal routes on almost every single holiday throughout the year, including Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. The only exception to this rule is Christmas Day. Unless it is December 25th, Denison residents should place their carts at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on their standard service day.
Drop-off Facilities
Residential Collection Station
Denison, TX (Call Public Works for exact disposal coordination)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I leave extra trash bags next to my cart?
The city will not collect bags or boxes left outside the cart. If you do this three times within a two-month period, the city will penalize you by forcing you to take an additional 95-gallon cart, which adds $14.95 plus tax to your monthly utility bill.
When can I put my bulk items on the curb?
Bulk items are collected in February, April, June, August, October, and December. You must place your pile on the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the Monday of your specific zoned collection week, but you cannot set it out any earlier than 7:00 a.m. on the Saturday just before your week begins.
Will my trash be picked up on Thanksgiving or the 4th of July?
Yes. The City of Denison solid waste crews run routes on every single holiday throughout the year, with the only exception being Christmas Day. You should place your carts out as normal on all other holidays.
Can I put my tree branches and a broken couch in the same pile?
No. The city strictly prohibits mixing bulk items (like a couch) with brush and limbs. Bulk items are only collected during even-numbered months, while brush is only collected during odd-numbered months.