Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Ennis
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 96-Gallon Container Bin (Trash)
All waste must be bagged and fit completely inside the container so the lid closes flat. Wheels must face the home. Place out before 7:00 am. No loose trash is allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard non-recyclable packaging
Drop-Off Bin Only (20-Yard Single-Stream) Bin (Recycling)
Ennis does not offer curbside recycling. Residents must manually transport accepted materials to the 20-yard single-stream recycling bin located at the Public Works Office.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Aluminum cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Household trash
Yard Waste Bin
Brush is not collected on standard routes. It must either be scheduled for a paid 48-Hour Bulk Pick Up or hauled directly to the ECD Landfill during a free disposal day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Yard clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Demand (Scheduled 48-Hour Pick Up)
Placement
Set bulky waste at the curb or edge of the street, avoiding low-hanging wires, mailboxes, and parked cars, before calling to schedule.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Brush and tree limbs
- ✓ Excess bagged garbage
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete and tiles
- ✕ Roofing shingles
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Fluorescent light bulbs
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (refrigerators, AC units)
- ✕ Car batteries and motor oil
This is a paid service. The fee will be assessed based on the size of the pile (e.g., a washing machine size is roughly 1 cubic yard) and billed accordingly.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday forces the cancellation of a regular collection route, the city does not typically shift the schedule by a day. Instead, residents can place 2-3 extra kitchen-sized bags outside their cart on their next regularly scheduled service day.
Yard Waste Exception
48-Hour Bulk Pick Ups are paused during city-observed holidays and will resume processing on the next normal business day.
Always check the official City of Ennis Facebook page or website for specific announcements regarding inclement weather or holiday route cancellations.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Roofing and Concrete Out
The city's residential trash trucks cannot handle heavy construction materials. Shingles, concrete, tiles, and wet paint are strictly prohibited from both your 96-gallon cart and the bulk pickup program.
Bag Everything
Never throw loose garbage directly into your trash cart. Bagging your waste is a mandatory city rule. Loose trash scattered by the automated lifting arm will result in an automatic $10 fee on your utility bill.
Flatten Your Boxes
When taking cardboard to the Public Works recycling drop-off bin, make sure every box is completely broken down and flattened. This maximizes space in the community bin and prevents overflow.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - FebruaryIf a severe winter storm or holiday prevents a regular collection day, the city offers a unique grace period. On your very next scheduled pickup day, you are permitted to set two to three standard kitchen-size bags of trash next to your cart without penalty.
Spring
March - MaySpring severe weather often leaves behind downed tree branches. Take advantage of the 48-Hour Bulk Pick Up service by placing brush at the edge of the street and calling Public Works. Remember, minimum pickup fees start at $25.
Summer
June - AugustDuring peak summer landscaping, if you accumulate large amounts of yard debris, haul it to the ECD Landfill on the 1st or 3rd Saturday of the month to utilize your free two cubic yard allowance, but don't forget your hard hat and safety vest.
About Ennis Waste Management
Twice-a-Week Municipal Trash Collection
The City of Ennis manages its own sanitation fleet, providing residents with reliable twice-a-week garbage collection. Depending on your address zone, your scheduled routes will either fall on Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday. Every home is provided with a 96-gallon roll cart. To ensure smooth automated collection, residents must position the cart with the wheels facing the home and keep it clear of obstructions like parked cars, mailboxes, and low-hanging tree limbs. Carts must be out by 7:00 am on collection day, but no earlier than 7:00 pm the night before.
Strict Bagging Policy and Overflow Penalties
Ennis enforces a strict bagging policy to maintain clean streets and prevent wind-blown litter. All household waste must be securely bagged before being placed inside the 96-gallon container, and the lid must be completely closed. If the city truck arrives and finds unbagged loose trash inside the cart, or extra garbage bags sitting on the ground next to it, a $10 penalty fee will be automatically added to your next utility bill.
The 48-Hour On-Demand Bulk Pickup System
Unlike cities that schedule free monthly bulk days, Ennis operates a paid, on-demand bulk and brush collection system. Residents can dispose of bulky items like old furniture, appliances, or large piles of tree brush by setting the materials at the curb and then calling Public Works to schedule a pickup within 48 hours. The service is priced by volume: up to 2 cubic yards (about the size of a washing machine) costs $25, 3 to 5 cubic yards costs $50, and 6 or more cubic yards costs $75.
Centralized Drop-Off Recycling Program
Currently, the City of Ennis does not offer curbside recycling bins to residential homes. Instead, eco-conscious residents utilize a centralized drop-off location. The city maintains a large 20-yard single-stream recycling bin stationed at the Public Works Office. Here, residents can drop off their clean and dry paper, flattened corrugated cardboard, plastics, and aluminum cans free of charge to divert them from the local landfill.
Navigating the Free Landfill Disposal Days
For residents willing to haul their own heavy waste, the Ellis County Disposal (ECD) Landfill offers two Free Disposal Days every month on the first and third Saturdays. Between 7:00 am and 11:00 am, an Ennis household can bring up to two cubic yards (roughly one pickup truck bed) of household waste or branches. To gain entry, you must present a current City of Ennis water bill and a State ID. Crucially, the ECD Landfill requires all visitors to wear a hard hat and a high-visibility safety vest at the working face.
Drop-off Facilities
Ellis County Disposal (ECD) Landfill
5703 N I-45, Ennis, TX 75119
Materials Accepted
Public Works Recycling Drop-Off
Ennis Public Works Office (Check city directory for exact physical address)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Ennis offer curbside recycling?
No, Ennis does not provide residential curbside recycling bins. Instead, residents can take their clean paper, plastics, flattened cardboard, and aluminum to the 20-yard single-stream recycling drop-off bin located at the Public Works Office.
Why was I charged a $10 fee on my Ennis utility bill?
The city automatically applies a $10 fee if garbage containers are not placed at the correct location, if there is unbagged loose trash inside the container, or if there are bags of garbage sitting outside the container on a regular pickup day.
How do I throw away an old couch or mattress in Ennis?
You must use the 48-Hour Bulk Pick Up service. Place the couch or mattress at the curb and call Public Works to schedule the pickup. This is a paid service, and the cost is based on the cubic yards of the item (minimum $25).
Can I go to the landfill for free?
Yes, Ennis residents get two free disposal days each month at the ECD Landfill (1st and 3rd Saturdays from 7:00 am to 11:00 am). You can bring up to two cubic yards. You must bring a water bill and ID, and you are required to wear a hard hat and safety vest while dumping.