Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fort Worth
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.
Brown Cart Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit entirely inside the brown cart with the lid completely closed. Do not leave bags on the ground. Place cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose in the blue cart (no plastic bagging). Ensure all recyclables are empty, clean, and dry before tossing them in.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food-soiled paper or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Place in kraft paper yard bags or the optional green yard cart. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Bundled branches cannot exceed 4 feet in length or 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Monthly (Assigned Week)
Placement
Place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your assigned bulk week. Ensure piles are separate (brush vs. bulk) and clear of low-hanging wires, mailboxes, and cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerant must be professionally removed)
- ✓ Tree limbs and large brush (separated from bulk)
- ✓ Carpet and fence panels (cut into small sections)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Electronics and TVs
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (dirt, concrete, shingles)
Piles exceeding the 10-cubic-yard limit may result in a code compliance violation or an additional pickup fee assessed to your utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Fort Worth only alters its collection schedule for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and monthly bulk pickup weeks shift following the exact same holiday delay structure as the standard household garbage and recycling schedules.
For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), and Labor Day, there are no changes to the schedule. Place your carts out on your normal service day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The most common recycling mistake in Fort Worth is bagging recyclables. Thin plastic films jam the rotating gears at the local materials recovery facility, causing shutdowns. Return your plastic grocery bags to local supermarkets instead.
Pizza Boxes Belong in the Brown Cart
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, the greasy bottoms of pizza boxes are contaminated and cannot be processed into new paper. Tear off the clean top half to recycle, and throw the greasy bottom half in your brown garbage cart.
No Tanglers Allowed
Never place items that can wrap around machinery into your blue recycling cart. This includes garden hoses, extension cords, Christmas lights, and wire hangers. These 'tanglers' pose a serious safety hazard to sanitation workers.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayDuring the stormy Texas spring season, severe weather can generate a lot of fallen branches. Remember that tree limbs up to 10 cubic yards can be placed out during your designated monthly bulk collection week, or self-hauled to a Drop-Off Station.
Autumn
October - DecemberHeavy leaf fall requires special attention. Remember that leaves must be packaged in compostable paper yard bags, not plastic. If you run out of bags, you can utilize your optional green yard cart or self-haul to a Drop-Off Station.
Winter
January - FebruaryRare freezing rain or ice storms in North Texas may temporarily suspend solid waste routes for safety. Download the Fort Worth Garbage and Recycling app to receive push notifications regarding weather-related service delays.
About Fort Worth Waste Management
Fort Worth's Pay-As-You-Throw Cart System
The City of Fort Worth operates a 'Pay-As-You-Throw' residential garbage program, directly tying your monthly solid waste fee to the size of your brown garbage cart. Residents can choose between 32-gallon, 64-gallon, and 96-gallon brown carts. This environmentally focused billing structure heavily incentivizes residents to divert as much waste as possible into their blue recycling carts and green yard waste carts, lowering their overall utility bill while reducing landfill dependency in Tarrant County.
Monthly Bulk Waste and Brush Collection
Unlike cities that require on-demand appointments, Fort Worth provides a scheduled, once-a-month bulk waste and brush collection for all residential households. During your designated bulk week, you are permitted to set out up to 10 cubic yards of bulky items and yard debris. To ensure rapid processing, you must separate your items into two distinct piles: one for brush and tree limbs, and another for bulky household goods like furniture and appliances.
Utilizing Drop-Off Stations for Excess Waste
If you generate excess trash or miss your monthly bulk week, Fort Worth maintains four specialized Drop-Off Stations scattered across the city. Homeowners can self-haul excess garbage, recycling, large brush, and bulky items to these facilities free of charge. Access to these local drop-off centers requires presenting a recent Fort Worth Water bill matching a valid Texas driver's license or ID to prove city residency.
Proper Yard Trimmings Disposal Rules
Fort Worth strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard waste. Grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs must be placed either in a designated green yard trimmings cart or inside compostable kraft paper lawn bags. Bundled branches must be tied securely, weighing no more than 50 pounds, and measuring less than four feet in length. Any yard debris packaged in plastic bags will be tagged as non-compliant and left at the curb.
Automated Cart Placement Guidelines
Because Fort Worth utilizes an automated fleet to collect refuse, strict cart placement rules are enforced. All brown, blue, and green carts must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled service day. Ensure carts are placed with the handles facing your home and that there is at least three feet of clearance between each cart, as well as space away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and low-hanging tree branches.
Drop-off Facilities
Environmental Collection Center (ECC)
6400 Bridge St, Fort Worth, TX 76112
Materials Accepted
Brennan Drop-Off Station
2400 Brennan Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76106
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I reduce my Fort Worth utility bill using my garbage cart?
Fort Worth uses a Pay-As-You-Throw system. The monthly fee for a 32-gallon brown cart is significantly lower than that of a 96-gallon cart. By maximizing your use of the blue recycling cart and green yard waste options, you can downsize your brown garbage cart and save money each month.
What is the limit for bulk trash pickup in Fort Worth?
Residents are allowed to set out up to 10 cubic yards of bulk waste and brush each month during their assigned week. This is roughly the size of a standard Volkswagen Beetle. Items must be separated into a brush pile and a bulky item pile.
Do I need an appointment to use a Fort Worth Drop-Off Station?
No appointment is necessary, but you must prove residency. You are required to present a recent Fort Worth Water bill that includes residential solid waste services, along with a valid Texas driver's license or ID that matches the address on the bill.
Are trash routes delayed for Labor Day or the 4th of July?
No, solid waste collection in Fort Worth is not delayed for Labor Day, the 4th of July, or Memorial Day. The city only shifts the collection schedule for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.