Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Harker Heights
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.
96-gallon WM Cart (Typically Green) Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be bagged. The cart lid must close completely. Place the container on the street with wheels against the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection days and keep it at least 3 feet from parked cars and mailboxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Lightly used textiles (if not donated)
- ✓Dried paint (cans must be open and paint completely dry)
Drop-off Only (No Curbside Cart) Bin (Recycling)
No curbside service. Residents must transport accepted recyclables to the Drop Center at 1761 FM 2410. Hours are Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Gate closes at 4:50 p.m.).
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic containers
- ✓Aluminum and scrap metal
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Tires (with or without rims)
- ✓Used cooking oil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Motor oil
- ✕Household trash
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Waste Management does not pick up bulk brush at the curb. Brush must be hauled to the Drop Site at 1761 FM 2410. Loads are limited to 4 cubic yards, max 2 loads per day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Yard debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
No Curbside Pickup (Self-Haul Drop-off Only)
Placement
DO NOT place bulky items or brush at the curb. You must haul them to the Drop Site at 1761 FM 2410 during operating hours and present your Harker Heights water bill and driver's license.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and furniture
- ✓ Brush and tree limbs
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Tires (with or without rims)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (require special treatment/handling, call 953-5600 for guidelines)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (rock, dirt, concrete, brick)
- ✕ Contractor-generated waste
- ✕ Commercial tree trimming waste
- ✕ Overloaded trailers or dump trucks
The drop site is completely free for Harker Heights residents. If you prefer curbside removal, you must contract a private vendor or call WM to rent a roll-off dumpster at your own expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the rest of the week will be pushed back a day. For example, for a Thursday holiday, Thursday service would be on Friday, and Friday service would be on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The FM 2410 Drop Site and Recycling Center may experience closures or modified hours on and around city-observed holidays. Always check the city's announcements page before hauling a load.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the regular Monday-Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Always Bag Your Garbage
Because Harker Heights utilizes automated trucks, tossing loose trash directly into your 96-gallon WM cart is prohibited. Loose debris blows out into the street during the dumping process. Always use tightly tied garbage bags.
Break Down All Cardboard
When you bring your recycling to the FM 2410 Drop Center, you are required to break down and flatten all cardboard boxes. This ensures the communal bins don't fill up prematurely and allows everyone to utilize the service.
Keep Motor Oil Out of the Drop Center
While the Harker Heights Recycling Center is uniquely equipped to handle used cooking oil from your kitchen, it absolutely does not accept motor oil. Take used automotive oil to a local auto parts store for proper recycling.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MaySpring yard cleanups generate significant brush. Since there is no curbside pickup, plan your trips to the FM 2410 Drop Site accordingly. Remember that trailers and pickups are welcome, but dump trucks and commercial vehicles are strictly prohibited.
Summer
June - AugustThe intense Texas heat can cause garbage to decompose rapidly. Make sure you are taking advantage of your twice-a-week garbage collection to keep food waste from sitting too long, and ensure all bags are sealed tightly against pests.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring the winter holidays, keep an eye on the calendar. If Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day falls on a weekday, Waste Management will push your normal collection day back by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
About Harker Heights Waste Management
Twice-Weekly Automated Trash Collection
Residential solid waste collection in Harker Heights is managed through an exclusive contract with Waste Management (WM). Unlike many cities that have transitioned to once-a-week service, Harker Heights residents benefit from twice-weekly garbage pickups. Each household is provided with a 96-gallon WM cart. It is critically important that all household trash is fully bagged before being placed in the cart, and the lid must close tightly, as overflowing waste will be left behind.
No Curbside Recycling: The Drop Center Model
To manage recycling efficiently, Harker Heights does not offer single-stream curbside recycling collection. Instead, the city maintains the Harker Heights Recycling Drop Center located at 1761 FM 2410. All residents pay a nominal $2.00 monthly fee on their utility bill to support this facility. By bringing clean plastics, paper, flattened cardboard, and aluminum directly to the center, the community significantly reduces the cross-contamination issues that plague curbside programs.
Elimination of Curbside Bulk & Brush Pickup
Waste Management does not pick up large piles of brush, tree limbs, or bulky items like furniture and mattresses at the curb in Harker Heights. Homeowners are strictly prohibited from leaving these piles on the street. Instead, residents must self-haul these excessive items to the city's Drop Site at 1761 FM 2410. Simply present a current water bill and a valid driver's license for free access.
Tires and Used Cooking Oil Disposal
The Harker Heights Recycling Drop Center offers specialized disposal options that many municipal centers do not. Residents can drop off used vehicle tires (both with and without rims) and used cooking oil. This helps protect the local sewer infrastructure from grease blockages and prevents tires from becoming mosquito breeding grounds. Just remember that while cooking oil is accepted, used motor oil is strictly prohibited at this facility.
Roll-Off Dumpsters for Major Remodels
If you are undertaking a massive home renovation or a full property cleanout that exceeds the 4-cubic-yard limit at the city drop site, you have options. Harker Heights residents can contact Waste Management directly at (800) 800-5804 to rent a temporary roll-off dumpster for an additional fee, or they may hire a private third-party vendor of their choice to haul away heavy construction and demolition debris.
Drop-off Facilities
Harker Heights Recycling & Drop Center
1761 FM 2410, Harker Heights, TX 76548
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harker Heights offer curbside recycling collection?
No. The City of Harker Heights does not provide curbside recycling bins. Residents must bring their sorted recyclables to the Harker Heights Recycling Drop Center located at 1761 FM 2410.
Why didn't Waste Management pick up the couch I left at the curb?
Waste Management does not provide curbside bulk or brush pickup in Harker Heights. It is against city rules to leave bulk items at the curb. You must self-haul heavy items to the city Drop Site at 1761 FM 2410.
How do I throw away leftover house paint?
You can dispose of small quantities of paint in your regular garbage cart, but it CANNOT be wet. You must open the cans and allow the paint to completely dry into a solid block before throwing it away.
What documents do I need to use the city drop site?
To drop off bulk trash, brush, or use the recycling bins at 1761 FM 2410 for free, you must present a valid driver's license and a current Harker Heights water bill proving your residency.