Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lancaster
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.
Grey (95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
ALL trash MUST be placed in disposable bags inside the grey cart. The lid must be completely closed. Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with handles facing the curb and wheels facing the residence.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Small, non-hazardous household items
Blue (95-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the blue cart (do not bag them). Cart must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with at least three feet of clearance from the trash cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard (flattened)
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and office paper
- ✓Clean plastic bottles, jugs, and containers
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Ceramics, glass plates, and mirrors
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Brush must be placed with trunks parallel to the street. Individual bundles or items must weigh less than 50 pounds and be no longer than 10 feet. Collected bi-monthly with bulk trash up to 12 cubic yards.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs and brush
- ✓Bagged leaves
- ✓Yard trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every other month during the first full week of the month (North of Pleasant Run Rd = Odd months, South = Even months).
Placement
Place all bulk and brush at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your service week. Ensure items are clear of low-hanging wires, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Washing machines, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Furniture and large toys
- ✓ Bundled carpet (cut to 4-foot lengths)
- ✓ Bagged leaves and loose brush
- ✓ Fence panels (no larger than 4' x 6')
Not Accepted
- ✕ Single items weighing more than 150 lbs
- ✕ Commercial construction and remodeling debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, etc.)
- ✕ Tires, batteries, and propane tanks
- ✕ Loose debris not properly boxed or contained
The bi-monthly 12-cubic-yard pickup is included in your utility bill. Loads exceeding 12 cubic yards will incur additional charges, and residents must call CWD for a free estimate.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on an observed holiday, your services (both trash and recycling) will be delayed and picked up on the following day.
Yard Waste Exception
Bi-monthly bulk and brush collection that coincides with a holiday week will also be delayed. Always have bulk items out by Monday at 7:00 a.m. of your service week regardless of the holiday.
CWD only observes three major holidays. Normal service runs as scheduled on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
While your regular trash must be bagged, recyclables should always be placed loosely in the blue cart. Plastic grocery bags wrap around the sorting machinery at the recycling facility and can shut down the entire operation.
Tag Appliances for Freon Removal
If you are setting out an old refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioner for bi-monthly bulk pickup, a certified technician must legally remove the refrigerants first. The appliance must have a visible tag certifying the removal, or CWD will leave it at the curb.
Don't Hide Construction Debris
Never place heavy commercial construction or remodeling debris like concrete, roofing shingles, or brick in your grey trash cart or your bulk pile. CWD trucks are not equipped for this weight, and these materials are strictly prohibited.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayAs spring landscaping begins, remember that your brush collection only happens every other month based on your location relative to Pleasant Run Road. Plan major tree pruning around your designated odd or even month.
Summer
June - AugustTexas summer heat can cause unbagged garbage to smell foul and attract pests quickly. The city's rule requiring all household garbage to be tightly bagged inside the grey cart is especially critical during these sweltering months.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring the holiday season, break down all shipping and gift boxes to save space in your blue recycling cart. Keep in mind that CWD's collection schedule shifts by one day for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day holidays.
About Lancaster Waste Management
Lancaster's Automated Cart Services via CWD
Residential solid waste collection in Lancaster is entirely automated, managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Community Waste Disposal (CWD). Each home is equipped with a grey 95-gallon cart for household garbage and a blue 95-gallon cart for recycling. The robotic collection arms require strict placement rules: ensure a full three-foot gap between the carts and a five-foot clearance from mailboxes, vehicles, and fences. Moreover, tree branches must not obstruct the 16-foot vertical space required by the mechanical arm.
Strictly Bagged Trash Mandate
To maintain a clean and sanitary community, Lancaster enforces a strict bagged-trash policy. All household refuse must be securely bagged in disposable garbage bags before being placed inside the grey trash cart. Unbagged, loose trash often blows into neighborhood streets during the automated dumping process, causing unnecessary litter, clogged storm drains, and potential hazards for collection crews.
Bi-Monthly Bulk and Brush Scheduling
Bulky items and heavy brush are not collected on a weekly basis in Lancaster. Instead, the city operates on an every-other-month schedule that is split geographically by Pleasant Run Road. If you live north of Pleasant Run Road, your bulk pickup occurs during odd-numbered months (January, March, May, etc.). Residents living south of the road are serviced during even-numbered months. Items must be set out by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of the first full week of your designated month.
The 12-Cubic-Yard Bulk Limit and Drop-Off Option
During your scheduled bulk month, you may set out up to 12 cubic yards of approved bulky waste, such as furniture, appliances, and neatly stacked brush. If you accumulate large debris during an off-month, you aren't stuck with it. Lancaster residents can haul up to 12 cubic yards to the CWD Transfer Station on California Crossing Road in Dallas for free on the first Saturday of each month. Just remember to bring your current water bill as proof of residency.
X-treme Green Events for Hazardous Waste
Household chemicals, wet paint, and old motor oil are strictly forbidden in your curbside carts. To help residents properly dispose of these dangerous materials, CWD hosts two 'X-treme Green Events' annually. These specialized drop-off events are a convenient one-stop shop for safely offloading hazardous household waste, used electronics, scrap metal, and accessing on-site confidential document shredding.
Drop-off Facilities
CWD Transfer Station
2010 California Crossing Road, Dallas, TX 75220
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my carts out in Lancaster, Texas?
You must place both your grey trash cart and blue recycling cart at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Ensure the handles face the curb and the wheels face your house so the automated arm can easily grab them.
When is my bulk trash and brush pickup week?
Bulk collection happens every other month on the first full week of the month. If you live north of Pleasant Run Road, your pickup is during odd months (January, March, etc.). If you live south of Pleasant Run Road, it's during even months (February, April, etc.).
Can I throw loose garbage into my grey trash cart?
No. The City of Lancaster and CWD require all household garbage to be securely placed in disposable bags before being tossed into the grey 95-gallon cart. This prevents litter from blowing around during automated dumping.
What should I do if I have extra bulk trash during a month when I don't get curbside service?
During non-service months, Lancaster residents can drop off up to 12 cubic yards of bulky waste and brush at the CWD Transfer Station in Dallas (2010 California Crossing Road) on the first Saturday of the month, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., by presenting a current water bill.