Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for McKinney
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.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
Set the gray cart out by 7:00 a.m. (no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before) with the serial number facing the street and handle facing the house. All trash must be bagged and tied, and the lid must be completely closed. Keep 3 feet of clearance around the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose in the blue cart (never in plastic bags) and must be completely empty and dry. Ensure cardboard is broken down so it doesn't jam the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, #4, and #5
- ✓Mixed paper, catalogs, and mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Window glass or mirrors
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves and grass clippings must be in brown paper yard bags. Limbs must be tied with string or twine (no tape or wire) into bundles weighing 50 pounds or less. Limit of 10 bags/bundles total per week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree limbs (max 4 feet long, 6 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 12 scheduled pickups per year
Placement
Place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled Friday, ensuring at least three feet of clearance from mailboxes, utility meters, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Exercise equipment
- ✓ Freon-free appliances (with certified tag)
- ✓ Grills (no propane tanks)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Treated wood, fence panels, or pallets
- ✕ Hazardous waste or electronics
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Appliances containing refrigerants
The 12 annual pickups are free for eligible residential accounts. Scheduling items exceeding the volume limits or trying to dispose of unaccepted items may result in fees or non-collection.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week will be pushed back by one day (e.g., Monday moves to Tuesday, Friday moves to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same delay pattern as regular trash and recycling during observed holiday weeks.
Frontier Waste Solutions may alter call center hours during holidays, so residents should confirm via the Waste Wizard app.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose in Blue, Bagged in Gray
The most common sorting error in McKinney is bagging recyclables. All items in your blue recycling cart must be completely loose. Conversely, all household waste in your gray trash cart MUST be bagged and tied to prevent littering during automated collection.
Use Twine, Not Wire for Brush
When bundling tree limbs for yard waste pickup, you are strictly required to use biodegradable string or twine. Using wire, electrical tape, or duct tape to secure your bundles will result in the pile being rejected by Frontier Waste.
Glass Bottles Yes, Mirrors No
While clean glass bottles and food jars are perfectly acceptable in your blue recycling cart, window glass, mirrors, and drinking glasses are treated differently because they melt at different temperatures. Never place broken windows or mirrors in the blue cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryBetween December 26 and mid-January, the city operates specialized Christmas tree drop-off sites (e.g., Al Ruschhaupt Soccer Fields, Gabe Nesbitt Park). Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands so the trees can be composted by Living Earth.
Spring
March - MayDuring Collin County's severe spring storm season, high winds frequently blow over carts. City guidelines state that residents are entirely responsible for picking up spilled contents and uprighting their carts prior to the truck's arrival.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf drop, remember that the 10-item weekly yard waste limit still applies. You can mix and match bundles of limbs and brown paper bags of leaves, but anything over 10 items will be left on the curb.
About McKinney Waste Management
Automated Cart Guidelines with Frontier Waste
McKinney partners with Frontier Waste Solutions to provide a fully automated weekly collection system. Each residence receives a gray trash cart and a blue recycling cart. A strict local requirement is that all household garbage must be bagged and securely tied before going into the gray cart. If your cart is overloaded and the lid cannot close entirely, the automated arm cannot safely service it, and the truck will leave it behind.
The 12-Pickup Annual Bulk Allowance
Instead of a rigid, city-wide monthly bulk day, McKinney gives residents the flexibility to schedule up to 12 free bulky item collections per calendar year. Pickups occur on Fridays, but you must actively request the service via the Waste Wizard app or by calling Frontier Waste before noon on the preceding Thursday. Piles are limited to an area of 3.5 feet tall by 3 feet deep by 9 feet long, or approximately two large pieces of furniture.
Free Bi-Monthly Transfer Station Access
If you exhaust your bulky pickups or have immediate disposal needs, McKinney residents enjoy a valuable drop-off perk. Households get two free visits per month to North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) sites, such as the Custer Road Transfer Station in Plano or the Regional Disposal Facility in Melissa. To bypass the dumping fees, you must present a valid Texas ID and a recent McKinney water bill (paper or digital) showing active solid waste charges.
Strict Tarping and Load Securing Rules
When hauling your own debris to the Custer Road or Melissa transfer stations, local facility protocols mandate that all loads must be fully secured. Whether you are driving a pickup truck or pulling a small non-dumping trailer, you must use a tarp or net to cover the materials and prevent littering on Collin County roadways. Uncovered loads will be flatly rejected at the scale house.
Self-Service Recycling at the ECC
If your blue cart is full, McKinney residents have the option to temporarily drop off clean recyclables at the Environmental Collection Center (ECC) located nearby in Frisco. This self-service site accepts extra cardboard, cans, and paper without requiring an ID, ensuring you always have a place to recycle large boxes after a move or the holidays.
Drop-off Facilities
Custer Road Transfer Station (NTMWD)
9901 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75025
Materials Accepted
Regional Disposal Facility (Melissa Landfill)
3820 Sam Rayburn Hwy, Melissa, TX 75454
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my gray trash cart is completely full in McKinney?
If your trash exceeds the capacity of your gray cart and the lid won't close, you cannot leave bags on the ground. You have three options: wait until next week, call Frontier Waste Solutions (469-444-1555) to request an extra paid pickup, or utilize one of your two free monthly visits to the Custer Road Transfer Station using your McKinney water bill.
Are bulk pickups automatically scheduled for my neighborhood?
No. McKinney offers up to 12 free bulk pickups per year, but they are entirely by appointment. You must contact Frontier Waste Solutions or use the Waste Wizard app before noon on Thursday to secure a Friday pickup.
Can I put fence panels or construction debris out for bulk trash?
No. Frontier Waste Solutions will not accept construction debris, treated wood, fence panels, or pallets through the residential bulk pickup program. Homeowners must use a private dumpster service or haul these materials to the local landfill.
How do I correctly bag yard waste for pickup?
Grass clippings and leaves must be placed exclusively in brown paper yard bags, not plastic bags. You can put out a maximum combination of 10 paper bags or tied brush bundles (under 50 lbs each) per week.