Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mesquite
Trash Day
Garbage is collected twice weekly for most Dallas County residents (either Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday depending on zone) and once weekly for Kaufman County residents.
Recycling
Collected once weekly on your assigned neighborhood collection day (Monday through Friday).
Yard Waste
Bagged grass clippings, leaves, and small brush are collected every Wednesday. Large brush is collected once weekly on your scheduled bulk collection day (Monday through Friday).
Set Out Time
By 7:30 AM on collection day (and no earlier than 5:30 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling charges are conveniently bundled into your monthly City of Mesquite municipal utility bill alongside water and sewer.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online (MesquitePay), Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person, Drop Box
Resident-provided container (20-48 gallons) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged in 13-32 gallon bags inside a sturdy container not exceeding 48 gallons. Set out between 5:30 p.m. the day prior and 7:30 a.m. on collection day. Container and contents combined must weigh under 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Green Cart or Blue Bags Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables can be mixed. Lightly rinse containers and empty all liquids. Carts or bags must be placed at the collection point by 7:30 a.m. on your designated recycling day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Paper and cardboard
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (Cart ONLY)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass (if using blue bags)
- ✕Liquids
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Collected every Wednesday. Grass clippings and leaves must be bagged. Small brush piles must not exceed the dimension limits or weigh more than 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small brush piles (max 2'x2'x4')
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week on your designated bulk day
Placement
Must be placed at the front curb by 7:30 a.m. (bulk is NEVER collected from the alley). Do not block sidewalks, mailboxes, or utility meters.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large brush and tree limbs
- ✓ Junk items over 50 lbs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and remodeling debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Automotive batteries
- ✕ Propane tanks
Standard bulk collection is included with your residential utility bill. Excessively massive piles may require special handling or drop-off at the Convenience Center.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
On major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, all residential collections are suspended and will resume on the next scheduled day. On minor holidays like Labor Day, trash is typically collected, but residential recycling may be skipped for the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The Lawson Road Compost Facility and Convenience Center are closed on all major city-observed holidays.
The City of Mesquite does not operate on a 'sliding schedule' (pushing days back by one). If your day is skipped due to a holiday, you must wait until your next scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberDuring peak leaf-fall season, utilize the city's Wednesday yard waste collection. Remember that all leaves must be securely bagged, and no single bag can weigh more than 50 pounds.
Spring
MayKeep Mesquite Beautiful hosts a semi-annual 'Mesquite Recycles Day' in May. This is a prime opportunity for residents to responsibly drop off electronic waste and other hard-to-recycle household items.
Winter
December - JanuaryDuring major winter holidays like Christmas and New Year's Day, residential trash and recycling collections are suspended. Expect your pickups to resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Recyclables into Cash in Mesquite
While Mesquite doesn't have specific city-run buyback centers listed, the great state of Texas offers a general program for recycling cans and bottles. Keep an eye out for local scrap yards in the broader Dallas-Fort Worth area that might take metals like aluminum, steel, and copper. Often, these places will pay you a small amount per pound, so it's a good way to make a little extra cash while decluttering. Do a quick online search for 'scrap metal yards near Mesquite TX' to find options.
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a New Life in Mesquite!
Instead of tossing perfectly good items, think about donating them! Mesquite has a few spots that would love your unwanted treasures. Goodwill stores are always a solid bet, and you can find them right in the area to drop off clothes, household goods, and more. For furniture and home decor that's still in good shape, check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in nearby Dallas. They help fund building homes for families in need and give your items a second chance to shine.
Let's Keep Mesquite Beautiful: Tackling Litter Together
When it comes to keeping our neighborhoods clean, Mesquite residents are encouraged to report any illegal dumping they see. You can usually do this through the city's website or by calling their solid waste department. While specific community clean-up event dates aren't always published far in advance, staying connected with local neighborhood associations or checking the city's social media pages are great ways to find out about organized clean-up days. Working together makes Mesquite a nicer place for everyone!
Drop-off Facilities
Mesquite Compost Site & Convenience Center
3550 Lawson Road, Mesquite, TX 75181
Materials Accepted
Dallas County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
11234 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75243
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put large bulky items in my alley for pickup?
No. While regular household garbage and Wednesday yard waste may be picked up in your alley, large brush and bulky items weighing over 50 pounds must always be placed at the front curb by 7:30 a.m. on your designated bulk collection day. The city will not collect bulk waste from alleyways.
Does the City of Mesquite collect old refrigerators or washing machines?
Yes. The Solid Waste Division collects appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and water heaters every Wednesday at no additional charge. You can place these items at your alley or front curb, depending on your normal collection location.
What are the time restrictions for putting out trash in Mesquite?
City ordinance strictly prohibits placing solid waste or recycling at the curb before 5:30 p.m. on the day prior to your scheduled collection. Bins must be set out by 7:30 a.m. on pickup day, and empty containers must be removed from the curbline by 8:00 p.m.
How do I recycle if I don't have a green cart yet?
Due to high demand, there is often a waitlist for the city-issued green 45-gallon recycling carts. In the meantime, residents can use blue recycling bags for paper, plastics, and metals. However, you cannot put glass in the blue bags for safety reasons.