Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mesquite
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.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of Blue Bags
If you are utilizing the blue bag method for recycling instead of a green cart, never place glass bottles or jars inside the bags. Broken glass poses a severe laceration hazard to sanitation workers handling the bags.
Loose Trash is Prohibited
The City of Mesquite enforces a strict bagging ordinance. Never throw loose food wrappers, tissues, or debris directly into your trash container. All refuse must be contained within tied plastic garbage bags.
Drain Liquids to Save Paper
While you do not need to scrub your recyclables or remove labels, you must empty all liquids from bottles and cans. Leftover soda or water will saturate the paper and cardboard in the recycling truck, rendering it unrecyclable.
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.
About Mesquite Waste Management
Mandatory Trash Bagging and Weight Limits
In October 2021, the City of Mesquite updated its solid waste ordinance under the Clean City Initiative [1.1.2]. It is now strictly required that all household trash be secured inside 13- to 32-gallon plastic bags before being placed into your container. Loose trash in the bin is prohibited. Additionally, the combined weight of the container and its contents must never exceed 50 pounds to protect the sanitation workers performing the manual or semi-automated collections.
Wednesday Appliance and Yard Waste Collections
Wednesdays in Mesquite are uniquely dedicated to yard waste and large household appliances. The Solid Waste Division collects old refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines at no extra charge from either your front curb or alleyway. Grass clippings and bagged leaves are also picked up city-wide on Wednesdays, provided the bags do not exceed the 50-pound weight limit.
Front Curb Requirement for Heavy Bulk
While standard household garbage and Wednesday yard waste might be collected from your rear alley depending on your neighborhood's layout, heavy bulk items follow a different rule. Large brush or junk weighing over 50 pounds—or exceeding dimensions of 2x2x4 feet—must always be placed at the front curb. The specialized bulk collection trucks will not navigate narrow alleys.
The Green Cart and Blue Bag Recycling System
Mesquite encourages single-stream recycling through the use of 45-gallon Green Carts. However, due to high demand, new residents might be placed on a waiting list for a cart. During this interim period, residents are permitted to use blue recycling bags for their plastics, paper, and aluminum. Importantly, for safety reasons, glass bottles can only be recycled if placed inside a hard-sided Green Cart; they are strictly forbidden in blue bags.
Mesquite Convenience Center and Compost Site
For residents who miss their collection day or have excess waste, the Mesquite Convenience Center and Compost Site at 3550 Lawson Road is a fantastic local resource. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the facility accepts extra recyclables, yard waste, and electronic waste like old televisions and computers, helping keep hazardous e-waste out of local landfills.
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.