Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Port Arthur
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.
City-issued 96-gallon toter Bin (Trash)
Toters must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with handles facing the residence. Garbage left outside or overflowing the toter will not be collected and could result in fines.
Accepted Items
- ✓Light household trash
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard bagged garbage
Drop-Off Only (No curbside program) Bin (Recycling)
The City of Port Arthur does not provide curbside recycling. Residents must transport recyclables to local SETRPC drop-off locations or private recycling centers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Metals (via private scrap or SETRPC locations)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Household trash
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Collected during your assigned heavy trash/bulk zone week (Zone I or Zone II). Tree limbs must be neatly stacked. Do not place yard waste inside the 96-gallon garbage toter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs (cut to 4-foot lengths)
- ✓Brush
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Bi-weekly, according to your assigned Heavy Trash Zone (Zone I or Zone II).
Placement
Keep bulk piles well away from vehicles, mailboxes, and fences. Do not place items directly under low-hanging electrical, telephone, or cable wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Old furniture and household furnishings
- ✓ Household appliances
- ✓ Neatly stacked 4-foot tree limbs
- ✓ Loose yard trash (leaves, grass)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Roofing, demolition, or construction material
- ✕ Concrete, brick, or asbestos
- ✕ Hazardous, toxic, or flammable waste
- ✕ Batteries, oil, or oil filters
- ✕ Medical waste
Heavy trash and brush collection is a free service for Port Arthur residents. Private contractors conducting commercial work at a residence must haul away their own debris.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Port Arthur observes a generous holiday schedule. Depending on the day of the week, crews will generally take the holiday off and either return the following day to finish out the week, or work a weekend shift to catch up.
Yard Waste Exception
Bi-weekly heavy trash and brush collections will experience the exact same holiday delays and alternate scheduling as standard household garbage routes.
Always check the city's official 'Solid Waste Holiday Schedule' directly, as specific makeup days shift yearly based on when the holiday falls.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Handle Facing the House
When rolling your 96-gallon toter to the curb, always ensure the handle faces your residence. The automated trucks require this exact orientation, and placing it backward often results in the machine tearing the lid off the hinge.
Vegetation Stays Out of the Garbage Toter
Port Arthur's Public Works department explicitly bans yard waste, grass clippings, and brush from being thrown inside your 96-gallon garbage toter. Place your yard debris in distinct piles for your bi-weekly heavy trash route instead.
No Concrete or Sheetrock
Never place heavy remodeling debris, bricks, concrete, or sheetrock in your toter or at the curb for heavy trash day. City crews will not collect these items; you must transport them to the municipal landfill yourself.
Seasonal Information
Summer / Fall
June - NovemberDuring Gulf Coast hurricane season, avoid generating massive brush piles right before severe weather hits. Utilize your designated Zone week or drive heavy debris to the municipal landfill so it doesn't become a projectile in high winds.
Winter
December - JanuaryThe Solid Waste Division observes numerous holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, and Thanksgiving. Expect routes to shift or for crews to work an alternate weekend schedule to catch up during holiday weeks.
Spring
March - MayHeavy spring pruning generates excessive yard waste. Make sure all tree limbs and branches are cut down to manageable 4-foot lengths and stacked neatly away from fences and vehicles for your bi-weekly heavy trash collection.
About Port Arthur Waste Management
Port Arthur's Municipal Solid Waste Services
The City of Port Arthur manages its own residential waste collection through the internal Public Works Solid Waste Division [1.1.1]. Residents are provided with a dedicated 96-gallon toter for weekly household garbage. To ensure successful service from automated trucks, all toters must be rolled to the curb by 7:00 a.m. and removed by 8:00 p.m. on the same day.
The Bi-Weekly Zone Schedule for Heavy Trash
In Port Arthur, standard garbage is collected weekly, but heavy trash, bulky items, and yard brush are collected on a bi-weekly zone schedule. The city is divided into Zone I (serviced on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month) and Zone II (serviced on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month). During your assigned week, city crews will haul away old furniture, household furnishings, and neatly stacked tree limbs.
Toter Placement and Prohibited Items
Proper placement is crucial for the city's equipment. Port Arthur sanitation explicitly requires that toters be placed with the handle facing your residence. If placed backwards, the automated lifting mechanism can break the lid. Furthermore, placing construction materials, sheetrock, TVs, concrete, or raw vegetation inside the 96-gallon garbage toter is strictly prohibited and can result in the container being tagged and left unemptied.
Free Access to the Municipal Landfill
For immense cleanouts or massive home DIY projects that generate unacceptable curbside debris like roofing or construction rubble, Port Arthur offers an exceptional resident perk. Residents are permitted to utilize the Port Arthur Municipal Landfill on Highway 73 West to dispose of their trash and garbage free of charge. Commercial and contractor haulers, however, are subject to standard disposal fees.
Recycling Options in the Golden Triangle
Currently, the City of Port Arthur does not operate a municipal curbside recycling program. However, eco-conscious residents are encouraged to utilize drop-off sites supported by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC). Additionally, private scrap yards like Port Arthur Recycling on FM 365 allow residents to drop off and even get paid for scrap metals, electronics, and aluminum cans.
Drop-off Facilities
Port Arthur Municipal Landfill
4732 Highway 73 West, Port Arthur, TX 77640
Materials Accepted
Port Arthur Recycling (Private Facility)
2901 W FM 365, Port Arthur, TX 77640
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does my garbage toter need to be on the street in Port Arthur?
Your 96-gallon garbage toter must be placed at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Additionally, you must remove the container from the curb by 8:00 p.m. the same evening.
Does Port Arthur provide curbside recycling?
No, the City of Port Arthur Solid Waste Division does not currently offer a municipal curbside recycling program. Residents are encouraged to use local SETRPC drop-off locations or private recycling yards.
When does the city pick up heavy trash and brush?
Port Arthur collects heavy trash and yard debris on a bi-weekly zone schedule. Neighborhoods in Zone I are serviced on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month, while Zone II is serviced on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month.
Why didn't the garbage truck empty my toter?
Toters are frequently skipped if they contain prohibited items such as sheetrock, wood, TVs, concrete, or yard vegetation. They may also be skipped if the handle is not facing your house, or if the toter is placed too close to a vehicle or mailbox.