Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wichita Falls
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 Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash carts must be out for pick-up no later than 7:00 a.m. on your assigned day. The cart's wheels must face the house, and branches must be trimmed to a 12-foot clearance above the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Dried paint (solidified with kitty litter)
Green Cart (Optional Subscription) Bin (Recycling)
Green organics carts are collected exclusively on Wednesdays. During the week of any City holiday, the Wednesday organics collection is completely canceled.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Kitchen food waste
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Newspaper
- ✓Junk mail and paper plates
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Plastic bottles
- ✕Glass
- ✕Metal
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Dirt and rocks
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is processed through the optional Wednesday Curbside Organics program in the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Leaves
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Demand
Placement
Place waste at the curb at least 5 feet from any horizontal obstruction and 13.5 feet from any vertical obstruction.
Accepted
- ✓ Bulky waste
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Couches
- ✓ Chairs
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Dirt
- ✕ Rocks
- ✕ Concrete
Contact the Sanitation Department at 940-761-7977 to verify limits and potential fees for excessively large piles.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Trash collection typically shifts by one day when a holiday occurs on a weekday (e.g., Monday moves to Tuesday). For Thanksgiving, Thursday routes shift back to Wednesday, and Friday routes move to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
There is absolutely no Wednesday Curbside Organics collection during the week of any observed city holiday.
Martin Luther King Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day are federally recognized, but Wichita Falls trash schedules remain on their normal routines during these dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastics Out of the Green Cart
Wichita Falls' curbside green carts are strictly for organics and paper products. Tossing plastic grocery bags or plastic water bottles into this bin contaminates the compost stream and can jeopardize the entire Choose to Reuse program.
Perform the Upside-Down Paint Test
Liquid paint is considered hazardous and will ruin sanitation trucks. Always mix leftover latex or oil-based paint with kitty litter until it becomes completely solid. If you can hold the can upside down and nothing pours out, it's safe for the regular trash.
Check Your Clearances
Automated collection vehicles require massive amounts of room to operate safely. Ensure your garbage carts and bulk items have at least 5 feet of horizontal clearance and 13.5 feet of overhead clearance from low-hanging branches.
Seasonal Information
Holiday Weeks
Year-RoundIt is critical to remember that during the week of any officially observed city holiday, the Wednesday Curbside Organics collection is completely suspended for all residents.
Spring and Fall
March and OctoberIf you subscribe to the Wednesday Curbside Organics program, mark your calendar for the first Saturday in March and October. The city hosts free compost give-away events, returning the nutrient-rich soil back to participants.
Summer
June - AugustAs you tackle summer landscaping and storm cleanup, remember that small trimmings belong in your green organics cart. If you have large limbs from storm damage, you will need to schedule a Payload Bulk Service pickup.
About Wichita Falls Waste Management
The Unique Curbside Organics Program
Unlike many Texas cities with traditional single-stream recycling, Wichita Falls focuses heavily on composting and paper diversion. For just $3 a month, residents can opt into the 'Choose to Reuse' Curbside Organics program. You receive a green cart specifically for yard trimmings, kitchen food scraps, cardboard, and junk mail. These green carts are collected every Wednesday, and the city turns the waste into high-quality compost, which is given back to participants for free twice a year.
Navigating Glass and Metal Drop-Offs
Because standard plastic and glass bottles are strictly prohibited in the green organics carts, the city provides alternative drop-off locations to divert waste from the landfill. Residents can take newspapers and glass to designated drop-off bins located at several city fire stations and United Supermarket locations. For scrap metal, aluminum, and large appliances, you can drop them off directly at the City Landfill or the Lawrence Road Transfer Station.
Payload Bulk Service on Demand
Wichita Falls does not utilize a rigid, pre-set monthly bulk collection calendar. Instead, they offer the 'Payload Bulk Service,' an on-demand system for oversized items like mattresses and couches. Residents must proactively call the Sanitation Office to schedule a pickup. The city enforces a strict clearance rule: bulk piles must be placed at least five feet from fences and mailboxes, and boast a 13.5-foot vertical clearance to protect trucks from low-hanging tree branches.
Managing Paint and Household Chemicals
If you have leftover paint from a home renovation, you cannot throw it away in liquid form. The sanitation department requires you to pour kitty litter or oil-dry absorbent into your half-empty paint cans, leaving the lid off until the mixture solidifies. Once it is completely dry and passes the 'upside-down test'—meaning no liquid pours out—it is safe to toss into your regular household trash cart.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Wichita Falls Landfill
10984 Wiley Road, Wichita Falls, TX
Materials Accepted
Lawrence Road Transfer Station
3200 Lawrence Rd, Wichita Falls, TX
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wichita Falls have standard curbside plastic and glass recycling?
No, the city does not offer standard blue-bin curbside recycling for plastics or glass. Instead, they offer an optional $3/month 'Curbside Organics' green cart program exclusively for food scraps, yard waste, and paper products. Glass and newspapers can be dropped off at designated bins located at various Fire Stations.
How do I get rid of a mattress or old couch in Wichita Falls?
You must request a bulk pickup by calling the Sanitation Office at 940-761-7977 to schedule a Payload Bulk Service collection. Make sure to place the items at the curb with 5 feet of horizontal clearance from mailboxes or fences, and 13.5 feet of vertical clearance from tree limbs.
What happens to the trash pickup schedule during Thanksgiving week?
During Thanksgiving week, Monday and Tuesday routes run normally. Thursday's collection is shifted backward to Wednesday, and Friday's collection is shifted to Saturday. The Wednesday Organics pickup is completely canceled.
How should I properly dispose of old liquid paint?
The city requires you to dry out liquid paint before disposal. Mix the paint with kitty litter or oil-dry absorbent and leave the lid off until it becomes completely solid. Once it no longer pours out when held upside down, you can throw the can away in your regular trash cart.