If you live in the City of Dallas, your blue recycling cart goes out on the same day as your trash, once a week. There’s no single countywide recycling day — Dallas County doesn’t run its own trash service.
Instead, each city inside the county (Dallas, Irving, Garland, Richardson, and others) runs its own sanitation department, so your pickup day depends on your address.
For most Dallas residents, service only pauses on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Every other holiday, including MLK Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, is a regular collection day — trucks run even if city offices are closed.
Schedules are set by route, not by neighborhood name, so two houses a few blocks apart can have different days. The fastest way to confirm yours is the City of Dallas Sanitation schedule lookup — just enter your address.
Quick Summary
- Recycling in the City of Dallas is collected weekly, on your regular trash day.
- Carts go curbside (or alley, if you still have that service) by 7:00 AM.
- Service is suspended only for New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in 2026.
- Brush and bulk trash is collected once a month, not weekly.
- About 19,000 homes are switching from alley to curb service starting January 19, 2026.
- Outside Dallas city limits, contact your own city’s sanitation department — Dallas County doesn’t handle residential pickup directly.
City of Dallas Recycling Schedule: The Basics
Dallas Sanitation Services collects recycling on the same day as garbage, once a week, for single-family homes and duplexes. It’s single-stream, meaning plastic, glass, metal, paper, and cardboard all go loose into the same blue cart — no bagging.
Set your cart out any time after 6:00 PM the evening before, and no later than 7:00 AM on collection day. If your cart hasn’t been serviced by 8:00 PM on your scheduled day, you can report a missed pickup through 311 or the city’s online service request tool.
Because Dallas assigns collection days by route rather than by ZIP code or neighborhood, the only reliable way to know your day is to look it up by address using the Dallas Sanitation schedule tool.
2026 Holiday Schedule for Dallas Recycling and Trash
| Holiday | Date | Collection Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | No collection. Thursday routes move to Friday; Friday routes move to Saturday. |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Regular schedule. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Regular schedule. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Regular schedule. |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | Regular schedule. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Regular schedule (July 3 is observed by city offices, but Friday routes run normally). |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Regular schedule. |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 26 | No collection. Thursday routes move to Friday; Friday routes move to Saturday. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | No collection. Friday routes move to Saturday. |
Administrative offices and the McCommas Bluff Landfill sometimes close or run shortened hours on holidays, even when residential trucks are out running normal routes. When in doubt during a holiday week, check the city’s service alerts before setting your cart out early.
Alley-to-Curb Change Coming in 2026
Dallas is shifting some households from alley pickup to curbside pickup this year. The change mainly affects homes with narrow alleys — under 9 feet wide — and front driveways that make alley access difficult for trucks.
- Phase 1: About 19,000 homes switch starting January 19, 2026.
- Phase 2: Roughly 7,000 more homes switch starting July 20, 2026.
If your address is affected, the city typically sends a direct mail notice ahead of time. If you’re unsure whether your home is on the list, check your address in the schedule lookup tool or call 311.
Brush and Bulk Trash Pickup in Dallas
Bulk and brush pickup is a separate service from weekly recycling, and it runs once a month instead of weekly:
- You can set out up to 10 cubic yards of brush or bulk items.
- Materials can go to the curb starting the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday before your scheduled collection week.
- Your specific week depends on your route — check the city’s Brush & Bulky calendar or the schedule lookup tool for your exact dates.
Putting bulk items out too early, or on the wrong week, is one of the most common reasons Dallas residents end up with a missed pickup complaint.
What About the Rest of Dallas County?
Dallas County itself doesn’t run curbside recycling. Sanitation is handled at the city level, so your service depends on where you live inside the county:
- Unincorporated Dallas County: No city-run service. Residents generally need to sign up with a private hauler for weekly curbside pickup.
- Garland: Managed by the City of Garland Environmental Waste Services.
- Irving: Managed by City of Irving Solid Waste Services.
- Richardson: Managed by City of Richardson Trash & Recycling.
If you live in one of these cities, or another Dallas County municipality, check with that city’s public works or sanitation department directly — the City of Dallas schedule tool won’t have your information.
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
For paint, pesticides, batteries, and other household chemicals that can’t go in a regular cart, Dallas County residents can use the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center, located at 11234 Plano Road.
The center serves residents from more than a dozen participating cities, including Dallas, Richardson, and Garland, at no charge with proof of residency. Residents of non-participating cities pay a minimum fee.
Hours vary by day, so check the Dallas County Household Hazardous Waste page before you go.
FAQ: Dallas Recycling Schedule 2026
What day is recycling picked up in Dallas, TX?
It depends on your address. Dallas assigns recycling collection to the same day as your regular trash pickup, and that day varies by route. Look up your specific day using the city’s address-based schedule tool.
Does Dallas recycling get picked up on holidays?
Only three holidays affect collection in 2026: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On those weeks, service shifts by one day for the rest of the week. Every other holiday, including MLK Day and Labor Day, is a normal collection day.
What can I put in my Dallas recycling cart?
Plastic, glass, cartons, metal, paper, and cardboard can all go loose into the blue cart. Don’t bag recyclables — bagged items are often treated as contamination and may not get collected.
How do I report a missed recycling pickup in Dallas?
If your cart hasn’t been serviced by 8:00 PM on your scheduled day, call 311 or submit a service request online through the city’s website.
How often is bulk trash picked up in Dallas?
Once a month, not weekly. You can set out up to 10 cubic yards starting the Thursday before your scheduled collection week, with materials at the curb by 7:00 AM on your pickup day.
Does Dallas County have one recycling schedule for the whole county?
No. Dallas County doesn’t provide residential trash or recycling service. Each city — Dallas, Irving, Garland, Richardson, and others — runs its own sanitation department and schedule. Unincorporated areas typically use a private hauler.
Sources
Last verified: July 2026.
Related: Holiday Trash Pickup Schedules Across Major U.S. Cities
Schedules can change with little notice, especially around weather events or holidays. Before setting your cart out, check the City of Dallas Sanitation lookup tool or contact your local sanitation department directly for the most current information.