Phoenix Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling, Bulk & HHW 2026

⏰ Set-Out Rules — All Containers

• Place carts at the curb or alley line (whichever applies to your address) the evening before your collection day. Trash collection begins at 6:00 a.m.
• All containers must be positioned with at least 15 feet of clearance from all obstructions — parked vehicles, light poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, utility meters, and trees. This 15-foot rule is strictly enforced and larger than most US cities.
• Container lids must be fully closed and secured at all times when outdoors (City Code). This prevents rain, insects, and wind-blown garbage in Phoenix’s climate.
• All garbage placed in the dark cart must be bagged in tied plastic bags before being placed in the container. Loose garbage inside the cart is not compliant with Maricopa County sanitation ordinance.
• Containers must not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
• If your dark cart, blue cart, or tan cart is broken, Public Works repairs or replaces it at no charge. Call 602-262-6251.

✅ Accepted in the Tan Green Organics Cart

• Grass clippings and lawn trimmings
• Branches, twigs, and shrub trimmings
• Cactus (cut into manageable pieces)
• Tree fruit and fallen produce from yard trees
• Leaves
• Untreated wood pieces (no painted, stained, or treated wood)
• Flowers and houseplants

To sign up for green organics service, log in to myPHX311 at myphx311.phoenix.gov, or call PHX Customer Services at 602-262-6251. Confirm your address is in an eligible service area using the map at phoenix.gov/green-organics.

🎄 Christmas Tree Collection 2026

Phoenix accepts live Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands at designated City park drop-off locations at no charge. In January 2026, the drop-off period ran through January 9. For 2026/2027 year-end collection dates, check phoenix.gov/publicworks in late December 2026. Trees must be free of all decorations, stands, and bags. They are composted at the 27th Avenue Compost Facility.

📅 How to Schedule Your Bulk Pickup

1. Schedule online at phoenix.gov/bulk-trash-pickup or call 602-262-6251. Appointments must be made at least 3 business days in advance.
2. Once confirmed, you can place items curbside no more than 7 days before your appointment date. Placing items more than 7 days early is a City ordinance violation.
3. Have items at the curb or alley by 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled appointment date (not 6 a.m. — bulk crews may start earlier).
4. After collection, sweep or rake the area if needed. Some material may be left if it violates guidelines (see rules below).
5. If you need to cancel, do so at least 3 business days before your appointment — cancellations with 3+ days’ notice do not count against your 4 annual appointments.

📅 How to Schedule At-Home HHW Collection

1. Have your City services bill, account number, and associated address ready before scheduling — the program is tied to active solid waste accounts.
2. Schedule online at phoenix.gov/hhw-collection or call 602-262-6251.
3. Before the collection day, place all HHW items in sealed, leakproof containers, then place those containers in a cardboard box or bin clearly labeled “HHW.” Leaking containers must be placed in a secondary sealed container.
4. Place the labeled HHW box at the front of your property on the scheduled date. HHW crews will collect it.

📅 I Recycle PHX Events — Multiple Times Per Year

Phoenix partners with Keep Phoenix Beautiful to host free I Recycle PHX events multiple times per year at various locations across the city. These events accept materials that cannot go in regular curbside collection, including plastic bags, electronics, document shredding, clothing, bicycles, and more.

Confirmed 2026 event: Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Happy Valley Towne Center (enter off Happy Valley Road), 7:00 a.m. to noon. Accepted: plastic bags and film, old electronics, documents for shredding, clothing, bikes, gardening supplies, and more — check the accepted items list before attending.

For all 2026 I Recycle PHX event dates and locations, visit phoenix.gov/residential-recycling or follow @PHXPublicWorks on social media.

📦 Eco-Stations — Convenient Roll-Off Drop-Offs

Phoenix maintains Eco-stations — large roll-off recycling bins — strategically placed in City-owned parks and near clusters of multifamily housing across the city. They accept the same recyclables as the blue curbside cart. Use the Eco-station locator at phoenix.gov/residential-recycling to find the nearest one to your address.

📍 Two Transfer Station Locations

• 27th Avenue Transfer Station — South Phoenix area
• North Gateway Transfer Station — North Phoenix area

Hours: Monday–Friday 5:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.  |  Saturday 6:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.  |  Closed Sundays and City holidays

Disposal fee: $55 per ton ($40 minimum charge). Cash and major credit cards accepted. No checks or money orders.

Get current addresses and directions at phoenix.gov/transfer-stations.

✅ Special Accepted Items at Transfer Stations

• Yard waste (clean, free of trash): up to 1 ton per month FREE with valid ID and copy of City services bill. Turned into compost at the 27th Avenue Compost Facility.
• CRT televisions and monitors: up to 2 CRT units per household per month FREE. Additional CRT units: $20 each plus disposal fees. Non-CRT TVs also accepted.
• Appliances: refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers — accepted with standard disposal fees.
• Backyard compost bins: purchase a recycled $5 compost container (made from old garbage containers) at either transfer station. Email solid.waste@phoenix.gov to set up purchase.

🏠 New to Phoenix or Just Moved In?

Use the interactive map at phoenix.gov/find-your-day-of-collection to find your collection day and whether your collection point is curb or alley. Download the PHX Connect app (iOS/Android) for schedule reminders and service requests. Your dark cart and blue cart should already be at the property — call 602-262-6251 if missing. The solid waste fee is billed through your City water account. To start green organics service ($5/month for a tan cart), sign up at myPHX311. Check the Community Appointments list before scheduling bulk trash — your HOA may have a pre-arranged date.

☀ Phoenix Extreme Summer Heat — Collection Impact

• Phoenix averages over 100 days per year above 100°F (38°C). Collection trucks start routes as early as 6:00 a.m. to complete service before peak heat.
• Always have carts out the evening before — do not wait until the morning of collection during summer months (May–October), as trucks may arrive very early.
• Keep cart lids closed at all times to prevent odors, insect activity, and spills in the heat.
• Extreme heat accelerates decomposition in garbage carts. Bagging all items (as required by ordinance) significantly reduces odor and pest activity.

🚫 5 Mistakes Phoenix Residents Make

• Placing a recycling cart or trash cart without 15 feet of clearance from parked vehicles — carts blocked by cars are routinely skipped, and 15 feet is more than most people expect
• Putting compostable plastics in the blue recycling cart — they must go in the tan green organics cart or trash, not recycling
• Placing bulk items more than 7 days before the appointment date — City ordinance violation; the online scheduler will not book within the 7-day window of 4 major holidays
• Putting lithium-ion batteries in any cart — they cause fires; schedule at-home HHW pickup or take to an I Recycle PHX event
• Expecting garbage service to stop on MLK Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day — Phoenix works on all of these; only 3 holidays affect collection