El Paso Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your ESD collection day, recycling week, bulky item rules, Citizen Collection Stations, and 2026 holiday schedule for El Paso.
City of El Paso · Environmental Services Department (ESD) · Updated March 2026
Find Your El Paso Collection Day
Select your regular collection day to instantly see your full schedule — garbage, recycling week, set-out rules, and 2026 holiday impacts.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete El Paso collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day? Use ESD’s official My Collection Day tool or call (915) 212-6000. All contact options ↓
El Paso Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department (ESD) provides two-bin curbside collection — gray garbage and blue recycling — to all residential customers within the city limits. Garbage is collected weekly; recycling is collected every other week, on the same day. Service is billed monthly through El Paso Water Utilities.
El Paso’s Two-Bin System — Gray & Blue
Every ESD residential customer receives one 96-gallon gray garbage bin and one blue recycling bin, both collected on the same weekday. Garbage is weekly; recycling alternates every other week. All garbage must be bagged before placing in the gray bin. All recyclables must be placed loose in the blue bin — never in bags.
Gray Bin — Garbage
All household trash. Bags must be tied and placed inside the bin. Lid must fully close — overflowing bins are charged an extra $5 fee.
Weekly • $19/mo + taxBlue Bin — Recycling
Paper, cardboard, plastic #1 & #2, aluminum/steel cans. Items loose, clean, and never bagged. No glass, no e-waste. Every other week.
Biweekly • Free (included)⏰ Set-Out Rules
- Place bins at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
- Leave at least 5 feet of clearance between your bins and your mailbox, fence, wall, water meter, telephone box, parked car, low-hanging trees, and other obstacles.
- Place bins with the lid opening and arrow facing the street.
- Place your blue bin at least 3 feet away from your gray bin.
- Garbage must be bagged before placing in the gray bin.
- Recyclables must be placed loose in the blue bin — never in plastic or paper bags.
- Bins left overfilled (lid open) are subject to an extra $5 lift charge.
- Each household is limited to one gray and one blue bin. Extra gray bins can be rented for $19/mo + tax.
🔧 Requesting or Replacing a Bin
- New customers receive bins within 10 business days of service start. You may use bags at the curb until the bins arrive.
- Request service, report a damaged bin, or order an extra gray bin via the free ESD Works For You app, online at elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services, or by calling (915) 212-6000.
- Blue recycling bins are limited to one per household. A bin delivery fee of $25 applies for replacements.
- Seniors and people with disabilities may qualify for a 20% discount ($15.20/mo + tax) or the Sidedoor Collection service. See the Senior & Disability section below.
El Paso Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
ESD suspends curbside garbage and recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day (and the day after each). When holidays fall on Thursday or Friday, collections for those days move to a make-up day, typically Monday of the following week. Recycling bins are not collected on make-up days — wait until your next scheduled recycling week.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Day | Impact on Curbside Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | Thursday | No Collection Thu & Fri not collected. Gray bin make-up: Monday Jan 5. Blue bin: wait for your next recycling week. |
| MLK Day | Jan 19 | Monday | Normal ESD collects as scheduled. |
| Presidents’ Day | Feb 16 | Monday | Normal ESD collects as scheduled. |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday | Normal ESD collects as scheduled. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Saturday | Normal Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. |
| Labor Day | Sep 7 | Monday | Normal ESD collects as scheduled. |
| Veterans Day | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Normal ESD collects as scheduled. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Nov 26 | Thursday | No Collection Thu & Fri not collected. Gray bin make-up: Monday Nov 30. Blue bin: wait for your next recycling week. |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Friday | No Collection Fri not collected. Gray bin make-up: Saturday Dec 26 or following Monday. Blue bin: wait for your next recycling week. Greater El Paso Landfill & CCS closed Dec 25–26. |
El Paso Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Bin
ESD’s curbside recycling program collects paper, cardboard, plastic #1 & #2, and aluminum and steel cans every other week. Glass and e-waste are not accepted curbside — take them to a Citizen Collection Station. All items must be clean, empty, and placed loose in the blue bin. Three red-tag violations in 12 months will result in your blue bin being removed and a 6-month probation period before re-enrollment.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Bin
- Newspaper and advertising inserts (no bags or string)
- Magazines and catalogs
- Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- Office paper, mail, and envelopes
- Paper bags
- Aluminum and steel cans — rinsed
- Plastic bottles and jugs — #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) only, rinsed
- Plastic clamshells (sandwich/salad containers)
- Clean pizza box tops (cut away from greasy bottoms)
🚫 Never in the Blue Bin
- Plastic bags, film, or wrap → grocery store drop-off
- Glass (bottles, jars) → Citizen Collection Stations
- Styrofoam / polystyrene → gray garbage bin
- Food or food-soiled items → gray garbage bin
- Electronics (e-waste) → Citizen Collection Stations
- Textiles and clothing → donate or gray garbage bin
- Plastic #3–#7 (except clamshells) → gray bin
- Greasy pizza box bottoms → gray garbage bin
El Paso Bulky Item & Special Pickup — Fee-Based Curbside Service
Unlike many US cities, El Paso’s curbside special pickup for large or extra items is a fee-based service. The current fee is $35 for up to 5 cubic yards of waste or less. The fee is billed directly to your El Paso Water Utilities account. You may alternatively take bulky items and extra trash to any Citizen Collection Station for free.
📅 How to Schedule a Special Pickup
- Call ESD at (915) 212-6000 to schedule and confirm your appointment. Service is available Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- Place all items at the curb in front of your home by 6:00 a.m. on the day your pickup is scheduled.
- Keep items a minimum of 5 feet away from your gray and blue bins, mailbox, fence, water meter, parked cars, low-hanging trees, and all other obstacles.
- Items must not obstruct sidewalks or vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
- The fee of $35 (up to 5 cubic yards) is billed to your El Paso Water Utilities account after collection.
El Paso Citizen Collection Stations — 5 Free Drop-Off Locations
ESD operates five Citizen Collection Stations (CCS) throughout the city where residents can drop off extra trash, bulky items, recyclables, household hazardous waste, and electronics. All stations are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Mondays and Sundays). Entry requires a current El Paso Water Utilities bill and matching photo ID. Maximum 4 visits per month per account. No commercial, business, or contractor waste accepted.
🚩 Northeast
4501 Hondo Pass Dr, El Paso, TX 79904
Entrance off Stahala (exit onto Hondo Pass)
Tue–Sat • 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
🚩 Central
2492 Harrison Ave, El Paso, TX 79930
Tue–Sat • 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
🚩 Westside
121 Atlantic Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
Tue–Sat • 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
🚩 Mission Valley
1034 Pendale Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
Tue–Sat • 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
🚩 Far East (Eastside)
3510 Confederate Dr, El Paso, TX 79905
Tue–Sat • 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
✅ Accepted at All CCS Locations
- Extra household trash (bagged)
- Bulky items: furniture, mattresses, appliances
- Electronics (e-waste): TVs, computers, phones, printers
- Recyclables: paper, cardboard, plastic, cans (no water bill required)
- Household hazardous waste: paint (max 5 gal/month), motor oil (max 5 gal/month), antifreeze, pesticides, solvents, batteries
- Cooking oil and turkey grease (free, no water bill required)
- Live holiday trees (starting Dec 26, no water bill required)
- Free mulch, paint, and reusable household items (available to take)
🚫 Not Accepted at CCS
- Construction or demolition debris (any source)
- Commercial or contractor waste
- PCBs and regulated hazardous waste
- Liquid waste that contains free liquids
- Radioactive materials
- More than 4 visits per month
- Lead-acid batteries (automotive) → auto parts stores
🏫 Country Store & Community Tools — Far East CCS
The Far East Citizen Collection Station at 3510 Confederate Dr houses the Country Store, where residents can pick up gently used household products (appliances, furniture, toys, bikes, and more) left by other residents — completely free. Tools for landscaping can also be borrowed at CCS locations. Free paint is available at all five stations on a first-come, first-served basis (5-gallon limit per visit).
Senior & Disability Discount and Sidedoor Collection Service
ESD offers two special programs for qualifying senior citizens and people with disabilities. These two programs cannot be combined — customers must choose one or the other.
✅ Senior / Disability Discount
- 20% discount on the standard $19/month solid waste fee — reduced to approximately $15.20/month plus tax.
- No discount applies to extra gray bins.
- Cannot be combined with Sidedoor Collection.
- Apply at elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services or call (915) 212-6000.
✅ Sidedoor Collection Service
- ESD crew retrieves bins from your side or back door (no curb required) for residents who cannot move bins to the curb.
- Applicant must live alone and be the primary water account holder at the address.
- Household must have only one gray and one blue bin.
- Cannot be combined with the Senior/Disability Discount.
- Apply via the ESD Works For You app or at elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in El Paso
- Confirm your collection day and recycling week — use ESD’s My Collection Day tool, the ESD Works For You app, or call (915) 212-6000.
- Check for a holiday. Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day suspend collections. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day are normal collection days in El Paso.
- Check for a wind advisory. ESD may delay blue recycling bin collection on days with wind gusts over 40 mph. Gray bin collection is not affected by wind.
- Verify bin placement: bins at curb by 6:00 a.m., lid closed, 5 feet from obstacles, blue bin 3 feet from gray bin, both facing the street.
- Check for a red tag. If prohibited items were found in your blue bin, ESD left a red tag instead of collecting. Remove the prohibited items. If your gray bin was not collected, check for an overfill charge notice.
- Report the missed pickup by calling (915) 212-6000, using the ESD Works For You app, or visiting elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services. If your gray bin is not collected by 3:00 p.m., call for an update.
El Paso Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to El Paso?
Use ESD’s My Collection Day tool at elpasoesd.net or download the free ESD Works For You app to find your exact collection day and recycling week. New customers receive bins within 10 business days. Service is billed through El Paso Water Utilities. Download the ESD app for pickup reminders and to report missed collections.
🌫 El Paso Wind — Don’t Roll Out Blue Bins on High-Wind Days
El Paso regularly experiences high wind warnings with gusts over 40 mph, especially in spring. On these days, ESD asks residents to leave their blue recycling bins at home. Loose recyclables blow easily when cans tip over. If your blue bin is less than half full, wait for the following week. Do not tape the lid shut. Follow ESD on social media for wind-day announcements.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes El Paso Residents Make
- Putting glass in the blue bin — glass is not accepted curbside; take it to a Citizen Collection Station
- Bagging recyclables in plastic bags — all items must be placed loose in the blue bin
- Not bagging garbage in the gray bin — all gray bin trash must be in tied bags
- Leaving bins without 5 feet of clearance — can result in the bin being skipped
- Expecting a make-up for missed recycling during holidays — gray bin gets a make-up day, blue bin does not
Contact ESD & El Paso Waste Services
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| ESD Customer Service | 📞 (915) 212-6000 — missed pickups, special pickup scheduling, bin requests, recycling questions, and all ESD services |
| ESD Works For You App | Free iOS & Android app — My Collection Day lookup, recycling week finder, missed pickup reports, special pickup requests, and “What Goes Where” item search |
| My Collection Day (Web) | elpasoesd.net/home/schedule.htm — official address-based lookup for your exact garbage and recycling collection schedule |
| ESD Website | elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services — all services, holiday schedule, CCS info, senior discount applications |
| Recycling Helper | home.elpasotexas.gov/recycle — search any item to find out if it’s recyclable or belongs in the gray bin |
| Citizen Collection Stations | 5 locations citywide • Tue–Sat, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. • Bring current El Paso Water Utilities bill + matching ID |
| Greater El Paso Landfill | Call (915) 212-6000 for current hours and address — open to permitted haulers; some resident self-haul allowed |
| 311 — City Services | Dial 311 inside El Paso or (915) 212-0000 for general city service requests |
Frequently Asked Questions — El Paso Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
Use ESD’s official address-based lookup to confirm your exact garbage day, recycling week, and service details for your El Paso address.
🔍 Official ESD Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule:
🔍 Open My Collection Day Tool 📞 Call (915) 212-6000| My Collection Day (Web) | elpasoesd.net/home/schedule.htm — enter your address to see your exact garbage and recycling collection schedule. Available 24/7. |
| ESD Works For You App | Free iOS & Android app — My Collection Day lookup, recycling week finder, item search (“What Goes Where”), missed pickup reports, and special pickup requests. |
| ESD Customer Service | (915) 212-6000 — missed pickups, special pickup scheduling, bin requests, and all ESD services. Also at elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services. |
| 311 — City Services | Dial 311 from inside El Paso or (915) 212-0000 for all non-emergency city service requests. |
| Citizen Collection Stations | 5 locations citywide — open Tue–Sat, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — free for residents with current water bill + ID. For HHW, electronics, extra trash, and recyclables. |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. ESD’s My Collection Day tool is the most accurate source for address-based schedule information in El Paso.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides: