Junk removal in Arlington, TX.

Arlington, Texas (DFW metro, #50 nationally) operates one of the most accessible bulk pickup systems in the country: bulk items are collected automatically every other week on your recycling day with no scheduling needed for standard items. The City contracts with Republic Services for all four services (trash, recycling, brush, bulk), all on the same weekday. Limit: one bulk item up to 2 cubic yards under 35 lbs per recycling day. Glass IS accepted curbside in Arlington (unusual for the region). Arlington residents receive 3 free landfill drop-off visits per year at the Arlington Sanitary Landfill. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Arlington residents.

Free options at a glance

Arlington residents have several free disposal pathways. The bi-weekly automatic bulk pickup handles routine furniture and appliances at the curb. Three free landfill visits per year cover larger cleanouts. The Sanitation Administration Building offers a recycling drop-off for overflow.

Bi-weekly automatic bulk pickup

Arlington’s bulk system is one of the simplest among major U.S. cities: just put your bulk item at the curb on your recycling day, every other week. No phone call, no online request, no fee.

How to find your bulk day:

· Use the My Area tool at arlingtontx.gov/My-area

· Call Republic Services at 817-317-2000

· Bulk falls on your recycling day (every other week, A/B rotation)

Set-out: Items at curb by 7:00 AM on your recycling day. Items can be placed out the evening before; do NOT place bulk items out on non-collection days, as this can trigger code enforcement violations.

Limit: One bulk item per recycling day, up to 2 cubic yards, under 35 lbs. This is roughly the size of a couch, mattress, or single appliance.

What works well as bulk: Furniture (couches, mattresses, dressers, tables, chairs), small appliances, large household items.

For items too large or heavy: Call Republic Services at 817-317-2000 to schedule a special pickup. There may be a fee for items beyond standard bulk limits. Examples include large appliances (refrigerators, freezers requiring refrigerant recovery), oversized furniture, hot tubs.

Items NOT accepted in standard bulk: Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries), tires, electronics, construction debris.

Common reason for missed bulk: Items placed out on a non-collection day; items exceeding 2 cu yd / 35 lb; multiple items at curb (limit is one per recycling day).

Trash, recycling, and brush

All four services (trash, recycling, brush, bulk) collected on the same weekday. Republic Services customer service: 817-317-2000.

Find your collection day: Use the My Area tool at arlingtontx.gov/My-area, or call 817-317-2000.

Set-out: Carts at curb by 7:00 AM. Carts may be placed out after 6:00 PM the night before. Retrieve from curb promptly after collection.

Trash collection: Weekly. Cart sizes 20-gallon (insert), 35-gallon, 64-gallon, or 96-gallon. Recommended: 1–2 people = 20-35 gal; 3–4 people = 35 gal; 5–8 people = 64 gal; 9–12 people = 96 gal.

Recycling collection: Bi-weekly (A/B rotation). Single-stream, all items loose — never in plastic bags. Cart lid must close completely; overstuffed carts may not be collected.

What goes in the blue cart:

· Glass: All colors, bottles and jars. Remove caps. Rinse. Place loose.

· Plastics: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 & #7. Bottles, jugs, water/soda, shampoo, detergent. Remove caps.

· Paper: Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, paper bags, phone books.

· Cardboard, aluminum, tin, steel cans.

Glass exceptions: Plate glass, mirrors, windows, and ceramics are NOT accepted in curbside recycling.

Extra recycling: Up to 64 gallons of clean recyclables can be placed next to your cart in clear bags at no charge.

Recycling drop-off: Sanitation Administration Building, 817 E. Mayfield Road. Open Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM. Useful for overflow during cleanouts or moves.

Holiday schedule: Republic Services observes 5 holidays with no collection: New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (Independence Day falls on Saturday in 2026 with no weekday impact). When a holiday falls on a weekday, all routes that day and remaining days that week shift forward by one day. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day are normal collection days.

3 free landfill visits per year

Arlington residents receive 3 free drop-off visits per calendar year at the Arlington Sanitary Landfill. This is a meaningful bonus — many comparable Texas cities offer no free landfill access at all.

Required documentation:

· Current Arlington water bill

· Driver’s license

Useful for:

· Cleanouts that exceed the bi-weekly 2 cu yd / 35 lb bulk limit

· Moves and downsizing

· Items the curbside program doesn’t accept

· Post-renovation residential debris

NOT accepted at the landfill: Hazardous waste, tires (Texas tire fee process), items requiring special handling.

The Arlington Landfill is closed on major holidays (same observed holidays as collection routes).

Recycling contamination fees

Arlington enforces recycling contamination through fees on individual carts. This makes proper sorting financially important.

Fees:

· Overfilled cart (over 64 gallons beyond cart capacity): $9.01 fee

· Contaminated cart (contains non-recyclables): $33.49 fee

Most common contamination problems:

· Bagged recyclables (no plastic bags allowed in cart)

· Tanglers (clothes, plastic bags, wire, rope, cords, string lights)

· Batteries and electronics (fire risk at recycling facilities)

· Food residue on containers

· Plate glass, mirrors, windows, ceramics

Empty, clean, and dry; place loose in the cart. Recyclables must be visibly free of food residue. If unsure, throw it in the trash — better than contaminating the entire cart and triggering a fee.

Donation pickup, what gets accepted

Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call the program before scheduling.

Paid options

For items beyond the 2 cu yd / 35 lb bulk limit, items not eligible (hazardous waste, large appliances, electronics), or households needing same-week service, paid options are available.

What to do, by item type

Reporting illegal dumping in Arlington

Report illegal dumping to Arlington Code Compliance at 817-459-6777 or via Ask Arlington at arlingtontx.gov. For Republic Services-related complaints (missed pickups, container issues), call (817) 317-2000.

For Texas state environmental violations, contact the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Active dumping in progress: call Arlington Police non-emergency.

Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for Texas state penalty information and reporting best practices.

Common questions