Garbage & Recycling

To provide the citizens, industries, and commercial customers of the City of Temple with a solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal service that is safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable while valuing the health, safety, and quality of life of every citizen and visitor of our community.

The Solid Waste Division provides garbage and recycling collection service to over 24,000 residential and 2,100 commercial and industrial customers. We operate eight residential garbage trucks, five residential recycling trucks, six commercial front-load trucks, and nine roll-off trucks. Watch us grow by visiting the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. 
We also provide brush/bulk item pickup to all residential customers using 6 brush trucks. The brush is diverted from the landfill to the Temple-Belton Wastewater Treatment Plant to be recycled and used for compost and mulch.

Residential garbage and recycling is collected once per week.
Residents are serviced by either a 95-gallon container with wheels that will roll to the front curb or they are serviced by a 300-gallon container that is shared in the alley.

Please place your cart at least 6 feet away from all surrounding items at the curb. These include cars, mailboxes, fences, fire hydrants, and basketball hoops. 

Keep carts 14 feet away from low hanging trees or shrubs and electrical/utility lines. 

The cart should be placed with the wheels immediately against the curb. For those on alley service, the cart should be placed on the same side as the trash can. Please ensure that the recycling cart is removed no later than 8:00 PM on collection day.

To set up solid waste services at your address, request residential service through our Utility Billing Office here.

The City of Temple bills monthly for water, sewer, solid waste, and drainage fees. 

• Aluminum and steel cans
• Boxes (cereal, cookies, crackers, etc. - without plastic liners)
• Junk mail
• Magazines
• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• Newspapers
• Office paper
• Telephone directories
• Detergent boxes
• Plastic beverage containers (empty)
• Soda bottles
• Water bottles
• Milk jugs
• Plastic detergent bottles (rinsed and clean)

NEW YEAR’S DAY • SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

• Regular collection schedule
  
  

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY • MONDAY, JANUARY 16

• Regular collection schedule

PRESIDENT’S DAY • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

• Regular collection schedule

GOOD FRIDAY • FRIDAY, APRIL 7

• Regular collection schedule

MEMORIAL DAY • MONDAY, MAY 29

• Regular collection schedule
• Landfill - 2:00pm early closure

JUNETEENTH • MONDAY, JUNE 19

• Regular collection schedule

INDEPENDENCE DAY • TUESDAY, JULY 4

• No collections on Tuesday, July 4
• Tuesday collections will be Wednesday, July 5
• Regular collections on Monday, July 3
• Landfill closed Tuesday, July 4

LABOR DAY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

• Regular collection schedule
• Landfill - 2:00pm early closure

COLUMBUS DAY • MONDAY, OCTOBER 9

• Regular collection schedule

VETERAN’S DAY • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

• Regular collection schedule

THANKSGIVING • NOVEMBER 20 - 24

• Thursday collections will run Wednesday, November 22
• No collections Thursday, November 24
• Landfill closed Thursday, November 24
• Regular collection schedule on Friday, November 25

CHRISTMAS • DECEMBER 25 - 28

• No collections Monday, December 25
• Monday collection will run Tuesday, December 26
• Tuesday collection will run Wednesday, December 27
• Regular collection schedule Thursday, December 28
• Landfill closed Monday, December 25

NEW YEAR’S DAY • MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2024

• No collections Monday, January 1
• Monday collection will run Tuesday, January 2
• Tuesday collection will run Wednesday, January 3
• Regular collection schedule Thursday, December 28
• Landfill closed Monday, January 1

The City of Temple offers bulk collection twice a month in our residential services.

We will pick up 6 cubic yards of brush per collection. 6 cubic yards is equal to a full-size truck bed. Any amount over 6 cubic yards will be charged for. The charge will be added to your City of Temple Utility bill. 

Not Accepted- Rocks, refrigerators (due to the coolant) and appliances containing freon.

Brush piles must be free of all other trash, bulk items, bags, or boxes as they are all handled separately. Trash and bulk items must be placed in a separate pile. Mixed piles will be collected and a fee assessed.

Glass can be taken to either of our Recycle Centers.

• Recycle Center #1 - 3015 Bullseye Lane
  South side of East Avenue H and Little Flock Road - West of the Landfill
  [Map]Drop-off Hours: 24/7
• Recycle Center #2 - 602 Jack Baskin Drive
  Northeast corner of Avenue H and South 31st Street - Behind the Gober Party House
  [Map] Drop-off Hours: 24/7 

OTHER ITEMS ACCEPTED AT RECYCLING CENTERS

• Aluminum Cans
• Cardboard
• Glass bottles and jars only - all colors
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Plastics #1 and #2 clear/opaque (Examples: water/soda bottles and milk jugs)
• White Office Paper

Glass - Glass can be taken to either recycle center. These are located at 3015 Bullseye Ln. and 602 Jack Baskin Dr. 

Yard Waste - Up to 6 cubic yards of bagged grass and leaves may be placed at the front curb for collection. Any amount over 6 cubic yards will be charged to your City of Temple utility bill.

Plastic Bags - These can be recycled at many grocery stores around the city.

Hazardous Materials - The City holds a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day annually in October. 

Electronics - Usually accepted during the Household Hazardous Waste Day. Or, can be recycled at donation centers. 

Automobile Parts - Tires, antifreeze, oil filters, and oil are collected year-round by the solid waste department. These items are also accepted at the annual household hazardous waste collection day.

Effective October 1, 2022, the monthly rate for residential service is $20.75 plus tax per month. This fee is included in your monthly water utility bill.

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