Arlington's Trash & Recycling: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles trash & recycling a little differently. In Arlington, Texas, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dumpster Rules

Arlington's Unified Development Code requires dumpsters and other trash and recycling service areas in Form-Based Zoning Districts to sit behind buildings, on a concrete pad, and screened on three sides by a masonry wall six to eight feet tall with a solid gate at least six feet high on the fourth side. The gate must stay closed except during pickups.

Key details: Wall height: 6 ft minimum, 8 ft maximum. Gate: Solid gate, at least 6 ft tall. Pad: Concrete pad required, rear of building. Applies to: Form-Based Zoning Districts only. Review: Verified at site plan review.

Building without the required masonry-and-gate enclosure, leaving the gate open between pickups, or setting a dumpster on grass or asphalt instead of a concrete pad all violate UDC Sec. 13.1.9.B.1. Zoning amendments in Arlington's UDC amending ordinances carry a standard enforcement clause making a continuing code violation a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 per offense, with each day the deficiency persists counted as a separate offense until it is corrected.

Bin Placement Rules

Arlington requires bins to be placed at the curb for collection and stored out of view after pickup. Carts must not block sidewalks or traffic.

Key details: Placement: Curbside, lids closed. Retrieval: Promptly after collection. Storage: Behind front building line or screened. Sidewalks: Must not block. Enforcement: Code Compliance.

Bins left at the curb or stored visibly result in code compliance notices. Blocking sidewalks is a violation.

Illegal Dumping

Dumping trash where it doesn't belong is illegal in Arlington. Spilling or dropping waste from a vehicle onto a street or another person's property without consent is a misdemeanor fined up to $500 a day; letting refuse and garbage accumulate on a lot brings fines up to $2,000 a day.

Key details: Prohibition: Dumping/accumulating refuse is unlawful. Vehicle-spillage fine: Up to $500 per day. Unclean-premises fine: Up to $2,000 per day. Each day: A separate offense. Report to: Code Compliance 817-459-6777.

Dumping or spilling refuse from a vehicle onto public ways or another's property without consent, and letting garbage, rubbish, or junk pile up on a lot. Each day the material remains is a separate misdemeanor.

The Bottom Line

Arlington's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Arlington is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Arlington can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.