Trash & Recycling in Converse, TX

If you live in Converse or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Converse has 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.

Illegal Dumping

Dumping or abandoning property on city right-of-way or public property in Converse is a class C misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 36-2, City Code. Offense class: Class C misdemeanor. Posted fine: $500.00. Fee schedule citation total: $316.00 (incl. costs). Enforced by: Public Works / city signage.

Class C misdemeanor; $500 fine for littering/illegal dumping (fee schedule cites $250 base plus ~$66 in court costs, totaling $316)

This is one of the stricter rules in Converse's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Dumpster Rules

Converse allows businesses to keep dumpsters in plain view, but trash cans, bags, and loose garbage can't be staged beside them except in the hours right before pickup: everything has to go inside the dumpster itself.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 36-4(c), Business Districts. Can/bag visibility window: Only night before pickup to pickup evening. Penalty: Class C misdemeanor, Sec. 1-14 fine. Temporary roll-off permit: 30 days, $100 fee (Sec. 50-138(g)). Enforced by: Converse Police Department.

Violating chapter 36 is a class C misdemeanor enforced by the Converse Police Department, with fines set under Sec. 1-14 of the code.

Bin Placement Rules

Converse requires trash cans, bags, and other receptacles to stay hidden from public right-of-way view except from 8 p.m. the night before pickup until 8 a.m. the morning after collection.

Key details: Visible window allowed: 8 p.m. night before to 8 a.m. after. Storage requirement: Enclosed fence or structure. Tarps: Do not satisfy screening rule. Corner lots: May keep cans visible at side. Max fine: Up to $2,000 per offense.

Class C misdemeanor under Sec. 36-7; Sec. 1-14 sets fines up to $2,000 for sanitation offenses, with each day counted as a separate violation.

Yard Waste Collection

Converse collects brush once monthly by zone for a $0.86 monthly fee, with strict size and placement limits on piles.

Key details: Collection frequency: Once monthly, by zone. Monthly fee: $0.86 per residence. Senior waiver: Free for age 65+. Max limb length: 10 feet. Out-of-cycle fee: $75.00 on water bill.

Non-conforming brush (oversized piles, paint/chemical products, roofing or construction material, soil, concrete, or rocks) is not collected; an out-of-cycle pickup costs a $75.00 fee added to the resident's water bill.

Bulk Item Disposal

Converse offers scheduled bulk trash pickup for items too large for the regular cart, such as furniture and appliances. Residents must call to schedule pickup and follow size and quantity limits.

Key details: Scheduling: Call to arrange. Set Out: Evening before pickup. Freon Items: Must be tagged. Hazardous Waste: Not accepted. Contractor Debris: Not eligible.

Collection Schedule

Converse grants Waste Management of Texas an exclusive franchise to collect residential and commercial solid waste, and every single-family home is billed $26.16 a month for the service.

Key details: Provider: Waste Management of Texas, exclusive franchise. Franchise ordinance: No. 909, eff. Jan. 1, 2008. Residential rate: $26.16 per month, single-family unit. Enforcement: Converse Police Department, Sec. 36-6. Penalty class: Class C misdemeanor, Sec. 1-14.

Failure to comply with Chapter 36 obligations is enforced by the police department (Sec. 36-6) and punishable as a class C misdemeanor under the general penalty in Sec. 1-14, up to $2,000 for sanitation offenses.

The Bottom Line

Converse'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 Converse is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Converse's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.