Trash & Recycling in Fort Smith, AR (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Fort Smith, Arkansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Fort Smith operates a city-run residential refuse-collection program through the Department of Solid Waste Services under Code of Ordinances Chapter 25, Article VII. Single-family homes through four-plexes receive weekly curbside pickup at no monthly fee on their address-specific collection day; the route map and individual collection day can be looked up by address on the City website. Carts must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Walk-out service is offered free to elderly and disabled residents who cannot move the cart. Sanitation Department: 479-784-2350. Admin: 479-784-1070.
Fort Smith Trash Pickup: City-Run Weekly Curbside Service by Department of Solid Waste Services, Routes by Address, Walk-Out for Elderly/Disabled
Some RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
Fort Smith carts must be placed at the curb (not in the street or on the sidewalk) by 7:00 a.m. on the resident's collection day with at least three feet of clearance on all sides so the mechanical truck arm can extend, lift, dump, and return. Carts cannot be blocked by vehicles, objects, mailboxes, fire hydrants, overhanging tree limbs, or low-hanging power lines. Lids must be fully closed; carts may not be overfilled and items may not be placed on top of the lid because the dump cycle would spill the loose material onto the right-of-way.
Fort Smith Cart Placement: 3-Foot Clearance, No Cars/Hydrants/Mailboxes/Branches/Power Lines Blocking, Curbside by 7 a.m.
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
Fort Smith offers free curbside bulk-item pickup through the Department of Solid Waste Services' Dial-A-Truck program. Residents call 479-784-2350 option 3 to schedule; one free pickup of up to five large items is available every three months, with additional pickups available for a fee. Service days are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday year-round. Accepted items include couches, mattresses, box springs, appliances, furniture, and outdoor grills. The City also conducts a twice-yearly Citywide Cleanup in April and October at four manned dumpster locations for free household-trash drop-off with proof of residency.
Fort Smith Dial-A-Truck Bulk Pickup: Free, Schedule via 479-784-2350 Opt. 3; 5 Items Per Pickup, One Free Pickup Every 3 Months; Mon/Tue/Thu Service
Some RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
Fort Smith offers voluntary curbside recycling through the Department of Solid Waste Services. Each residential single-family home through four-plex can receive a recycling cart at no monthly cost; replacement cart prices are $70 for a 65-gallon cart and $90 for a 95-gallon cart. Recyclables must be placed loose in the cart - not bagged - and picked up on the assigned weekly day. Arkansas does not impose a state-law mandatory-recycling requirement on municipalities (unlike Pennsylvania's Act 101); the Arkansas Solid Waste Management Act (A.C.A. §8-9-401 et seq.) authorizes but does not mandate local recycling.
Fort Smith Recycling: Voluntary Curbside Program with City-Issued 65/95-Gallon Cart at No Monthly Cost; Place Recyclables Loose, Not Bagged
Few RestrictionsIllegal Dumping
Fort Smith prohibits sweeping, blowing, throwing, or otherwise depositing garbage, leaves, grass or weed clippings, or litter into or on any public street, ditch, culvert, alley, sidewalk, park, or the property of another within the city corporate limits and police jurisdiction (Code of Ordinances Chapter 25, Article VII, Section 25-267 and related). The Arkansas state-law backstop is A.C.A. §8-6-406 (Littering and commercial littering) with fines of $100-$1,000 and mandatory community service of up to 8 hours for a first offense or 24 hours for repeats. Loads transported to the city landfill must be covered per Sec. 25-279(d).
Fort Smith Illegal Dumping: Sec. 25-267 Prohibits Sweeping/Throwing Garbage on Streets/Alleys/Sidewalks; A.C.A. §8-6-406 = $100-$1,000 + 8-24 Hrs Community Service
Heavy RestrictionsYard Waste Collection
Fort Smith collects yard waste curbside on the resident's weekly trash collection day. Residents may request a free city-issued 96-gallon yard-waste cart from the Department of Solid Waste Services, or place yard waste in paper bags or reusable containers (plastic shopping bags are not allowed). Sticks and branches must be bundled in 4-foot lengths and less than 2 feet in diameter. Maximum of 20 bags or containers per pickup. Yard waste is part of the regular weekly route operated under Chapter 25, Article VII of the Code of Ordinances.