Trash & Recycling in Richardson, TX (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Richardson, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Richardson provides weekly curbside trash collection. Most homes have alley pickup. Trash must be out by 7 AM on collection day. Bags may not weigh more than 50 lbs. Non-collection day set-out is prohibited under city ordinance.
Richardson Trash Collection Schedule
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 365.012 (Illegal Dumping; Discarding Lighted Materials; Criminal Penalties)
Sec. 365.012. ILLEGAL DUMPING; DISCARDING LIGHTED MATERIALS; CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person disposes or allows or permits the disposal of litter or other solid waste at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, including a place on or within 300 feet of a public highway, on a right-of-way, on other public or private property, or into inland or coast...
Bin Placement Rules
Richardson requires garbage and recycling receptacles to sit at the rear of the property next to the alley where one exists, or at the front edge of the sidewalk where there is no alley, and only where the solid waste crew can reach them. Carts may not stay on the public right-of-way except on the days the solid waste superintendent designates for collection.
Richardson Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsRichardson, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-26(a), (b)
(a)No person shall place or throw any garbage, trash, recyclable materials, or waste of any kind or character upon any street, sidewalk, alley, public way, parking lot or open space in the city except in a receptacle as hereinafter described. Such receptacle is to be placed on the rear of the premises adjoining the alley, at a point accessible to the garbage and recyclable materials collectors....
Bulk Item Disposal
Texas Health and Safety Code section 365.012 criminalizes dumping bulk loads of litter or solid waste at any place that is not an approved solid waste site, and the penalty scales with the size of the load: a Class C misdemeanor for five pounds or less, up to a state jail felony once the dump reaches 1,000 pounds, 200 cubic feet, or a closed barrel or drum.
Richardson Bulk Waste Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code § 365.012
Sec. 365.012. ILLEGAL DUMPING; DISCARDING LIGHTED MATERIALS; CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person disposes or allows or permits the disposal of litter or other solid waste at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, including a place on or within 300 feet of a public highway, on a right-of-way, on other public or private property, or into inland or coastal ...
Recycling Requirements
Richardson residents must set out recyclables only in blue disposable containers, which the city collects at least once a week. Garbage, trash or waste placed in a blue container will not be picked up, and any other container color, such as black or white, is reserved for regular trash and garbage.
Richardson Curbside Recycling Requirements
Light RestrictionsRichardson, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-27; § 19-28(c)
All occupants of residences or dwelling houses in the city shall use disposable containers. Any disposable container may be used; however, disposable containers which are blue in color are designated for recyclable materials only. Garbage, trash, or waste of any kind placed in blue disposable containers will not be collected. Other disposable container colors, such as black or white, may be use...
Illegal Dumping
Richardson makes it unlawful to dump, throw or place garbage, rubbish, refuse, junk, ashes, wastepaper, weeds, grass cuttings, rock or other waste on any public street, alley or public property, and bans the same materials on private property unless the dumping happens while removing or cutting them. The director of health or the solid waste superintendent investigates violations, which carry fines up to $2,000 per offense.
Richardson Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsRichardson, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-3
(a)No person shall dump, throw or place any garbage, rubbish, refuse, junk, ashes, filth, wastepaper, weeds, grass cuttings, rock, recyclable materials, or other waste matter of whatever kind in or on any public street, alley or other public property.(b)No person shall dump, throw or place any garbage, rubbish, refuse, junk, ashes, filth, wastepaper, weeds, grass cuttings, rock, recyclable mate...
Yard Waste Collection
Richardson lets residents set out brush, shrubs, tree trimmings, lawn clippings, logs and boards for collection only if tied in bundles or stacked, or placed in a receptacle, and every bundle or filled container is capped at 50 pounds. Limbs and boards can run up to three feet long; branches or logs over three inches thick or three feet long do not qualify as ordinary yard waste.
Richardson Yard Waste Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsRichardson, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-29
Whenever brush or shrub trimmings, trees, logs, lawn cuttings or boards are placed in any designated location for collection and disposal by any person owning, occupying or controlling a residence or dwelling unit in the city, the following methods of placement of such material shall be utilized by such person: (1)Tree limbs, boards and other rubbish not over three feet in length may be tied in...
Dumpster Rules
Richardson requires every front-loading and roll-off container in commercial, retail, apartment, office and industrial areas to sit on an engineered concrete pad and be screened by a six-foot enclosure matching the main building. Containers need a 52-foot turning radius when perpendicular to the access lane, or a 30-degree angle otherwise, and it is unlawful to park within five feet of one.
Richardson Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsRichardson, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-30(b), (g)
(b)Front-loading containers shall be provided by the city. In local retail, commercial, apartment, industrial, office and technical, scientific, planned development and office areas, all front-loading trash receptacles shall meet the following criteria:(1)A concrete pad, 14 feet by 20 feet, of six-inch concrete, 3,000 pounds per square inch (psi), with Number 3 rebar, 24 inches on center, shall...
Collection Schedule
Richardson requires every residence to use the city's or a franchised hauler's solid waste service, and it is unlawful to haul trash within the city without a franchise or permit. Garbage and trash must be collected at least twice a week from every residence, and recyclables at least once a week, under EPA and TCEQ rules.
Richardson Mandatory Trash Collection Service
Significant RestrictionsRichardson, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-4(a); § 19-28(a)
(a)General. All persons, companies, corporations, businesses, residential, industrial and commercial establishments within the city shall be required to use the solid waste, construction and demolition debris, and recycling disposal services provided by the city or by one or more contractors or private haulers operating under a franchise or permit granted by the city as provided herein. Except ...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Richardson city rules.
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