Trash & Recycling in Surprise, AZ (2026)
7 verified trash & recycling rules for Surprise, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
Surprise requires trash and recycling carts to sit at the curb with wheels against the curb and lid facing the street, clear of mailboxes, parked cars, and other obstructions within 15 feet, under City Code Sec. 58-129(a). Carts can go out after 6:00 p.m. the evening before pickup, must be curbside by 6:00 a.m. on collection day, and must come back off the curb by 11:00 p.m. that night.
Surprise Garbage Cart Placement and Set-Out Times
Some RestrictionsSurprise City Code § 58-129(a)
Placement. Containers set out for collection must be placed in the street in front of the house to which they are assigned, with the wheels adjacent to the curb of the sidewalk, and the lid opening toward the street. Where there is no sidewalk, the container must be placed at the edge of the street, within two feet of the pavement or improved road. Containers will not be collected from private ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Surprise residents get free curbside pickup of large household items and yard brush under City Code Sec. 58-130, but only through the Solid Waste Division's schedule, not on demand. Bulk waste must sit in neat stacks at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the assigned day, and the no-charge allowance tops out at 20 cubic yards per fiscal year and 10 loose yards of brush per scheduled pickup.
Surprise Residential Bulk Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsSurprise City Code § 58-130
(b)It shall be a violation of this Code to place bulk waste out for collection before collection is scheduled through the City of Surprise Solid Waste Division.(c)Bulk waste shall be placed out for collection no later than 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day of collection.(d)Bulk waste placed out for collection shall be in neat stacks.(e)Bulk waste placed out for curbside collection shall be placed ...
Recycling Requirements
Surprise runs a weekly automated curbside recycling program under City Code Sec. 58-120(a), giving each serviced residence its own recycling cart alongside the trash cart. Participation is opt-out rather than mandatory: a resident can decline recycling collection, but only subject to whatever conditions and fees the city attaches to that election.
Surprise Curbside Recycling Program Rules
Some RestrictionsSurprise City Code § 58-120(a)
Residences. The city, at its discretion, shall provide weekly automated residential solid waste collection service and weekly automated residential recycling service. Each residence receiving service under this subsection shall be provided containers for individual use and curbside collection. Additionally, residents may request additional containers for a fee, subject to the discretion of the ...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping solid waste on any property you don't own or control is a Code violation in Surprise under § 58-134, and each day the material remains is a separate offense. The city can abate an uncorrected dumping violation as a public nuisance and bill the responsible party for cleanup costs on top of any fine.
Surprise Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsSurprise Municipal Code § 58-134
(1)Place or cause to be placed any solid waste upon any public or private property not owned or under his control;...(7)Each day, any violation of this article that exists shall constitute a separate violation or offense....(9)If a responsible party served with a notice of violation or citation by the city fails to correct the violation within the period specified, the city may correct or abate...
Yard Waste Collection
Surprise caps free curbside brush and bulk collection at ten loose cubic yards per residence per scheduled pickup, with a 20-cubic-yard annual limit for no-charge service under City Code § 58-130. Brush and yard debris must go out by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day, in neat stacks parallel to the curb, at least five feet from fences, poles, and containers.
Surprise Yard Waste and Brush Collection Limits
Some RestrictionsSurprise Municipal Code § 58-130
(f)Bulk waste shall not be placed within five feet of any fixed object, solid waste or recycling container or in any manner which would interfere with or be hazardous to pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians or motorists.(g)No more than ten loose yards of brush or bulk shall be collected from a single residence on a scheduled brush or bulk collection date.(h)The amount of bulk waste placed out f...
Dumpster Rules
Surprise lets the city manager provide roll-off container service to residential, commercial, and municipal customers under City Code § 58-131, but every placement requires the Solid Waste Division's sign-off. Containers can't block sidewalk or street traffic, and a release of liability is required on private property or within 15 feet of a vehicle, mailbox, or other obstruction.
Surprise Roll-Off Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSurprise Municipal Code § 58-131
The city manager may provide roll off container collection service to residential, commercial, or municipal solid waste generators. The fee for such services shall be established by and periodically reviewed or revised by the city manager. All roll off placements shall occur at the mutual agreement of the division staff and the solid waste generator and shall not interfere with sidewalk or stre...
Collection Schedule
Surprise bans trash and recycling collection between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under City Code Sec. 58-113 whenever the pickup point sits within 300 feet of a home, covering both the city's own crews and private haulers. The city may approve a 'reasonable accommodation' to move collection outside that window on a case-by-case basis.
Surprise Solid Waste Collection Hours
Some RestrictionsSurprise City Code § 58-113
Hours of collection of solid waste or recyclables by private and municipal collectors shall be regulated by the city. In order to prohibit the disturbance of the public peace and welfare, it shall be unlawful to collect or remove or to cause, permit, facilitate, aid or abet the collection or removal of solid waste or recyclables between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. if the collection po...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Surprise city rules.
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