Mesa, AZ Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 6:00 p.m. the day before collection
- Latest set-out
- 6:00 a.m. on collection day
- Pull-back deadline
- 6:00 a.m. next day, 6 feet from curb
- Placement
- Front curb unless Solid Waste Division designates otherwise
- First fine
- $50 citation under § 8-3-41
- Repeat fine
- $100-$500 civil judgment per violation
- Habitual offender
- Criminal misdemeanor after 3 violations in 24 months
Summary
Mesa requires solid waste containers to be set at the front curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the evening before pickup and no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day, under Mesa City Code § 8-3-5. Carts must be pulled back at least six feet from the curb by 6:00 a.m. the morning after collection, and may never block an alley, sidewalk, mailbox, driveway, or gutter.
All solid waste containers prepared for the City collection service shall be placed at the front curb, unless otherwise designated by the Solid Waste Division, in an easily accessible manner. The containers shall be set out after six (6:00) P.M. of the day preceding regular collection and no later than six (6:00) A.M. of the designated regular collection day. The containers shall be removed to no less than six feet (6') from the curb by six (6:00) A.M. of the day after collection. If a violation of this Subsection necessitates the City pullback of a container from the front curb, the City shall assess the charges for such pullback to the property owner. This Subsection shall not apply to containers that the City has placed permanently at the front curb. All containers and piles of refuse shall be so located as to not block the alley, sidewalk, mailbox, driveway, or gutter or otherwise be a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
The City furnishes containers to every residential and commercial solid waste customer under § 8-3-4(A) and expects customers to keep them in good repair and sanitary condition; a container that becomes unserviceable through disrepair or is kept unsanitary will be replaced by the City and may carry the appropriate solid waste fee. the following morning. If a customer's noncompliance forces the City to pull a container back from the curb itself, the City bills that pullback charge to the property owner. The rule exempts only containers the City has permanently stationed at the curb.
Beyond timing, every container and any pile of refuse must stay clear of the alley, sidewalk, mailbox, driveway, and gutter so it does not become a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles. The Solid Waste Management Director and Solid Waste Division inspectors enforce these placement rules citywide.
Violations & Fines
A first citation under § 8-3-41 for a placement or set-out violation carries a $50 fine payable within ten days, or the person can contest it before a Civil Hearing Officer. If the Hearing Officer finds the person responsible after a hearing or a missed deadline, the judgment rises to between $100 and $500 per violation, with each day of a continuing violation counted separately. Three violations within 24 months makes a person a habitual offender facing a criminal misdemeanor of up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I put my trash cart at the curb?
How soon do I have to bring my cart back in?
Can my cart block the sidewalk or driveway?
What if I leave my cart out too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesa
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