Phoenix, AZ Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 6:00 p.m. day before pickup
- Must be curbside by
- 5:30 a.m. collection day
- Must be removed by
- 5:30 a.m. next day
- Enclosure clearance
- 2.5 ft minimum on all sides
Summary
Phoenix residents must set carts at the curb between 6 p.m. the night before and 5:30 a.m. on collection day, then pull them in by 5:30 a.m. the next morning.
To ensure containers are placed out on time, containers may be placed at the curb after 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding collection. Containers for street collection must be placed at the curb for service no later than 5:30 a.m. on the day of collection. They must be removed prior to 5:30 a.m. of the day after collection. It is unlawful to place or permit containers to remain adjacent to the curb except upon regular collection days. Containers must be stored, between collection days, on the user’s property so as not to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
K. All solid waste and recycling container enclosures must be approved by the Director and constructed according to City Codes. The enclosures must be designed and constructed to allow for:
1. A minimum of two and one-half feet distance between all inside walls of the enclosure and the side edges of the solid waste container.
2. If the enclosure wall is over five feet high, an additional 12 inches of clearance between the top back edge of the solid waste container and the back wall of the enclosure will be required for each additional foot in height, up to a maximum clearance of six feet.
3. The front top edge of the solid waste container must not extend beyond the front face of the side wall.
4. Any variation or modifications must be approved by the Director. (Ord. No. G-4623, § 1, 2004; Ord. No. G-5756, 2012; Ord. No. G-5920, 2014)
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 27-19 controls residential solid waste and recycling carts. Containers may go to the curb starting 6:00 p.m. the day before collection, must be out no later than 5:30 a.m. on collection day, and must be removed before 5:30 a.m. the following day; leaving a cart at the curb outside that window is unlawful. Carts must open toward the street or alley and stay clear of pedestrian and vehicle paths between pickups. Any enclosure built around a cart needs Director approval and at least 2.5 feet of clearance on every side, with extra back-wall clearance once the enclosure walls exceed 5 feet.
Violations & Fines
Curbside carts left out past 5:30 a.m. the day after collection, or set out before the 6 p.m. window, violate § 27-19(J) and can draw a Neighborhood Preservation notice of violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cart out in Phoenix?
How long can the cart stay at the curb after pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
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