Waco, TX Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 6:00 p.m. the evening before collection day
- Latest set-out
- 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day
- Removal deadline
- Off the curb by 11:59:59 p.m. same day
- Clearance required
- Three feet each side, six inches to rear
- Weight cap
- Loaded cart contents cannot exceed 250 pounds
Summary
Waco requires carts and brush at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day but not before 6:00 p.m. the evening prior, and everything must be off the curb by 11:59:59 p.m. that night under Sec. 21-26. Carts need three feet of clearance on each side and a half foot to the rear from meters, hydrants, poles and trees, and loaded contents cannot exceed 250 pounds.
(b)Garbage carts, yard waste carts, yard waste bags, brush and recycling carts shall be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day as determined by the director, and no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding the scheduled collection day. All carts, yard waste bags and brush shall be removed from the curb, and from public sight, by 11:59:59 p.m. of the scheduled collection day unless a missed collection is reported to the solid waste customer service section in accordance with subsection (g) below.(d)Carts shall be placed for collection at the curb:(1)With the lids closed;(2)With the hinges facing away from the street; and(3)With a minimum clearance of three feet to each side of the cart and a half foot to the rear of the cart from any fence, gas or water meter, fire hydrant, utility pole, utility box, tree or shrub.(e)Carts placed for collection and their contents shall not exceed 250 pounds.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 21-26 sets the mechanics of curbside set-out for every residential waste stream: garbage, yard waste, brush and recyclables alike. Subsection (a) requires carts to go out at the curb of the street the premises is addressed on, with corner-lot residents allowed to use a side street only with the director's approval, and the director empowered to designate an alternate pickup point where curb placement is not practical. that same day, unless the resident has reported a missed pickup under subsection (g). Subsection (c) adds brush-specific placement rules: it cannot sit in the street, an alley, on a sidewalk or a vacant lot, cannot block a water meter or utility equipment, cannot impede traffic, and cannot intrude on a neighbor's property.
Subsection (d) governs the carts themselves: lids must be closed, hinges must face away from the street, and each cart needs a minimum three-foot clearance on each side and six inches to the rear from any fence, meter, hydrant, utility pole or box, tree or shrub. Subsection (e) caps total loaded weight at 250 pounds per cart, and subsection (f) requires yard-waste bags to have their tops rolled shut and sit at least three feet from any cart.
Violations & Fines
Placing a cart, bag or brush at the curb outside the 6:00 p.m.-to-7:00 a.m. window, over the 250-pound weight cap, or without required clearance violates Sec. 21-26(h), which separately makes it unlawful to block access to a curbside cart. These are chargeable under the chapter 21 general violation, Sec. 21-15, with fines up to $2,000.00 under Sec. 1-14(b) and each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waco
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