Abilene, TX Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection method
- Curbside roll-out, alley, or manual, manager's choice
- Curb set-out window
- 6:00 p.m. night before to 6:00 a.m.
- Container removal deadline
- 8:00 a.m. the day after collection
- Container limits
- 32 gallons / 50 pounds max on manual routes
- Holiday schedule
- Published in local media by the Division
- Weather suspension
- Service paused when alleys/streets are impassable
Summary
Abilene's Solid Waste Services Division sets residential pickup routes and schedules itself, delivering service by curbside roll-out, alley pickup, or manual collection depending on the neighborhood. Containers can go to the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before collection and must come back in by 8:00 a.m. the next morning. The Division publishes holiday schedule changes in local media and can suspend a route when weather makes alleys or streets impassable.
Sec. 27-22. - Residential collection. Residential collection shall be provided through curbside roll-out service, alley service, or manual collection as determined by the manager. ... (6)For curb collection, place collection containers at the designated pickup point no sooner than 6:00 p.m. the night before their collection day but no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of their collection. Containers must be removed from the curb by 8:00 a.m. on the day after collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Section 27-22 of the Code of Ordinances leaves the collection method up to the Solid Waste Services Division manager: curbside roll-out service, alley service, or manual collection, chosen by street and neighborhood layout rather than by request. Section 27-11 gives the Division broad scheduling authority, including establishing routes and schedules for collection, designating the size, location and number of containers at each collection point, and publishing the City's observed holiday schedule in local media so residents know when a route shifts a day. The same section lets the Division suspend or temporarily relocate collection when alleys or streets become impassable from weather or other conditions, resuming once it's safe to run a truck again.
the day after collection. Containers also have to sit within four feet of the curb line so they don't block the sidewalk, unless the manager designates a different spot. Containers on manual routes can't exceed thirty-two gallons or fifty pounds full; anything heavier simply won't be picked up.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a container at the curb past 8:00 a.m. the day after collection triggers the notice procedure in Section 27-32: the City posts or delivers a notice describing the violation, and after a third notice within ninety days, the Division can remove the container and charge a service fee before returning it. Beyond curb-timing violations, unresolved chapter 27 violations are treated as a nuisance under Chapter 19 and enforced through that chapter's abatement and penalty process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I put my trash can out for collection in Abilene?
Does Abilene use alley pickup or curbside pickup?
What happens if I leave my trash can out too long?
Will my trash still get picked up on a City holiday?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Abilene
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