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Pima County, AZ Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Alley service
Refuse placed on alley side
Curb service
Placed at curb along street
Alley exemptions
Under 15 ft, blind, or L/T-shaped
Applies to
Unincorporated Pima County

Summary

Unincorporated Pima County refuse must go on the alley side if an alley serves the property, or curbside out front if collected from the street.

City-specific rules exist: Sahuarita, and Tucson have their own pickup rules & schedules rules that differ from Pima County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

A. All refuse shall be property placed on the premises for convenient collection as agreed between each customer and the waste collector, except that where alleys are provided the refuse shall be placed on the alley side of the premises and if collected from the front of the premises the refuse shall be placed at the curb along the street in front of the premises.

Source: Pima County Department of Environmental Quality — Solid WasteView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).

Full Breakdown

Pima County Code § 7.25.050(A) requires refuse to be placed as agreed between the customer and their licensed waste collector, but where an alley serves the property it must be set on the alley side; front-collected refuse goes at the curb along the street. Residential haulers are not required to enter a blind alley, an alley under fifteen feet wide, an L- or T-shaped alley too tight for their trucks to turn, or a road surface unsafe for collection vehicles (§ 7.25.050B). This governs unincorporated areas only, not Tucson or the county's incorporated cities.

Violations & Fines

Violating this chapter's collection standards is a petty offense under § 7.25.220(A), with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I put my trash cans for pickup?
On the alley side if an alley serves your home, or at the curb along the street if collected from the front, per § 7.25.050(A).
Will a hauler collect from any alley?
No. Residential haulers can skip blind alleys, alleys under 15 feet wide, or L/T-shaped alleys too tight to turn a truck in, under § 7.25.050(B).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pima County

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingHeavy RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsLight Restrictions

All Pima County rules

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