Flower Mound, TX Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Flower Mound's curbside recycling program operates as a single-stream system, meaning all accepted recyclable materials are placed in one cart without manual sorting by the resident. The franchise hauler provides each residential address a 96-gallon recycling cart, the same size as the trash cart, which is collected weekly on the same day as regular trash pickup. The single-stream approach was designed to maximize participation by simplifying the process for residents. Accepted materials include newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, telephone books, cardboard boxes (flattened to fit in the cart), paperboard such as cereal and shoe boxes, plastic containers and bottles numbered 1 through 5 and 7 on the resin identification code, aluminum beverage cans, steel and tin food cans, and glass bottles and jars of any color. All materials must be clean of food residue, dry, and placed loose in the cart. Bagged recyclables are not accepted because plastic bags jam the sorting equipment at the materials recovery facility. Other items that are commonly placed in recycling carts but are not accepted include plastic grocery bags and film plastics, Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene, food-soiled paper and cardboard such as greasy pizza boxes, garden hoses and extension cords, clothing and textiles, ceramics and pottery, and window glass or mirrors. Contamination from these non-recyclable items is one of the most significant challenges facing the recycling program. When non-recyclable materials are mixed with recyclables, they can contaminate the entire load at the materials recovery facility, potentially causing the entire truckload to be diverted to the landfill rather than processed for recycling. Carts with clearly visible contamination such as plastic bags, food waste, or other prohibited items may be tagged by the collection crew with an educational notice explaining the contamination issue. Tagged carts are left at the curb uncollected until the resident removes the contaminants and places the cart out again the following week. The town encourages recycling participation through its website, educational materials distributed by the franchise hauler, and community events organized through Keep Flower Mound Beautiful. However, the town does not mandate recycling for single-family residential properties. Commercial properties may have separate recycling provisions under their individual solid waste service agreements. The recycling service cost is bundled into the monthly solid waste fee on the town utility bill, so residents pay for the service regardless of whether they utilize it. Residents who generate large volumes of recyclables may request an additional recycling cart from the franchise hauler for a small additional monthly fee.