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Fort Smith, AR Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

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

Key Facts

Cart cost
Free, on request
Cart sizes
65 or 95 gallons
Materials
Cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum, tin
Pickup frequency
Every other week
Damage replacement
$70-$90 per cart

Summary

Every Fort Smith residential customer can get a free city recycle cart for curbside pickup, with cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum, and tin commingled and collected every other week.

All residential customers are eligible to receive one city-owned recycle cart without additional charge, upon request to the department of solid waste services. Recycle carts may be available in 65-gallon or 95-gallon sizes, depending on availability, and will be delivered to the customer upon request. All household cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum, and tin can be comingled in the cart for recycling, which will be collected every other week.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).

Full Breakdown

Fort Smith gives every residential solid waste customer one city-owned recycle cart at no extra charge, available in 65-gallon or 95-gallon sizes depending on supply, delivered on request through the department of solid waste services. Household cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum, and tin cans can all go into the same cart, no separation required, and the cart is emptied every other week on the city's recycling schedule. A cart damaged by customer neglect or misuse, like dumping hot ashes or puncturing it, carries a replacement charge of $70 for the 65-gallon size or $90 for the 95-gallon size.

Violations & Fines

There's no penalty for not recycling, participation is by request, but damaging a city-issued cart through neglect or misuse triggers a $70 or $90 replacement charge depending on cart size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to sort my recycling in Fort Smith?
No: cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum, and tin cans all go in the same city recycle cart; it's collected every other week.
What if I break my recycling cart?
If the damage is from neglect or misuse, like dumping hot ashes, you're charged $70 for a 65-gallon cart or $90 for a 95-gallon cart.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Smith

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Fort Smith rules

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