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Garland, TX Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

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

Key Facts

Container supply
one single-stream cart per household
Ownership
City retains ownership, non-transferable
Set-out window
6 p.m. day before to 7 a.m. pickup day
Accepted
plastics #1-7, metals, glass, paper, small cardboard
Rejected
household garbage, grocery bags, CFC aerosols
Spacing
4 feet from trash cans, fences, obstructions

Summary

Garland provides one single-stream recycling cart per household for plastics #1-7, metals, glass, paper and cardboard, set out on the same 6 p.m.-to-7 a.m. schedule as trash. Grocery bags, household garbage and CFC aerosol cans don't belong in the bin, and containers must sit at least four feet from obstructions and each other.

Single stream recycle containers shall be: (1) Placed at the point of collection no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day before scheduled collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Containers shall be removed from the collection point prior to 11:00 p.m. of the scheduled collection day; ... The following materials are acceptable for placement inside single stream recycle containers or bins. ... (1) Plastic containers marked #1–#7, including water and soda bottles, milk jugs, yogurt cups, and shampoo bottles; (2) Aluminum, tin and steel cans; (4) All colors of glass bottles and jars; (5) Newspapers; (12) Small empty and flattened cardboard boxes that fit inside the single stream recycle container or bin;

Source: Garland RecyclingView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4862189; v40 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

31 gives each customer one single stream recycle container depending on their designated collection area; the City retains ownership, and the container can't be moved from the address of record to another location. that same day, and must sit at least four feet from any residential solid waste container, from mailboxes, cable boxes, sprinkler heads, gas meters or similar obstructions, and from any fence line or gate. 33 lists what belongs inside: plastics marked #1 through #7 (bottles, jugs, cups), aluminum, tin and steel cans, CFC-free aerosol cans, all colors of glass, newspapers, magazines, inserts, junk mail, office paper, shredded paper tied in clear bags, chipboard, small flattened cardboard, and phone books; residents using bins rather than carts may use clear white plastic bags for overflow. 34 excludes household garbage, plastic grocery bags and CFC-loaded aerosol cans, among other materials, from the recycling stream.

Violations & Fines

Recycling contaminated with excluded material listed in § 52.34, such as household garbage or plastic grocery bags, or a container set out outside the § 52.32 time window, is treated the same as improperly placed solid waste, subject to the nuisance provisions of § 32.50 covering any waste not placed in accordance with Chapter 52.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many recycling carts does Garland give each household?
One single-stream recycle container per residence, under § 52.31; the city keeps ownership of it, and it can't be moved with you if you relocate to a new address within Garland.
What can I actually put in the recycling bin?
Section 52.33 accepts plastics marked #1 through #7, aluminum, tin and steel cans, CFC-free aerosol cans, all colors of glass, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, chipboard, small flattened cardboard and phone books.
Can I put a plastic grocery bag or greasy pizza box in with my recycling?
No. Plastic grocery bags and household garbage are named as unacceptable materials under § 52.34, and mixing them into the single-stream cart risks having the whole load treated as improperly placed waste under Chapter 52's nuisance rule.
When do I need to put my recycling cart out?
The same window as trash: no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before your collection day and no later than 7 a.m. on the day itself, per § 52.32(1), with removal required before 11 p.m. that same collection day.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Garland

All Garland rules

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