Dallas, TX Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Sec. 18-53(a) requires any business in the trade of collecting or removing recyclable material from an apartment, condo, or other multifamily site to first obtain a multifamily site recycling collection service permit from the city, though the rule exempts a landscaper, roofer, or similar contractor who only picks up recyclables incidentally to another job. An applicant must submit the company's ownership structure, past licensing or revocation history, a list of every collection vehicle by VIN and license plate, proof of commercial fleet liability insurance, and Texas business registration.

The initial permit costs $275 and is non-refundable, and the permit must be renewed every twelve months for a $100 fee, also non-refundable, per Sec. 18-53(a)(3). Once permitted, the hauler's recycling containers must carry specific signage under Sec. 18-53(b): a photo of accepted materials at least 18 inches by 12 inches, a 'No Plastic Bags' notice, the word 'RECYCLING ONLY' in letters at least 12 inches tall with the chasing-arrows symbol, and contact information for reporting overflow or contamination. A permitted hauler must also transport everything it collects to a recycling facility authorized to operate in Texas, and file an annual report with the director of sanitation by February 1 covering tonnage collected, the facility used, and its load-reject and residue rates.