Midwest City, OK Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Recycling required since
- July 1, 2013
- Pickup frequency
- Bi-weekly, separate cart
- 1st contamination offense
- Courtesy call, educational resources
- 2nd/3rd offense fee
- $20 charge each time
- 3rd offense penalty
- Cart permanently removed
Summary
Midwest City requires every residential customer to use a separate recycling cart alongside their trash cart, and repeated contamination with non-recyclable items triggers a courtesy warning, then two $20 charges, then permanent removal of the cart.
(g)Penalties for non-recyclable items being found in the recycling cart are as follows:(1)For the first offense the occupant of the residence, shall receive a courtesy call or visit in order to provide educational resources.(2)For the second offense a charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) to dump the recycling cart's contents as trash will be added to the utility bill.(3)For the third offense there shall be a charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) to dump the recycling cart's contents as trash will be added to the utility bill and the recycling cart shall be permanently removed. Every offense will be documented by the public works department of the City of Midwest City. Any appeal of the decision described herein must be submitted in writing to the public works director. The appeal must state with specificity why the resident believes the action taken by the public works department should be modified.
(Code 1972, § 16-6; Ord. No. 2204, § 2, 7-14-87; Ord. No. 2352, § 1, 6-13-89; Ord. No. 2816, § 5, 7-10-01; Ord. No. 2926, § 3, 8-10-04; Ord. No. 2984, § 2, 6-27-06; Ord. No. 3026, § 1, 7-24-07; Ord. No. 3084, § 1, 6-9-09; Ord. No. 3089, §§ 1, 2, 6-23-09; Ord. No. 3195, § 1, 3-12-13; Ord. No. 3197, § 1, 4-5-13; Ord. No. 3215, § 1, 6-24-14; Ord. No. 3236, § 1, 6-9-15; Ord. No. 3306, § 1, 5-23-17; Ord. No. 3364, § 3, 3-12-19; Ord. No. 3430, § 1, 11-10-20; Ord. No. 3487, § 1, 5-24-22)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Since July 1, 2013, Midwest City Code § 18-25(a) requires every residential customer to keep recyclables in a separate cart provided by the city, picked up bi-weekly alongside the weekly trash cart. Section 18-27(a) makes curbside recycling a mandatory, contracted third-party service for all residential customers: it isn't optional. Under § 18-25(g), the public works department documents contamination as three escalating offenses: a first-offense courtesy call with educational resources, a $20 charge on the second offense to dump the cart's contents as trash, and on the third offense the same $20 charge plus permanent removal of the recycling cart. Residents can appeal in writing to the public works director.
Violations & Fines
Failing to sort recyclables from trash triggers a courtesy call first, a $20 charge to dump the cart as trash second, and a $20 charge plus permanent cart removal third.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling mandatory in Midwest City?
What happens if I put trash in the recycling cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Midwest City
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Recycling Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle recycling rules.