Phoenix, AZ Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection
- Weekly, dedicated container
- Bagging/bundling
- Not allowed
- Contamination penalty
- Removal from program
- Reapplication wait
- 12 months
- Enforced by
- Public Works Director
Summary
Phoenix's "Phoenix Recycles" program gives participants a dedicated blue container collected weekly, but recyclables can't be bagged or bundled, and putting trash or hazardous waste in it can get a resident removed from the program.
Residents participating in the recycling program receive once-per-week collection of recyclables and once-per-week collection of solid waste. Specific collection days each week are designated by the Director.
B. Recyclables collected from designated "Phoenix Recycles" recycling containers are taken to a materials recovery facility where they are separated into the various categories of recyclables, weighed, and sold to end processors. Materials that cannot be recycled will be taken to a solid waste disposal facility for disposal. Recyclables placed in a recycling container may not be bagged or bundled. (Ord. No. G-4623, § 1, 2004; Ord. No. G-5756, 2012; Ord. No. G-5920, 2014)
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 27-25, residents who join "Phoenix Recycles" get a second, clearly identified container and receive once-per-week recyclables collection alongside once-per-week trash collection; recyclables may not be bagged or bundled before being set out. Section 27-26 makes contamination, non-recyclable material or household hazardous waste in the recycling container, grounds for removal from the program, with written notice from the City. A removed resident may reapply after 12 months, though the Public Works Director can waive that wait for special circumstances.
Violations & Fines
Bagging or bundling recyclables, or contaminating the container with trash or household hazardous waste, violates §§ 27-25/27-26 and can trigger removal from the recycling program for 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bag my recyclables before putting them in the Phoenix Recycles bin?
What happens if I put trash in my Phoenix recycling container?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona trash & recycling overview
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Recycling Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle recycling rules.