Garbage Service

Step 1.Rules for garbage pickup

• All garbage must be contained in garbage bags within the brown cart.
• The lid must be completely closed.
• Overstuffed carts will not be picked up.
• Bags left outside the cart will not be picked up (except city-issued Pay Bags).
• Place cart so that the handle faces your house and the serial number faces the street.
• Place cart a few inches from the curb or edge of the street; do not place cart in street.
• All carts must be placed in front of resident's address for collection.
• Carts placed at adjacent addresses or across the street will not be collected.
• Collections take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday. Please do not call before 7 p.m. on your pickup day to report a missed collection.
• Missed pickup? Garbage, recycling and yard waste missed collections must be reported within 24 hours after your pickup day. To report a missed collection, contact the Customer Call Center at 817-392-1234.

Step 2.Pickup & Retrieve cart schedules for day of service

• The cart must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
• You may set out your cart after 6 p.m. the night before your pickup day.
• Retrieve cart from curb by midnight on your pickup day.

Step 3.Storage of all Carts, including Garbage, Recycling, and Yard Carts

• When not placed for collection, carts shall be stored by the service unit in a secure place at that service unit. The carts shall be stored so as not to be visible to a person standing in front of the service unit.

Step 1.Choose the size of your garbage cart based on your family’s size and habits.

• 32-gallon cart:
  • Good for a family of 1 to 2 people who recycle paper, plastic, metal and glass containers.
  • $12.50 per month (maximum weight allowed for collection is 150 pounds).
• 64-gallon cart:
  •  Good for a 3 to 4 person family that recycles.
  •  $17.50 per month (maximum weight allowed for collection is 200 pounds).
• 96-gallon cart:
  • Good for a larger family that recycles or for smaller families who choose not to recycle.
  • $22.75 per month (maximum weight allowed for collection is 250 pounds).

Step 2.How to order your brown cart.

To order call 817-392-1234.

• Garbage and Recycling carts belong to the City of Fort Worth.
• No cost to request a brown cart for the residents of the City of Fort Worth.
• You may request a different size cart, once yearly for free. After that there is a $5 fee charged for size change.
• Brown carts are associated with your address.
• If you move residences, the brown cart must stay to prevent additional charges on your final bill.

Step 3.Expecting more trash than usual this month? Use pay bags.

Step 1.Garbage Collection Fees 

Fort Worth is a ‘pay-as-you-throw’ city which means you pay for the level of garbage service used, very similar to other utility services.

Solid waste service fees appear on your Fort Worth water bills as a sanitation fee.

• 32-gallon cart: $12.50 per month (maximum weight allowed for collection is 150 pounds).
• 64-gallon cart: $17.50 per month (maximum weight allowed for collection is 200 pounds).
• 96-gallon cart:  $22.75 per month (maximum weight allowed for collection is 250 pounds).

Step 2.Use Pay Bags for additional trash.

Pay Bags are available in sets of five for $15 plus tax. To order call 817-392-1234. Bags will be mailed to you and charged on your water bill.

Step 3.Consider recycling for free!

• Rinsed Cans
• Clean and dry paper and cardboard
• Rinsed glass containers
• Hard Plastic containers rinsed and caped

Contact the Customer Call Center at 1234@fortworthtexas.gov or by calling 817-392-1234 for additional questions.