Litter

Prevent litter through your everyday actions.

• Bag your residential and commercial garbage before placing in carts or dumpsters.
• When transporting loose items in the bed of a truck, you must cover and secure your load.
• Avoid fines. There's a fine up to $10,000 if you dispose of your garbage in someone else's dumpster.
• Keep the lids on your garbage, recycling, and yard cards closed at all times.
• Outside of collection days, you can take items for disposal to a Drop-Off Station.

Volunteer with Keep Fort Worth Beautiful!

KFWB offers many ways to get involved — from hosting your own cleanup or joining a citywide event to adopting a street for ongoing litter removal.

Visit the KFWB page to request free litter cleanup supplies and explore volunteer opportunities!

Residential and commercial garbage cans and dumpsters

If trash containers or dumpsters do not have closed, tight-fitting lids, or no lid at all, then trash is scattered by animals or the wind.

Uncontrolled parking lots, fast-food restaurants and convenience stores

Litter from unmaintained trash containers or placed on surface lots is frequently blown onto neighboring properties or into waterways. Business owners, operators and managers must control litter and illegal dumping on their properties.

Worksites (loading docks, construction and demolition sites)

Construction material waste, employee negligence, items falling from delivery and waste hauling vehicles, cement truck waste and excavation waste have negative impacts on the properties surrounding worksites. Loading docks are sources of blowing litter - shrink wrap, corrugated boxes, shipping documents, etc.

If you work at or operate a site, be sure to require your workers and delivery personnel to use waste cans and dumpsters for trash.

Motorists and pedestrians

Individuals who generate litter and waste while driving, walking, jogging or biking can be fined for littering. Fines range up to $2,000 per violation. Be sure to use car litter bags and keep trash until you can recycle it or dispose of it properly in a can/bin at the next rest area, gas station, or convenient store/restaurant.

Unsecured truckloads

Loads that are not tied down can release loose materials onto streets and freeways. Trucks that allow material to fall off the truck are subject to fines up to $2,000. Secure loads with tarps or nets. If something blows from your vehicle, be responsible and pick up after yourself.

The City of Fort Worth operates 12 street sweepers, which were added to the fleet in 2024. Designated sweeping routes cover primary arterials, thoroughfares and commercial corridors across the city, with crews sweeping approximately 6,400 curb miles each month. The street sweepers have expanded Fort Worth’s litter service capacity by removing litter and debris from roadways and helping prevent it from entering storm drains and waterways. This work supports the City’s efforts to maintain a safe, clean and attractive community.

All businesses and residents located along street sweeper routes can prepare for street sweeping days by:

• Removing garbage/recycling carts, vehicles, large debris, piles of leaves/branches, etc. from the curb on sweeping days.
• Sweep sidewalks and gather debris before street-sweeping days. Don’t sweep trash and debris into the street.
• Trim back branches near the street to prevent trees and equipment from being damaged.
• Bicyclists: ride carefully and be aware of sweeping activity near bike lanes.
• Drivers: give street sweepers plenty of room and only pass when safe to do so.
• Allow extra following distance when driving a vehicle behind a moving street sweeper.
• Use caution when passing a moving street sweeper.

All businesses and residents located along street sweeper routes should not:

• Follow a street sweeper closely. Airborne dust may make visibility difficult. Small rocks may get kicked up by the rotating brooms.
• Sweep or blow leaves into the street. Piles can clog gutters and drains and may result in flooding during heavy rains. Sweepers are also not designed to pick up large piles of leaves. (Piles also become road hazards).
• Ignore ‘No Parking’ signs posted for street sweeping days. You’re putting yourself at risk of being ticketed or towed! 

"Illegal dumping" is putting trash, garbage, waste, anything discarded where it doesn't belong, whether or not the person dumping owns the property. Putting trash in a dumpster that is not yours is also illegal.

Construction Debris

Contractors may dispose of materials legally for a fee at:

Southeast Landfill
6288 Salt Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76060
817-478-6462

Items not accepted at the landfill include tires, barrels, auto parts, liquid waste, used oil and oil filters, as well as hazardous waste, such as batteries or explosives, refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers that contain Freon or other coolants.

Dumpster Dumping

It is illegal to use commercial dumpsters without the permission of the dumpster owner. Business owners can download a sign in English(PDF, 1MB) or a sign in Spanish(PDF, 73KB) to help inform the public that the law prohibits unauthorized dumpster dumping.

Household Hazardous Waste

Take household hazardous waste to the Environmental Collection Center (EEC). The ECC is available to residents of Fort Worth and Participating Cities.

Proof of residency is required: bring your driver's license or water bill. Residents of Participating Cities may need a voucher. Check with your local government for voucher information.

Visit the ECC web page to learn more.

Extra Household Materials

Take extra materials to one of the City's four Drop-Off Stations. Drop-Off Stations are open to Fort Worth residents to dispose of garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulk waste.

Proof of residency is required: bring your driver's license or water bill.

Live in a Fort Worth apartment? Apartment residents living in Fort Worth can bring recycling and household hazardous waste to a Drop-Off Station with a driver's license as proof of address.

Visit the DOS web page to learn more.

Environmental Master Plan

The City of Fort Worth is in the process of developing its first Environmental Master Plan in support of the city's pursuit of improved environmental performance. This plan includes a litter control chapter focused on eliminating litter and illegal dumping throughout our community.

Click here to view the full Environmental Master Plan.(PDF, 15MB) Litter Control can be found in Chapter 6.