Learn About City of Arlington Recycling Options in Celebration of America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, 2024

By Yulisa Marquez, Office of Communication

Posted on November 11, 2024, November 11, 2024

Friday, Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day, a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful. Visit the America Recycles Day website for sustainability ideas and take a look at some of Arlington's current recycling programs and upcoming events that serve to help encourage environmental awareness in our community.

Arlington residents recycled approximately 21,781 tons through the curbside single-stream recycling in Fiscal Year 2024, which ended Sept. 30. Through this program, Arlington residents may place an assortment of recyclable materials in their carts. These items include paper and cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, plastic containers and water bottles, and metal cans. For a complete list of what can and cannot be thrown into the curbside cart, please visit the City of Arlington’s recycling webpage.

Don't forget to place your recycling cart at least three feet away from your trash cart and any obstructions, such as mailboxes, vehicles, or trees. Here are some other important things to remember when recycling in Arlington:

• If the item is not listed, it is not accepted in the curbside recycling program.
• Do not contaminate your recycling – if in doubt, throw it out.
• Do not bag recyclables.
• Food and drink containers must be empty, clean and dry.
• Do not place food, textiles, hazardous materials or other non-recyclables in the recycling cart.
• Flatten cardboard boxes.
• Pizza boxes are allowed as long as the box does not contain large amounts of grease, food residue, seasoning packets, and other organics.
• Please keep lids on plastic bottles. This makes it easier for the scanners to sort the bottles and lids at the recycling facility.
• For the upcoming holidays, please remember no Christmas lights, tinsel, holiday decorations, or wreaths in the recycling cart.
• Please do not place organic materials such as grass, leaves or limbs in the recycle cart. Consider composting organics instead!
• No household hazardous waste, please. Hazardous household waste, such as paint, motor oil, or pesticides, should be taken to the City of Fort Worth’s Environmental Collection Center. The Center, which is available to Arlington residents with proof of residence or valid driver’s license, is located at 6400 Bridge Street and is open Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit the Hazardous Household Waste: Environmental Collection Center webpage for additional information.

Get Rewarded for Proper Recycling!

Between Nov. 11 and Nov. 15, Republic Services checked for proper residential recycling and selected one Arlington household from each of the five collection zones to a Republic Services tumbler and a five-drink lunch bag. The company announced the winning households on its Facebook page on Nov. 21. Click here to watch the short video of the residents saying why recycling is important to them.

Christmas Tree Recycling

Arlington residents drop off their Christmas trees for recycling at the City of Arlington landfill at 800 Mosier Valley Road, or at the Calloway's Nursery at 4940 S. Cooper St. between Dec. 26, 2024, and Jan. 15, 2025. Please make sure to remove all decorations and stands before placing them in the recycle containers. Christmas trees collected through this program are turned into mulch at the Arlington Landfill's mulching operation. This mulch is made available to Arlington residents, free of charge, in the spring (based on availability). Flocked trees are also accepted.

Leaf Recycling

Residents are encouraged to mow their leaves, which helps fertilize lawns, or mulch them for compost. Bagged leaves that residents place on their curbs for collection will not be recycled.
Residents and landscape contractors can continue to take leaves to the Arlington Landfill, 800 Mosier Valley Road, for recycling at no cost. If the leaves are in plastic bags, they must be de-bagged at the landfill. If they are in paper landscaping bags, they can simply be dropped off there. Click here to learn more about the Arlington Landfill.

Electronics Recycling

Also, mark your calendars for the annual Computer Roundup in March 2025 at The University of Texas at Arlington parking lot off Cooper Street and Doug Russell Road. Bring your old laptops, computers, cell phones, and other small household electronics for recycling. More details will be announced closer to the event. In 2023, the City collected nearly 25,000 pounds of electronic waste.

For further information or questions regarding the City of Arlington’s recycling program, please contact us at [email protected] or call the Action Center at 817-459-6777.