Your El Paso Trash Day — Easy to Track in 2026
If you live in El Paso, the biggest point of confusion is usually not your gray trash bin. It is knowing when the blue recycling bin comes out, understanding the spacing and placement rules, and using the right option for bulky items, electronics, or extra drop-off loads. This guide keeps the El Paso trash pickup schedule garbage collection details clear and practical.
📑 What’s in this guide
The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department handles curbside garbage and recycling, special bulky pickups, the Greater El Paso Landfill, and five Citizen Collection Stations. Your address determines your regular gray-bin collection day, and recycling is collected every other week on that same day.
or dial 311
Keep 3 feet between bins and 5 feet from other objects
How to Find Your El Paso Trash Pickup Day (Fast Lookup)
El Paso’s official My Collection Day tool is the easiest way to verify your gray-bin collection day and your blue-bin recycling week. It is address-based, so it is better than guessing from nearby houses.
- Open the official lookup. Go to My Collection Day.
- Enter your address. Use your house number and street name exactly as your service address appears.
- Check garbage and recycling together. Recycling is collected every other week on your regular garbage day.
- Print the calendar if needed. The schedule tool includes a print calendar option.
- Use 311 or Environmental Services for follow-up. If you need help with a missed pickup, broken bin, or special pickup, call 915-212-6000 or use EP 311.
El Paso Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
El Paso keeps regular trash and recycling simple. Gray bins go out on your regular collection day, and blue bins go out every other week on that same day. Bulky items are not part of the normal cart route and must be scheduled separately.
| Service | How It Works | Typical Frequency | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trash | Gray bin on your regular collection day | Regular curbside route | My Collection Day |
| Recycling | Blue bin next to gray bin | Every other week | My Collection Day / Recycle Right |
| Bulky Items | Fee-based special pickup at curb | As needed | Community Services |
| Citizen Collection Stations | Resident drop-off for trash, bulky items, HHW, and more | Tue–Sat | Collection Stations page |
| Landfill | Self-haul disposal option | Mon–Sat | Environmental Services page |
El Paso’s curbside recycling program does not accept glass or plastic bags. Recyclables should stay loose in the blue bin, and electronic waste should be taken to a Citizen Collection Station or the landfill instead of going into curbside recycling.
El Paso Gray Bin, Blue Bin, Bulky Item, and Drop-Off System
El Paso uses a few simple service channels for most household waste situations. Once you know which system applies, collection becomes much easier to manage.
Gray Bin
Blue Bin
Special Pickup
Drop-Off Sites
El Paso residents can also use the city’s five Citizen Collection Stations for extra loads, bulky materials, household hazardous waste, recyclables, and used electronics, subject to station rules and entry requirements.
⭐ Easy El Paso shortcut
If an item fits regular household disposal, use the gray bin. If it is recyclable, place it loose in the blue bin. If it is oversized or you have too much for curbside, use special collection or a Citizen Collection Station instead of leaving extra material beside the carts.
El Paso Set-Out Rules
El Paso’s published collection guidelines focus on bin direction, spacing, and curb placement. Following these rules gives you the best chance of getting picked up on the first pass.
- Place bins on the curb.
- Bins must face the street. The lid opening should face toward the street.
- Keep lids completely closed.
- Leave 3 feet between bins.
- Leave 5 feet from mailboxes, fences, walls, parked cars, trees, meters, and other obstacles.
El Paso Bulky Item Pickup
El Paso residents can request a fee-based special pickup for bulky items by calling Environmental Services. This is the correct option when an item is too large for regular curbside collection and you do not want to self-haul it to a drop-off site.
Common special collection items include:
- Appliances that are empty
- Barbecues with fuel and charcoal removed
- Brush, tree trunks, branches, and green waste
- Carpet, doors, furniture, lumber, and pallets
- Lawnmowers with fuel and oil removed
- Mattresses and box springs
- Call to schedule it. Contact Environmental Services at 915-212-6000 Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Know the cost. The city lists special collection at $35 for 5 cubic yards or less, plus $7 for each additional cubic yard.
- Set items out by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day.
- Keep bulky items clear of obstructions. Leave them at least 5 feet from carts, mailboxes, fences, walls, meters, cars, and trees.
- Do not include prohibited items. Recyclables, dirt, rocks, concrete, tires, hazardous materials, used electronics, and titled vehicles are not accepted through this special pickup service.
⭐ El Paso resident advantage
If you have electronics, household hazardous waste, or other items that special collection will not take, one of the city’s Citizen Collection Stations is usually the better choice than leaving the material at the curb.
El Paso 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule
El Paso publishes holiday-specific Environmental Services updates instead of one single rule that covers the whole year. The city’s currently published 2026 winter holiday notice gives the clearest official collection changes for the start of the year.
| Holiday / Closure Period | Collection Impact |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day period — Jan. 1–2, 2026 | Gray and blue bins were not collected on Thursday and Friday, with a gray-bin-only make-up day on Saturday, Jan. 3 |
| Blue bins during the New Year make-up | Blue bins were not collected on the Saturday make-up day and should be held until the next scheduled recycling collection day |
| Christmas 2025 period carried into the 2026 notice | Gray and blue bins were not collected Dec. 25–26, 2025, with a gray-bin-only make-up day on Saturday, Dec. 27 |
| General 2026 guidance | Check your official My Collection Day calendar and current ESD notices before major holidays because El Paso posts holiday-specific service changes |
For drop-off sites, the winter 2026 city notice also said the landfill and Citizen Collection Stations were closed during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods and reopened on Saturday, Jan. 3.
What to Do If El Paso Missed Your Pickup
If your gray or blue bin was set out correctly and still was not collected, El Paso provides a few clear contact options.
- Check your collection day first. Use My Collection Day to confirm the schedule.
- Verify your spacing and placement. Gray and blue bins should face the street, stay closed, and keep 3 feet between bins plus 5 feet from other objects.
- Wait until the city’s posted recycling checkpoint. If your recycling bin has not been picked up by 3:00 p.m., call the department for an update.
- Call Environmental Services. Reach them at 915-212-6000.
- Use 311 for service help. EP 311 is available online, and the call center operates daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., including holidays.
El Paso Collection Stations and Landfill Options
El Paso residents can take extra trash, bulky items, household hazardous waste, recyclables, and more to one of the city’s five Citizen Collection Stations. These stations also function as extra drop-off sites for recyclables, and they offer programs like free paint, mulch, and gently used household products.
Citizen Collection Stations
Five public drop-off locations for El Paso residents only
CCS Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting
Greater El Paso Landfill
2600 Darrington Rd, Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Used Electronics Drop-Off
Electronics are accepted at CCS sites and the landfill instead of the blue bin
Important entry rule: the Collection Stations page says everyone, including active-duty military personnel and veterans, must present a current water bill plus an ID that matches the address on the bill to gain entry. A maximum of four visits per month is allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions About El Paso Trash Pickup
How do I find my El Paso trash pickup day?
Use the official My Collection Day tool and search your address.
How often is recycling collected in El Paso?
Blue-bin recyclables are collected every other week on your regular garbage collection day.
What should I do if my recycling bin is still full later in the day?
If your recycling bin has not been picked up by 3:00 p.m. on collection day, call 915-212-6000 for an update.
Can I bag recyclables in El Paso?
No. The city says recyclables should remain loose in the blue bin.
Can I recycle glass in the blue bin?
No. El Paso’s curbside recycling program does not accept glass or plastic bags.
How do I schedule bulky item pickup in El Paso?
Call Environmental Services at 915-212-6000. Special pickups are fee-based and available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
What time do bulky items need to be out?
Bulky items should be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day.
Where can I take electronics in El Paso?
Take used electronics to a Citizen Collection Station or the Greater El Paso Landfill. They do not belong in the curbside recycling bin.
What are the hours for the Citizen Collection Stations?
The published hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, though weather can affect operations.
How many Citizen Collection Station visits do residents get?
The Collection Stations page says a maximum of four visits per month is allowed.
Official El Paso Trash Collection Resources
Environmental Services
Main city garbage, recycling, landfill, and station information hub
My Collection Day
Official address-based schedule search and printable calendar
Recycle Right El Paso
Blue-bin rules, accepted recyclables, and recycling tips
Community Services
Bulky item pickup, used electronics, mulch, and special collections
Collection Stations
Drop-off site rules, hours, and resident entry requirements
EP 311
Non-emergency city help, online reports, and service follow-up
Reminder: El Paso works best when you separate normal gray-bin trash, blue-bin recycling, fee-based bulky pickups, and station drop-offs instead of trying to handle everything through one curbside setup.