Start or Stop Service

How do I start or stop residential trash collection service?
Solid waste service to residents is initiated or terminated in conjunction with your water service through the City of Gainesville.  Contact Customer Service Reps at (940)668-4500 or visit City Hall located at 200 South Rusk, between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to start or stop service.

Fees 

What is the monthly charge for residential waste collection?
The basic monthly fee for residential solid waste collection is $17.84 per month.

Fee for a special bulk item or brush waste pick-up, are scheduled on Wednesday, provided that the City offices are not closed for a Holiday.  Special bulk items will have a charge of $25.20 per item.  These charges will appear on the customer’s water bill.  Please call General Services Department at (940)668-4551 to request this service. 

Where do I pay my bill?
Monthly bills may be paid by mail, in person or after hours in the drop box located at City Hall or by bank draft.  Automatic bank drafting service allows residential customers to have their monthly bill paid automatically from their checking or savings account.  Visit City of Gainesville at 200 S. Rusk, to pay bills in person or leave payments in the after hours drop box. 

Placement

Where do I place items?
Place all items at least 4’ feet away from other containers, brush or bulk waste, mailboxes, gas meters, fences, parked cars, overhead obstacles and any other items.  Do not block or impede a street, water or gas meter, drainage ditch, intersection or sidewalk. Improperly placed waste may not be collected.

• Place bundled brush or bulk items at the front curb.

According to City Ordinance, residential waste shall be placed at the location designated by the city no earlier that 6:00 p.m. of the evening before and no later than 7:00 a.m. of the collection day.

Brush & Bulk Waste

How do I manage big bulky items?
Items too large to fit into the trash container are considered BULK WASTE.  Place these items at your front curb at least 4 feet from other containers, mailboxes, gas meters, fences, parked cars, overhead obstacles and any other items.  Items may be placed in plastic or paper bags or boxes but each bag or box should not weigh more than 40 pounds.

How much brush or bulk waste will be collected?
According to city ordinance, residents may leave small accumulations of one cubic yard at the curb for pickup on Wednesday.  One cubic yard is 3’ feet x 3’ feet x 3’ feet.  All small accumulations of one cubic yard must be in an approved city container and no more that 4 feet in length and in bundles weighing no more that 40 pounds. 

How can I discard appliances?
Appliances are considered bulk waste and should be placed at the front curb.  If the appliance previously contained a refrigerant, such as an air conditioner or refrigerator, a certified technician must remove the refrigerant and a state-approved ‘clean’ tag attached to the appliance prior to collection.  There is a fee of $24.00 per item and you will need to call to schedule these items for collection. To schedule special pickup service, please call in before Wednesday of each week excluding holidays. Contact our General Services Department at (940)668-4551.  Or, you may haul your appliance directly to the TASWA Landfill in Whitesboro, Texas. For more information, call (903)564-1290 or go to their Website.

Where do I place bulk waste or brush?
Place all items at least 4 feet away from other containers, brush or bulk waste, mailboxes, gas meters, fences, parked cars, overhead obstacles and any other items.  Do no block or impede a street, water or gas meter, drainage ditch, intersection or sidewalk. Improperly placed waste may not be collected.

• Place bundled brush and bulk waste at the front curb.

What if my brush and bulk waste was not picked up?
A yellow tag left on the door of the resident will serve as notice of heavy or unusual accumulation.  The resident has 48 hours to remove the materials before the City crew does so at a $24.15 per cubic yard.  Residential waste shall be placed at the location designated by the City no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the evening before.  Do not block or impede a street, water or gas meter, drainage ditch, intersection, or sidewalk.  Improperly placed waste may not be collected.  Call General Services Department at (940)668-4551 or (940)668-4552 for information or email your comments / questions.  

Recycling

What can I recycle?
Residents may bring recyclables to the Recycle Center located just inside the gates of the Transfer Station at 601 N. I-35.  The recycling center is free to residents.

• aluminum and steel/tin cans (no foil or aluminum pans)
• glass bottles and jars of any color (rinse containers and discard lids)
• plastic bottles and jugs # 1 & # 2
• boxboard (such as cereal and cracker boxes)
• newspaper (do not bundle separately or place in plastic bags)
• cardboard (flatten large pieces and place beneath recycling bin)

No presorting is necessary, for hours of operation, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or contact us at (940)668-4555.

Do I need to sort my recyclables?
You do not need to sort recyclables except our plastic, aluminum, glass, cardboard boxes, etc.

How do I dispose of cardboard boxes?
Cardboard is recyclable and can be flattened and placed all items into the container provided.

How do I recycle newspapers?
Place newspapers into the container, beside the other recyclables.  Do not bundle newspaper place into proper container.  If newspaper or other paper items are wet the contents of this material will be taken to the landfill and not recycled. 

Schedule & Delays

When is my trash collected?
Trash is collected weekly.  Call the General Services Department at (940)668-4551 or (940)668-4552, to determine your scheduled collection day.

Residential waste must be placed at the location designated by the city no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the evening before and no later that 7:00 a.m. on the collection day.

Will holidays delay the schedule?
Collections will not be made on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr., Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas day.  Collections normally scheduled for these days will be picked up the following day and collections for the remaining days in the week will be delayed by one day. 

Example: If a holiday falls on Monday, Monday routes will be collected on Tuesday and Tuesday routes will be collected on Wednesday. 

Holiday occurring on Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday and holidays occurring on Sunday will be observed on the following Monday. 

Will bad weather delay my trash collection?
Yes, bad weather, such as sleet, may delay your trash collection but all collections will be made as soon as possible.

Limits

How much trash can I set out?
The amount of residential refuse is a maximum of 8 bags of trash, boxes, or trash can’s etc. 

Missed Collections

How do I report missed collections?
Report missed collections to the General Services Department at (940)668-4551 or (940)668-4552 or email your comments/questions.

I placed trash out for collection, why wasn’t it picked up?
Missed collections can often be contributed to items being set out too late on the collection day, placed improperly including too close to other objects or blocked by a parked vehicle.  Remember that holidays and inclement weather can delay collections.  Report missed collections to the General Services Department at (940)668-4551 or (940)668-4552 or email your comments/questions.

According to City Ordinance, residential waste shall be placed at the location designated by the city no earlier that 6:00 p.m. of the evening before and no later that 7:00 a.m. of the collection day.  Do not block or impede a street, water or gas meter, drainage ditch, sight triangle at an intersection or sidewalk.  Improperly placed waste may not be collected.

Landfill

Can I take items to a landfill?
Gainesville residential customers may haul directly to the TASWA Landfill.  Residential and Commercial Waste Disposal Fee: $28.00 per ton, facility hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. & Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  If you have any questions, please contact them by mail, telephone (903)564-4749,through their Website, or just stop by their office located at 25090 State Highway 56 just east of Whitesboro in western Grayson County. 

Hazardous Waste

How can I dispose of hazardous waste such as paints or chemicals?
Hazardous waste is not collected as part of your weekly residential service.  If you have paint, you can pop the lid and fill with kitty litter or sand and let dry in the sun.  When it becomes a solid then you can dispose the can.  If you have a large amount of paint or chemicals, you can haul them to Hillside Landfill, Route 7. Box 196 Nelson Rd, in Sherman, Texas or contact them at (903)868-0310.  

Containers

Do I need to place items in bags?
Items may be placed in plastic or paper bags for collection and placed at within 4’ feet from the curb, no later than 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day & away from mailboxes, water or gas meters, fences, parked cars, overhead obstacles and any other items.  A maximum of 8 bags of trash will be collected.  Each bag or box should not weigh more than 40 pounds.   

**Rates are subject to change annually**

For more information on any of the comments mentioned above you may contact the General Services Department at (940)668-4551 or e-mail questions.