▼

How do I dispose of....

Show All Answers

1. Bulky/large items

Monthly curbside collection is offered for furniture, mattresses, box springs, household appliances, televisions, washing machines, dryers, water heaters, outdoor grills and lawnmowers (oil and gas removed). Refrigerators and freezers may also be collected, if they are certified as refrigerant free by a certified professional and have a certification tag attached. Large toys and yard tools are also accepted, but you must clearly label them as "Bulk Trash." Learn more

2. Chemicals/cleaning supplies

Many household chemicals, pool chemicals, garden products, automotive fluids, cooking oil and painting products can be recycled in Allen’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection program. See the full list and schedule a collection

3. Construction materials

Construction or remodeling materials including sheet rock, brick, rock, gravel, concrete, dirt, sod, carpet and fence panels must be taken to the NTMWD 121 Regional Disposal Facility and may incur a disposal fee to be paid by the resident. Residents must show a current City of Allen water bill and Texas drivers license with matching address to access the facility. Learn more

Latex and oil-based paints, paint thinner/stopper, primer, spray paint, turpentine, varnish and wood preservatives are accepted in Allen's HHW program. See a full list and schedule collection

4. Medications/medical waste

Medications may be disposed anonymously at annual Allen cleanup events or nearby pharmacies. Needles, sharps, and syringes should be placed in a hard plastic or metal container with a secured lid. Before throwing this container in the trash, secure the lid with heavy-duty duct tape and place inside a dark trash bag. Soiled bandages, disposable sheets and medical gloves should be securely fastened inside a plastic bag before placing in your household trash.

5. Yard waste

Yard waste is collected on designated trash days. Grass clippings, leaves, plant materials and small cuttings must be bagged in biodegradable paper lawn bags. No plastic bags will be collected. Tree and brush trimmings must be tied into 4-foot bundles, weighing no more than 40 lbs. Secure with biodegradable string, twine or rope. No more than seven bundles or fifteen yard waste bags will be collected per week. Dirt, gravel, rock, concrete and sod will not be collected.

For excess brush and larger branches, see instructions for large loose brush.

6. Appliances

You can schedule curbside collection of household appliances, televisions, washing machines, dryers, water heaters, outdoor grills and lawnmowers (oil and gas removed). Refrigerators and freezers may also be collected, if they are certified as refrigerant free by a certified professional and have a certification tag attached. Learn more

7. Batteries

Allen's curbside recycling program does not accept batteries of any kind. Alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt, 12-volt) should be thrown in the trash. Car batteries are accepted in the City of Allen’s HHW collection program. Rechargeable batteries such as Nickel-Cadmium, Lithium Ion, button cell or Nickel Metal Hydride should be recycled at local electronic or home improvement stores.

8. Light bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs should be bagged and thrown away in your household trash. Some local retailers/home improvement stores accept compact fluorescent bulbs and tube fluorescent bulbs for recycling. CWD’s curbside recycling program does not accept light bulbs of any kind.

9. Aluminum foil/dishes

Aluminum foil and baking dishes are not accepted in Allen's curbside recycling program. Please throw these items in the trash.

10. Ammunition

Please contact the Allen Police Department at 214.509.4263 about disposal of ammunition.

11. Animal waste

Pet waste should be bagged in plastic and thrown away in your household trash. You may also dispose of dead animals under 10 pounds in your weekly trash collection. For animals over 10 pounds, call Allen Animal Services at 214.509.4378.

12. Cans

Aluminum and steel/tin cans and completely empty aerosol containers are collected in Allen's curbside recycling program. Rinse items of all food waste before recycling. Aluminum foil and baking dishes are not accepted.

13. Cooking oil

Many household chemicals, pool chemicals, garden products, automotive fluids, cooking oil and painting products can be recycled in Allen’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection program. See the complete list and schedule a collection

14. Electronics/televisions

We recycle televisions, computers, printers and other large electronics at annual Allen cleanup events. You can also schedule curbside collection of large electronics through Allen's bulk item collection. 

15. Fireworks/explosives

Contact the Allen Fire Marshal at 214.509.4400 about the disposal of fireworks. If you discover other explosives, call 9-1-1.

16. Furniture/mattresses

You can schedule curbside collection of furniture, mattresses, box springs, household appliances, televisions, washing machines, dryers, water heaters, outdoor grills and lawnmowers (oil and gas removed). Refrigerators and freezers may also be collected, if they are certified as refrigerant free by a certified professional and have a certification tag attached. Learn more

17. Food waste

Most food waste should be thrown in the trash. Cooking oil can be recycled in Allen’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection program. Once cool, used cooking oil should be poured back into its original container and secured with a screw-top lid. See all accepted items and schedule a collection

18. Glass

All colors of glass bottles and jars (lids removed) are collected in Allen's curbside recycling program. Rinse items of all food waste before recycling. Drinking glasses, household items, ceramics, eyeglasses and Christmas lights should be thrown in the trash or donated.

19. Household items

CWD cannot recycle hangers, Christmas lights, artificial Christmas trees/greenery, light bulbs, drinking glasses/ceramics, toys or other household items. Please throw them in the trash or schedule a curbside collection for larger items.

20. Mercury thermostats

The average wall thermostat contains four grams of mercury, or the equivalent of 800 compact fluorescent lights. Residents can deliver intact old thermostats to the front desk of Allen City Hall (305 Century Parkway) for recycling free of charge.

21. Paint/varnish

Latex and oil-based paints, paint thinner/stopper, primer, spray paint, turpentine, varnish and wood preservatives are accepted in Allen's HHW program. See a complete list and schedule collection

22. Plastic bags

Plastic bags are not accepted in CWD’s curbside recycling program, as the bags snag machinery during processing. Please recycle plastic bags at local grocery/retail stores or dispose of them in your household trash.

23. Paper

Allen's curbside recycling program accepts newspapers, magazines, junk mail, phone books, flattened cardboard and chipboard, milk/juice cartons (rinsed), Tetra Pak cartons (from broth/wine/protein drinks, rinsed), and frozen food boxes with the recycling symbol. To reduce litter, bag shredded paper in clear plastic and tie securely before placing in your recycling cart.

24. Plastics

#1-5 and #7 plastics are collected in Allen's curbside recycling program. Rinse items of all food waste before recycling. Plastic bags, plastic hangers, plastic straws, #6 plastics and unmarked plastics should be thrown in the trash. Some retailers and grocery stores also recycle plastic bags and hangers.

25. Propane tanks

Large propane tanks can be disposed of at most propane exchange cages. Small, completely empty canisters may be disposed of in the regular trash. Contact the manufacturer for further disposal options.

26. Styrofoam

Styrofoam is not accepted in CWD’s curbside recycling program. Please throw your Styrofoam products in the trash.

27. Tree branches/brush

If you hire a contractor to remove branches or brush, you must negotiate removal fees. The City is not responsible for removing tree debris that is cut by commercial contractors. If you have removed branches or brush yourself, you may dispose of up to three cubic yards (approximately the size of three washing machines, placed side by side) by scheduling a collection. Learn more

Small tree and brush trimmings are collected weekly on your designated trash day. Trimmings must be tied into 4-foot bundles, weighing no more than 40 pounds. Secure with biodegradable string, twine or rope. No more than seven bundles or fifteen yard waste bags will be collected per week.