City of Tempe, AZ
Home MenuBulk/uncontained trash and green organics
Items should be placed out for collection no earlier than 10 days prior to the Monday of your collection week and no later than 6 a.m. on Monday of your collection week. There must be four feet in between the trash and green organics piles and both piles must be four feet away from electrical boxes.
Request a magnet
Request a magnet for your 2025 bulk trash schedule. Click here to email the solid waste division at swoperations@tempe.gov. Include your name and address in the body of the email. Note: one magnet per household while supplies last.
2024 Bulk/uncontained collection schedule
2025 Bulk/uncontained collection schedule
Items accepted as part of bulk/uncontained trash collection
Accepted items
- Furniture, large items (items that are unable to be donated)
- Non-Freon appliances (washers and microwaves - since these can be recycled, please consider dropping them off at the Household Products Collection Center
Unaccepted items
- Appliances with Freon (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, ac units)
- Hazardous materials (paints, oil)
- Construction and remodeling waste (drywall, flooring and roofing materials)
- Tires
- Dirt, rock and landscape gravel
Items accepted as part of green organics collection
Please remember that all incoming green organics material to our third party vendor’s facility must be free of any other material. Only clean green.
- Tree trimmings and brush (tree limbs, branches, trunks and stumps) at a maximum of 4 feet in length and no more than 19 inches in diameter
- Leaves, pine needles, grass, small hedge clippings and weeds (placed in cardboard box or compostable bag)
- Cactus clippings (placed in cardboard box)
- Palm fronds and oleanders
Unaccepted items
- Uncontained trash items (as listed above)
- Hazardous materials (paints, oil)
Items accepted as part of the green bin curbside program
- Yard waste, including grass
- Palm fronds and oleanders are now accepted in the green bins.
- Click here for specific curbside program information which varies from collection programs in other cities
Alternative pickup options
Need service during your off-month or during monsoon season? Tempe residents have two convenient alternatives to curbside and alley pickup.
- Sky Harbor has instituted a new safety regulation that all residents are required to wear safety vests while at the Transfer Station. If visitors do not have one they can purchase one at Sky Harbor for $1.00.
- Call-in service - Residents can request a special uncontained trash or green organics pickup outside of their regular schedule for a fee. Call 480-350-4311 for prices or to schedule a pickup.
Program information
Tempe has enhanced its Bulk/Uncontained Trash and Green Organics program to provide a more environmentally-friendly service while also reducing costs, fuel usage and vehicle emissions. This program includes convenient mixed uncontained trash collection and the collection and composting of your yard trimmings. Tempe residential solid waste customers receive uncontained trash and green organics collection every other month for all of the bulky items that can not fit in your regular trash container.
Green organic material is taken to a local contractor to be turned into compost.
The city also provides seasonal drop off locations for Christmas trees and special collections during monsoon season.
Please note: The collection of uncontained trash and green organics may be delayed on occasion. For questions about delays, please call Tempe 311 at 480-350-4311.