Dallas to shift some alley trash pickup to curbside in 2026, city manager says

Kimberly Beiser Tolbert, Dallas city manager, said the Dallas Sanitation Department is planning to transition from alley trash pickup to curbside pickup in some parts of the city in 2026. "As many of you've heard, the Dallas sanitation department is planning to transition from alley trash pickup to curbside pickup in some parts of the city in 2026," Tolbert said.

Tolbert said the change is being driven by equipment and safety concerns. She noted that "64% of our Dallas sanitation customers already receive their garbage and their recycling collection from the curb," and that "most Dallas alleys were not built for today's equipment." She added that many alleys are "just 8 or 9 feet wide," leaving little room for trucks and for sanitation workers on foot.

After years of study and community input, Tolbert said the department has developed a phased plan that will move service to the curb only "in areas where alley service is the most problematic." The department has already been converting individual blocks as conditions warranted, she said.

Tolbert described programs meant to reduce hardship from the change. Customers with mobility issues may qualify for the Helping Hands program; those enrolled will have crews retrieve roll carts from a mutually agreed point at the side of the home, with crews emptying the carts and returning them to that point. "Customers can also receive valet cart collection service from the city through the sanitation's pack out program for an additional fee," she said.

For residents wanting to know whether their home is affected, Tolbert pointed to an online map and advised calling 311 for details about eligibility and options. She closed by asking residents to "please stay tuned and stay abreast of additional details as we begin to roll this program out in 2026."