Alley to Curb Collection Transition

Improving Waste & Recycling Collection Safety and Efficiency

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Who's Affected?

Customers currently receiving alleyway collection service with alley pavement 9 feet wide or less, where the majority of homes in the area have front driveways.

Transition Timeline

Customer locations identified with blue dots (🔵) will be transitioned the week of January 19, 2026. Customer locations identified with green dots (🟢) will be transitioned the week of July 20, 2026.

Cost Changes

A uniform Sanitation rate will remain in place for FY 2025-26. The City Council may adopt tiered rates for curbside and alleyway customers for FY 2026-27, which begins on Oct. 1, 2026.

Need Assistance?

Helping Hands Program is available at no additional cost for residents not physically able to move their cart to the curb. Pack-Out Service offers similar walk-up collection service to all customers for an additional fee. Click here for more information.

Background & Safety Concerns

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In June 2024, the Department of Sanitation Services briefed the City Council on garbage and recycling collection routing, highlighting safety and operational concerns related to alleyway service. Common challenges with alley collection include limited right-of-way and pavement width, obstructions from overhead utilities and gas meters, and restrictions on the type of waste collection equipment that can be used safely and effectively.

Since that briefing, Sanitation evaluated four potential service scenarios to address these issues, ultimately identifying a path forward known as the staff hybrid approach. This plan, along with related policy considerations, was presented to the City Council on June 18, 2025.

Implementation of the staff hybrid approach will now begin, starting with targeted outreach and education in affected neighborhoods. Because collection location (alley vs. curb) falls under operational authority, formal Council approval is not required to implement this transition. However, two related items may be brought back to Council for action at a later date:

- Adoption of a tiered rate structure, which would require Council approval by ordinance.

- Optional codification of updated roll cart spacing rules in alleys where service continues, to support enforcement and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why is the City changing some alley garbage and recycling collection?
Sanitation is working to improve the safety, efficiency, and long-term sustainability of garbage and recycle collection services. Many alleys across the city are too narrow for safe access by waste collection vehicles. These conditions result in frequent property damage, elevated injury risks for workers, and escalating maintenance costs.
How many Dallas residents currently receive alley collection service?
Approximately 36% of residential customers in Dallas—about 95,000 households—currently receive alley collection. The rest, approximately 166,000, receive curbside collection.
What is the difference between alley and curbside collection?
Alley collection typically uses rear-load trucks with three-person crews and is more labor-intensive and costly. Curbside collection most commonly uses automated side-load trucks operated by a single driver and is considered the industry standard for safety and efficiency.
Was the City Council previously briefed on this issue?
Yes. Sanitation briefed the City Council's Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on this issue in February 2024. The full City Council was then briefed in June 2024. Since that time, the department has engaged with residents citywide and conducted further financial and operational analysis.
How did residents respond to the initial curbside transition proposal?
Most feedback was in opposition to a curbside transition. Concerns focused on accessibility, curb space, and hardships for elderly or disabled residents. Sanitation revised its approach to narrow its focus on areas of most concern, with consideration of resident feedback.
What is the transition criteria?

The approach for this transition focuses on discontinuing alley service only in the most problematic areas. These include:

-Alleys that are 8-9 feet wide where most homes have front driveways;
-Dead-end alleys over 200 feet in length; and
-Unimproved or semi-improved (dirt and gravel) alleyways.

Additionally, rollcart spacing requirements will be modified for customers continuing to receive alley collection.

- 1.5 feet between alley pavement and rollcarts; and
-3 feet clearance behind rollcarts from any obstructions, such as fences, gates, and gas meters

Where will alley service continue?

Alley service willcontinue in:

- Alleys with pavement 10 feet wide or greater; and
- Narrow alleys where most homes on the block do not have front driveway access.

How many customer locations will transition to curbside collection?
Approximately 26,000 customer locations will transition from alley to curb collection.
When will this transition begin?

The transition timeline is in two phases:

- Phase 1 will begin the week of January 19, 2026, and will include blocks with narrow 8–9 foot alleys where the vast majority of homes in the area have front driveways, as well as dead-end alleys and unimproved or semi-improved alleyways.

- Phase 2 will follow the week of July 20, 2026, and will include areas where at least 60% of homes have front driveways, and which meet the other criteria for transition.

Will affected residents be notified?
Yes. A comprehensive public awareness campaign will precede the rollout. Affected residents will receive direct notification, including block-level implementation details and guidance on cart placement.
Will sanitation rates change under this scenario?
The Sanitation rate is evaluated and adjusted annually as part of the City's budget development process. If a tiered rate is supported by the City Council, it would be included in the City Manager's Recommended Budget for FY 2026-27, and with an affirmative vote of the City Council, become effective October 1, 2026.
What is a tiered rate structure?
A tiered rate structure would charge different rates for alley and curbside collection to reflect service cost differences. Rates for City utilities are set by ordinance adopted by the City Council.
How does this new approach minimize inconvenience for residents?
This approach was developed to account for both infrastructure constraints and residential access. Alley service will continue where curbside collection is burdensome for residents, that is areas where most residents do not have front driveway access to wheel their garbage and recycle roll carts across.