SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING 2026 CALENDAR
BRUSH & BULKY ITEM SERVICES
The City of Temple has switched to a byrequest scheduling system for Brush Collection & Bulky Item Collection. This new request system will be the only way to receive pickup for brush or bulky items.
• Each month, you will receive one brush pickup and one bulky item pickup.
• Pickup credits will not roll over if unused
• To schedule a collection time, contact us at 254-298-5000 or by visiting ttxconnect.com.
You can also drop off brush year-round at the Solid Waste Complex or garbage refuse at the landfill once a month (bring your utility bill).
COLLECTION GUIDELINES
To help ensure your brush and bulky items are collected, please follow these guidelines:
WHEN TO SET OUT ITEMS
• Items must be at the curb by 7AM on the Monday of your scheduled collection week.
WHERE TO PLACE YOUR PILE
• Place piles within 3 feet of the curb.
• Keep piles at least 6 feet away from obstacles such as cars, mailboxes, and utility meters.
• Do not place piles under low-hanging wires or tree limbs.
DO NOT MIX BRUSH AND BULKY ITEMS
• Keep brush items and bulky items in separate piles.
• No bags/boxes/trash with brush piles. Mixed piles will NOT be collected.
• These are treated as two separate pickups. Trucks may be in the area on different days of the week.
PILE SIZE LIMITS
• We will collect up to 6 cubic yds per scheduled pickup (6 cubic yds = about one full-size pickup truck bed).
• More than 6 but up to 12 cubic yds will be collected, but a fee will be charged.
• Piles over 12 cubic yds will not be collected.
CURBSIDE RECYCLING
KEEP ‘EM LOOSE, NOT BAGGED!
PAPER PRODUCTS
Items like newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and office paper are accepted. Please remove any plastic liners, wrappers, and packaging peanuts.
CARDBOARD BOXES
Please remove all plastic liners and packaging materials. Pizza boxes are now accepted! Please flatten cardboard boxes.
WHERE TO RECYCLE NON-ACCEPTED ITEMS
Glass Glass (all colors) can be taken to either recycle center.
Yard Waste 6 cubic yards of brush can be placed at the front curb to be picked up for brush pickup collection. You can also recycle grass and leaves on your yard for fertilizer.
Plastic Bags These can be recycled at many grocery stores around the city.
Hazardous Materials The City holds a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day annually in October to collect chemicals and electronics.
Year round collection of food waste, latex paint, cooking oil, motor oil, antifreeze, and tires*(with a small fee) at the Solid Waste Complex, 2611 E. Ave. H, Temple, TX 76501.
RECYCLE DROP OFF LOCATIONS
SOLID WASTE COMPLEX – 2611 E. AVE H
RECYCLE CENTER – 602 JACK BASKIN DR.
PLASTICS
All plastic bottles, detergent containers, and lids are accepted. No plastic bags or styrofoam.
METALS
All non-hazardous product containers made of aluminum, tin, or steel. No aluminum foil.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 2026
New Year’s Day
To save energy, focus on reducing consumption and improving efficiency. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use, unplug chargers when not needed, and use energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
Presidents’ Day
February 2026
In the U.S. approximately 500 million straws are used daily which roughly translates to 182.5 billion straws used annually. Plastic straws contribute significantly to plastic pollution, with many ending up in landfills or as litter. Due to their size many recycling facilities cannot process them.
Planting flowers is a great way to connect with nature, brighten your surroundings, and contribute to a healthier environment. When choosing flowers to plant think about our pollinator friends and try to plant natives as much as possible. Native plants help conserve water, support our local wildlife, reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides, and enhance natural beauty. You can visit npsot.org to find plants that are native to our area of Texas.
PETALS & PINTS
Earth Day 2026 theme is Planet vs. Plastics. Think about what you use in your daily life that involves plastic. Then think about ways that you could possibly switch to something that is plastic free or uses less plastic. Possibly change out storage containers you use at home for leftovers from plastic to glass ones.
Did you know that Temple is considered a medical hub? Hospitals such as Baylor Scott & White and the VA help keep local and area residents healthy.
Compost is a great way to discard organic materials such as leaves and food scraps which turns into a valuable fertilizer. The benefits of composting include reducing the waste stream, cutting methane emissions from the landfills, improving soil health, conserving water, and reducing personal food waste. A quick internet search will provide numerous websites that will teach you how to start composting.
Juneteenth
World Environment Day is often focused on defeating plastic pollution. The focus on this is to end plastic waste and promote more sustainable practices which includes increased recycling efforts. By focusing on a broader approach to sustainability, including reducing plastic consumption, we should look at reusing items if possible and exploring alternative materials.
FLAG DAY
FATHER’S DAY
July 2026
During the month of July focus on creative reuse of items and family friendly activities. Turn an old t-shirt into cleaning cloths or reusable bags. Another fun activity would be to turn a plastic bottle into a birdfeeder or create an art project from other recycled materials.
August 2026
Did you know that Temple was incorporated in 1882? When Temple was incorporated there were two private schools with a public school being established in 1884. By 1884, 3,000 people called Temple home, along with three churches, two banks, two newspapers, and an opera house.
As we enjoy the summer think about ways that you can help reduce waste when you have those summer cookouts. Think about setting up separate bins for any aluminum cans, glass bottles, or other recyclables which will help make clean up easier.
NATIONAL
Remember as you are placing your items into your recycle bin make sure they are empty, clean, dry, and loose. If you have questions on what can be placed in your recycle bin you can always visit templetx.gov/recycle for a list of acceptable items.
October 2026
Did you know that Temple was a major settlement for Czech immigrants. During the 1800s, hundreds of Czech immigrants settled in Temple. The SPJST Museum right here in Temple houses more than 18,000 books written in Czech, as well as many other artifacts.
Indigenous Peoples Day Columbus Day
Migration for our pollinator friends is typically at its peak during the month of October in Texas. Hummingbirds, along with Monarch butterflies, are making their way through our area to their winter homes. October is a good time to plant native wildflowers that these pollinators will enjoy when they make their trip back in the spring.
FUN FACT In 1989, Temple was designated the Wildflower Capital of Texas.
November 2026
When preparing your menu for Thanksgiving try to be focused on reducing food waste by planning your menu on how many guests you have and everyone’s preferences. If there are a lot of leftovers, you can always donate those leftovers to local shelters or encourage all guests to make themselves a plate to go.
December 2026
If you need tags for a Christmas gift a great idea is to re-use Christmas cards as gift tags by cutting out a design and using a holepunch to make a hole for the ribbon.
Think about how you can minimize waste during this holiday season. Find alternatives to wrapping paper such as wrapping gifts in fabric or newspaper. Send an e-card instead of a paper card. Store and reuse decorations instead of buying new ones and explore options for how to create new decorations from recycled materials.