Can you recycle plastic bags in Arlington, TX?

Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility Republic Services uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash cart.

What do I do with batteries in Arlington, TX?

Batteries never go in any of your Arlington, TX carts — not the blue cart, not the trash cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in Arlington, TX

📍 Republic Services (City of Arlington) · 2-cart program

Who collects your recycling in Arlington, TX

Residential curbside collection in Arlington, TX is operated by Republic Services under contract to the city — the city sets the program and the fees, and Republic Services runs the trucks. Households get two carts — a blue cart for recyclables and a trash cart for everything else. There is no curbside compost cart, so food scraps and food-soiled paper go in the trash cart.

That two-cart setup is the norm for most of the country — curbside food-scrap collection remains rare outside California and a handful of West Coast and Northeast cities.

The quick answer for Arlington, TX

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Blue cart	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Blue cart	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Blue cart	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Blue cart	Lids off.
Food scraps	🗑️ Trash cart	No curbside compost cart here.
Greasy pizza box	🗑️ Trash cart	No curbside compost cart here.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Trash cart	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for Arlington, TX directly.

📷 Scan an item

Arlington, TX recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in Arlington, TX?: Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility Republic Services uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash cart.
What do I do with batteries in Arlington, TX?: Batteries never go in any of your Arlington, TX carts — not the blue cart, not the trash cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official Republic Services (City of Arlington) guide.