See what officials say about shifted collection schedules and how to prevent garbage fires in summer months.
Liesbeth Powers/Dallas Morning News
North Texas’ extreme heat presents a unique challenge to sanitation departments across the region: maintaining day-to-day garbage collection while protecting the safety of sanitation workers and accounting for the impact of heat on the garbage itself.
Most of this work happens behind-the-scenes. Still, there are ways North Texans can ensure smooth collection through the sweltering summer months and prevent heat-induced fires.
Here’s what to know about how to prepare for garbage collection as Dallas-Fort Worth temperatures reach triple-digits.
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Related: Your ultimate guide to dealing with the heat in Dallas-Fort Worth
Will my garbage be collected earlier in the day?
Some North Texas cities have adjusted collection schedules to protect crews.
In Dallas, collection crews may be out early to account for extreme afternoon temperatures, Director of Sanitation Clifton Gillespie said. Crews may also make adjustments to reduce their heat exposure while continuing service.
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Grand Prairie’s collection hours do not currently shift in light of heat, but crews may take longer to run routes as they incorporate heat safety precautions into their daily operations, said Eric Alvarez, marketing and communications manager for the city of Grand Prairie.
To avoid the hottest part of the day, Denton’s Solid Waste and Recycling department crews begin operations at 3:30 a.m. for commercial front-load trucks and 5 a.m. for roll-off operations, according to Denton’s Interim Director of Marketing and Communications, Kayla Herrod.
How can I prepare for garbage collection in extreme heat?
Gillespie said the most important way to prepare for summer garbage collection is to ensure all garbage and recycling bins are out by 7 a.m. on collection days.
While extreme heat currently does not shift operation hours in Plano, residents should also be ready for collection to begin at 7 a.m., Director of Public Works Abby Owens said.
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In the summer, it is important to properly space bins and refrain from overloading them to ensure collection can run quickly, minimizing exposure to extreme heat for crews, according to Gillespie.
What items are dangerous to throw away when it’s hot outside?
North Texans should be particularly vigilant in the summer months to avoid throwing away items that could cause garbage fires, Herrod said. This includes coals from grills, which Harrod said should be fully extinguished and cool to the touch before they are disposed of.
She also said batteries and chemicals should never be thrown in the trash, especially not in the summer.
According to Gillespie, Dallas’ Sanitation Services often sees an increase in prohibited items in the waste stream in summer months, including hot coals and pool chemicals.
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These items, in addition to lithium-ion batteries and household chemicals, pose a risk of fires in collection trucks and at disposal sites, Gillespie said. Household chemicals, paint, batteries and automotive fluids should be taken to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center, according to Gillespie.
Last August, NorthPark Center was evacuated due to a small garbage fire, the exact cause of which was not immediately clear.
How do sanitation departments prepare for summer temperatures?
Sanitation departments across North Texas plan for sweltering temperatures months ahead.
The Dallas Department of Sanitation Services trains crews annually to recognize the signs of heat-related illness and understand the importance of hydration and rest breaks during the summer, Gillespie said. The department provides ice at field offices for crews as well, he said.
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“Waste collection is physically demanding work, and our crews are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods,” Gillespie said.
Dallas sanitation workers are authorized to take four rest breaks in the summer, and temporary employees working on the back of garbage trucks may take turns riding in the cab to cool off. There are also cooling stations along collection routes crews are encouraged to stop at, Gillespie said.
Denton’s crews also undergo heat safety training, Herrod said. They are then provided with heat safety preparedness items, including hats and electrolyte drinks, and are encouraged to take cooling breaks.
In Plano, garbage trucks are equipped with air-conditioned cabs.
Owens said heat has a larger impact on yard debris and bulky waste collection in Plano, as crews must manually load material into trucks. To account for this impact, crews take hydration and cooling breaks.
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She added that high temperatures can affect equipment performance, requiring the attention of Plano’s fleet team.
Fort Worth uses Waste Management of Texas Inc. as a contractor for residential waste collection. Misty Adams, a public affairs specialist on their Dallas-area team, said waste in Fort Worth is collected with automated, side-load trucks to allow drivers to collect trash from within climate-controlled vehicles. Waste Management of Texas also trains employees to prepare for heat.
Extreme temperatures are one of the reasons the city of Grand Prairie is undergoing a shift to cart collection for residential services, set to be completed by Oct. 1, 2027, Alvarez said.
Related: After opposition, Dallas is narrowing plan to shift trash pickup from alleys to curbsides