The garbage and recycling industry has been speeding up automating residential trash collection by automating it. Workers who pick up trash at the curb are exposed to safety risks from extreme weather, working too close to traffic, and handling of bagged trash. These jobs are difficult to fill. Also, the supply of drivers with commercial driver’s licenses who can drive trash trucks is not keeping up with future demand. 

Automated trash collection using wheeled bins has been happening for years across the state and country. But because of the decreasing labor supply, major solid waste operators are discontinuing manual collection. They plan on relying on automated trucks that can pick up and empty trash carts using a mechanical arm to collect trash faster and safer. This is part of the research and data that a City Council committee has been studying as it considers how to maintain cost-effective reliable residential service in the future.

Currently, residents set out bagged trash at the curb which is picked up twice a week by hand and then placed into the back of a trash truck. Arlington already uses automated trucks for recycle service which uses wheeled bins which are picked up once a week.  

The Arlington City Council will review available options for residential trash collection service in the coming months. A series of public meetings and a virtual town hall meeting are scheduled to provide information and answer questions about the future of citywide residential trash collection.  

Town Hall Schedule

• City Council District 1 Representative Helen Moise, 6 p.m. Jan. 27 in the auditorium of Lamar High School, 1400 W. Lamar Blvd.
• City Council District 2 Representative Raul Gonzalez, 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Cliff Nelson Recreation Center, 4600 W. Bardin Road
• City Council District 3 Representative Nikkie Hunter, 6 p.m. Feb. 9, Main Hall at Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center St.
• POSTPONED City Council District 4 Representative Andrew Piel's town hall meeting, originally set for 2 p.m. Feb. 23, Community Room at the West Police Station, 2060 W. Green Oaks Blvd., has been postponed because of inclement weather. The meeting is now set for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at the Kathryn Wilemon Lake House Event Center, 6021 W. Arkansas Lane.
• POSTPONED: City Council District 5 Representative Rebecca Boxall's town hall meeting, set for 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 100 S. Center St., has been postponed because of inclement weather. The meeting is now set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 in the ReBrary Room of the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 100 S. Center St.
• Telephone Town Hall Meeting, 6 p.m. March 1. Click here for details.

Residents will be able to find information, including Frequently Asked Questions, at www.arlingtontx.gov/trashpickup.

In the meantime, if you have questions or comments, you can email them to [email protected].