Tucson Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Tucson recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
Accepted items
- Paper (newspaper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, phone books)
- Cardboard and paperboard (clean corrugated boxes flattened loose, cereal boxes, paper egg cartons)
- Plastic containers (clean plastic bottles, jugs, and jars labeled numbers 1, 2, and 5)
- Metal food and beverage cans (clean aluminum and tin cans; do not flatten to protect sorting machinery)
Prohibited items
- Plastic grocery bags and plastic film wrap (tanglers jam sorting equipment; drop at grocery stores)
- Glass bottles and jars (glass is not collected in curbside blue barrels; use neighborhood glass drop-off sites)
- Garbage, yard trimmings, and food scraps
- Styrofoam and foam food packaging
- Household hazardous chemicals, batteries, motor oil, and electronics
Can you recycle these items in Tucson?
Can you recycle cardboard in Tucson?
AcceptedCut or flatten corrugated cardboard boxes to fit loosely inside the blue barrel. Remove plastic wrap and liners.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Tucson?
Accepted with conditionsClean box tops with no grease residue can be recycled; grease-soaked portions go in regular trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Tucson?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse clean plastic beverage bottles; leave caps on and place loose in blue barrel.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Tucson?
AcceptedClean milk jugs, detergent bottles, and shampoo containers; place loose inside barrel.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Tucson?
Not acceptedRigid PVC pipes and vinyl items are not recyclable curbside.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Tucson?
Not acceptedPlastic shopping bags and wrap are prohibited in blue barrels; take to retail bag collection bins.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Tucson?
AcceptedClean polypropylene food tubs, yogurt cups, and medicine containers are accepted.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Tucson?
Not acceptedPolystyrene cups, trays, and packing foam are prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Tucson?
Not acceptedMixed or other resin plastics are not accepted curbside.
Can you recycle glass in Tucson?
Accepted with conditionsCurbside blue barrel collection does not accept glass. Bring glass bottles and jars to designated purple glass recycling drop-off sites.
Can you recycle aluminum in Tucson?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse aluminum soda and beverage cans. Do not crush cans so sorting optical sorters function properly.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Tucson?
Not acceptedShredded paper is not accepted in the curbside blue barrel as it falls through mechanical screeners.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Tucson Environmental and General Services Department · municipal dpw
Phone: 520-791-3171
4004 S. Park Ave.Tucson, AZ 85714
These collection rules cover Zone City of Tucson Curbside Service Area.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Tucson, AZ?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Set out container by 6 a.m. on your collection day. Place container within one foot of the curb and leave at least three feet between containers. Place container with lid opening towards the street.. These rules apply to Zone City of Tucson Curbside Service Area.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Tucson?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Tucson Curbside Service Area.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Tucson?
Brush and Bulky collection is provided twice a year across all 26 residential trash service areas. Have materials set out by 6 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled collection week. Special on-demand pickups can also be requested for a fee by calling 520-791-3171. The listed limit is 10 items per pickup. Advance notice is not required under the listed rules. Contact sanitation at 520-791-3171 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Tucson Curbside Service Area.
What items are accepted for recycling in Tucson?
The listed accepted materials are Paper (newspaper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, phone books), Cardboard and paperboard (clean corrugated boxes flattened loose, cereal boxes, paper egg cartons), Plastic containers (clean plastic bottles, jugs, and jars labeled numbers 1, 2, and 5), Metal food and beverage cans (clean aluminum and tin cans; do not flatten to protect sorting machinery). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic grocery bags and plastic film wrap (tanglers jam sorting equipment; drop at grocery stores), Glass bottles and jars (glass is not collected in curbside blue barrels; use neighborhood glass drop-off sites), Garbage, yard trimmings, and food scraps, Styrofoam and foam food packaging, Household hazardous chemicals, batteries, motor oil, and electronics. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Tucson Curbside Service Area.