If you live along a Park Cities alley, you know how quickly a tidy lane can turn crowded on collection day. A few small missteps with set-out times, bulky items, or cart placement can lead to missed service or even a citation. You want to keep your property running smoothly, avoid fines, and keep good neighbor relations.
This guide gives you simple, practical steps to handle trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulky items in Highland Park and University Park. You will learn where to confirm the rules for your address, how to stage your carts, and what to do with special materials. Let’s dive in.
Know your town’s rules
Park Cities includes two municipalities with separate rules: Highland Park and University Park. Do not assume they are the same. Confirm pickup days, set-out times, and service types for your exact address.
- Highland Park residents should start with the town’s official site. Use the Public Works or Sanitation pages to confirm schedules and current contractor details. Visit the Town of Highland Park website.
- University Park residents should confirm their service days and procedures on the city’s Solid Waste and Recycling pages. Visit the City of University Park website.
Schedules can vary street by street and may change with seasons or holidays. Subscribe to town alerts for weather or holiday interruptions.
Alley-can placement basics
Set your carts at the designated alley collection point by the morning of pickup. Many towns allow placement the evening before. Remove carts from the alley promptly after service. Check your town’s code for exact time windows.
Keep carts off traffic lanes and away from storm drains and fire lanes. Lids should close fully. Do not overfill. Keep all trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulky items on private property until the approved set-out time.
Best-practice placement tips
- Face wheels toward the alley so carts roll easily back into storage.
- Leave clear space around carts so trucks can service them and vehicles can pass.
- Keep carts away from utility boxes, low branches, and drainage grates.
- Secure lids if animals are an issue and rinse carts as needed to reduce odor.
Recycling: keep it clean
Recycling rules vary by town and hauler. Confirm whether your program is single-stream and which materials are accepted. Contamination is a common reason for rejected loads.
- Follow your town’s accepted materials list for glass, plastics, paper, and cardboard.
- Empty and dry containers before recycling. Keep food and liquids out.
- When in doubt, check recycling basics and contamination guidance from the U.S. EPA and follow your town’s instructions.
Yard waste and brush
Yard waste usually includes leaves, grass clippings, small branches, and trimmings. Many programs require paper yard bags or a separate yard-waste cart. Branches often need to be bundled and cut to a maximum length and diameter. Weight limits may apply.
- Confirm with your town how to bundle branches and which containers are allowed.
- During leaf season, check for seasonal programs or added pickups.
- Keep yard waste on private property until the approved set-out window.
For general state guidance on municipal solid waste and yard-waste handling, review resources from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Bulky items and appliances
Bulky pickups can be by appointment, by request form, or on scheduled days. Procedures and fees vary by town. Some towns include limited bulky pickup in the base service, while others charge per item.
How to schedule a bulky pickup
- Check your town’s Solid Waste page for bulky-item rules and accepted items.
- Confirm whether you need an appointment or if your address is on a scheduled route.
- Identify items that need special handling, such as refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners.
- If Freon removal is required for an appliance, arrange certified service before set-out and follow labeling rules.
- For electronics like TVs or computer monitors, confirm if curbside pickup is allowed or if an e-waste program or event is required.
- Place items only within the allowed set-out window and at the approved location.
Common bulky dos and don’ts
- Furniture and mattresses are often accepted if they are dry and manageable.
- Construction debris, tires, and hazardous materials are typically not accepted. Check your town’s list.
- Do not block the alley with bulky items or set them out days in advance.
Hazardous waste and e-waste
Paints, solvents, pesticides, automotive fluids, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs are generally not allowed at the curb. These items need special drop-off or collection programs.
- Confirm local Household Hazardous Waste options through your town or Dallas County program listings.
- For electronics, follow your town’s e-waste rules or event schedule.
- Review state-level guidance from the TCEQ and recycling basics from the EPA for proper handling.
Avoiding citations
Towns use warnings, notices, and fines to address violations. Common triggers include leaving carts out too long, blocking alleys, setting out bulky items without authorization, and contaminating recycling. Property owners and managers can be responsible for tenant behavior.
- Confirm set-out and removal times for your address.
- Keep alleys clear and lids closed. Do not overfill carts.
- Never leave bulky items in the alley without following your town’s procedure.
Property manager checklist
- Verify service days and set-out rules for each property and share a one-page guide with tenants.
- Keep a master pickup calendar and set reminders for bulky and seasonal collections.
- Label carts by unit to reduce mix-ups and lost containers.
- Document bulk requests, placement photos, and any citations or hauler communication.
- Coordinate with neighbors to map out approved cart placement on tight alleys.
- Include lease addenda that require tenants to follow town waste rules and allow cost recovery for fines.
- Prepare an emergency plan for storms, including how to secure carts and handle delays.
Copy-and-paste tenant notice
Subject: Trash, Recycling, Yard Waste and Bulky Items
To our residents,
Your address is served by [Highland Park or University Park]. Please follow these rules to avoid missed pickups and citations:
- Set carts at the alley collection point only within the approved set-out window for our address.
- Keep lids closed and do not overfill. Remove carts from the alley promptly after service.
- Yard waste must follow town prep rules. Use approved bags or bundles and stay within size limits.
- Bulky items require an appointment or scheduled day. Do not place bulky items in the alley without authorization.
- Hazardous materials and many electronics are not allowed at the curb. Use approved drop-off programs.
For the current schedule and instructions, visit the town’s sanitation pages: Highland Park residents see the Town of Highland Park website. University Park residents see the City of University Park website.
Thank you for keeping our alley safe and clear.
Who to contact
- Schedules, rules, and contractor questions: check your town’s site first. Highland Park: Town of Highland Park website. University Park: City of University Park website.
- Recycling contamination and best practices: EPA Recycling Basics.
- State guidance on municipal solid waste and yard waste: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Keeping alleys clear and collections smooth protects your property value, saves time, and avoids fines. If you are preparing a home for market or managing multiple properties, a clean, well-run alley is part of the curb appeal buyers and neighbors notice. If you want a quick audit of your property’s readiness before you list, we can help you prioritize what matters most.
Ready for tailored, fiduciary advice on prepping, marketing, or managing a Park Cities property? Contact Unknown Company to Request Your Private Client Market Analysis.
FAQs
Which Park Cities rules apply to my address?
- Verify your municipality first. Highland Park residents should use the Town of Highland Park website. University Park residents should use the City of University Park website to confirm rules and schedules.
Where do I place trash and recycling carts in Park Cities alleys?
- Use your alley collection point, leave clearance around carts, and keep lids closed. Follow your town’s set-out window and remove carts promptly after service.
How do I schedule a bulky item or appliance pickup in Highland Park or University Park?
- Check your town’s Solid Waste page to see if you need an appointment or scheduled route. Note any fees, Freon requirements for appliances, and set-out instructions.
What counts as yard waste and how should it be prepared?
- Yard waste usually includes leaves, grass clippings, and small branches. Many towns require paper bags or bundles within size and weight limits. Confirm the exact rules with your town.
How do I dispose of hazardous materials or electronics in Park Cities?
- Do not place them at the curb. Use approved HHW or e-waste programs and drop-off events. See state guidance from the TCEQ and recycling basics from the EPA.
What happens if a tenant leaves trash or bulky items in the alley outside allowed times?
- The town may issue warnings or fines. Owners and managers can be held responsible, so include clear tenant instructions and document communications and pickups.
What should I do if my pickup is missed or a cart is damaged?
- Check your town’s alerts for service changes. Then contact the town or the current hauler listed on your town’s sanitation page to report the issue and request service or cart repair.
