Will your Fort Worth trash pickup day change for Christmas? Here’s the schedule
Holiday plans can get busy, but Fort Worth’s trash pickup schedule is one more thing residents may want to double-check before Christmas arrives.
The city does not collect garbage or recycling on Christmas Day, which pushes several routes to later in the week.
That means some households will need to roll their carts out on a different morning than usual.
Other city services, including libraries and community centers, typically close for the holiday as well.
Here’s what to know about the expected changes.
How will Christmas Day affect trash and recycling schedules?
Since Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, only Thursday and Friday routes will shift. The rest of the week stays the same.
Here’s how the holiday schedule is expected to shift.
- Monday pickups: No change
- Tuesday pickups: No change
- Wednesday pickups: No change
- Thursday pickups: Move to Friday
- Friday pickups: Move to Saturday
Make sure your cart is out by 7 a.m. on your adjusted pickup day.
Can I set out extra bags without being charged after Christmas?
Yes. The city lets residents place up to two extra bags of garbage next to their cart on the first pickup day after Christmas.
You won’t need tags or stickers. This schedule also applies to New Year’s Day.
Extra bags might be collected separately from your cart, so don’t be surprised if pickup times look a little different that day.
Will bulk collections change during the holiday week?
Bulk pickup pauses on Christmas Day and starts back up the next day.
If your normal route falls on Thursday or Friday, your bulk pickup will follow the same one-day delay as your trash and recycling. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday routes stay the same.
Are Fort Worth drop off and environmental centers open on Christmas?
No. The Environmental Collection Center and the city’s four drop-off stations are closed on Dec. 25 and reopen on Dec. 26.
Those sites are located at:
- 2400 Brennan Avenue
- 5150 Martin Luther King Freeway
- 6260 Old Hemphill Road
- 301 Hillshire Drive
It’s always a good idea to double-check the city’s website for details on what each drop off location accepts.
What city services are closed on Christmas Day?
Fort Worth hasn’t released its official 2025 holiday schedule yet, but closures usually follow the same pattern every year. Based on last year’s operations:
- City offices, including City Hall, close on Christmas Day
- Public libraries close on Dec. 25
- Community centers close early Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day
- The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, the Haws Athletic Center and FW at Six programs are closed on Christmas
- Log Cabin Village closes Dec. 24 and 25
- Municipal golf courses close early Christmas Eve and reopen Dec. 26
