Fort Worth runs four Drop-Off Stations, and they're free to city residents — which makes them the cheapest way to get rid of extra garbage, brush, bulk items, remodel debris, and even paint and chemicals. Two things trip people up: the hours are shorter than most people expect (closed Sunday AND Monday, and Saturday ends at noon), and you need the right paperwork — a water bill showing sanitation charges plus a matching license. Here are all four stations and the exact rules.
Fort Worth Drop-Off Stations — free, but bring the right paperwork
Free to Fort Worth residents with a city solid waste (sanitation) account.
What to bring: a copy or photo of your current Water Utility bill — dated within the last six months and showing the sanitation charges under 'Account Activity' — PLUS a matching driver's license. A license alone isn't enough for garbage or bulk.
Live in a Fort Worth apartment? Your driver's license alone is enough, but only for recycling and household hazardous waste — not general garbage or bulk.
Hours are Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–noon. Closed Sunday and Monday. (Several junk-removal sites list 'Mon–Fri 8–6' — that is out of date. These hours come straight from the city.)
Accepts a wide range: extra household garbage, recycling, yard waste, bulk waste, household hazardous waste, and small home repair & remodel waste.
Loads must be tarped, secured, or covered on the way in.
Closed on these holidays: MLK Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Questions? Call the 311 Fort Worth Contact Center at 817-392-1234 (7 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturdays).
Disposal sites in Fort Worth
Southeast Drop-Off Station
Residential Drop-Off Station
City of Fort Worth Environmental Services
5150 Martin Luther King Freeway, Fort Worth, TX Directions ↗
Free for Fort Worth residents — bring a water bill from the last six months showing sanitation charges, plus a matching driver's license. Apartment residents can drop off recycling and household chemicals with just their license
Accepts: Extra household garbage, Recycling, Yard waste, Bulk waste, Household hazardous waste, Small home repair & remodel waste
Free for Fort Worth residents — bring a water bill from the last six months showing sanitation charges, plus a matching driver's license. Apartment residents can drop off recycling and household chemicals with just their license
Accepts: Extra household garbage, Recycling, Yard waste, Bulk waste, Household hazardous waste, Small home repair & remodel waste
Free for Fort Worth residents — bring a water bill from the last six months showing sanitation charges, plus a matching driver's license. Apartment residents can drop off recycling and household chemicals with just their license
Accepts: Extra household garbage, Recycling, Yard waste, Bulk waste, Household hazardous waste, Small home repair & remodel waste
Free for Fort Worth residents — bring a water bill from the last six months showing sanitation charges, plus a matching driver's license. Apartment residents can drop off recycling and household chemicals with just their license
Accepts: Extra household garbage, Recycling, Yard waste, Bulk waste, Household hazardous waste, Small home repair & remodel waste
Usually yes. Most Texas landfills charge by weight (a per-ton gate rate) or by the load, and many cities give residents a discount or a set number of free drop-offs if you can show a current utility bill. Small transfer and collection stations sometimes take household trash for free. Exact fees are listed per facility above.
What's the difference between a landfill and a dump?
In everyday use people say "the dump," but a modern landfill is an engineered, permitted site with liners and monitoring. A transfer station is a smaller site where waste is collected and hauled to a landfill. Both take household junk; a transfer or collection station is often closer and quicker for small loads.
What's the cheapest way to get rid of junk for free?
Check whether your city offers free bulk-trash pickup on a set week, use county household-hazardous-waste and cleanup events, and give away usable items. For a landfill drop-off, bring proof of residency to get resident rates. If it's more than you can move yourself, a junk-removal quote is often cheaper than multiple trips plus gate fees.
How do I get rid of large or heavy items?
Bulky items — furniture, appliances, mattresses, construction debris — either go to the landfill (often for an extra per-item fee) or get hauled by a junk-removal service. If you'd rather not rent a truck and pay gate fees, check an upfront junk-removal price.
