DALLAS — Dallas residents are keeping a close eye on the city’s plans to potentially shift from alley trash pickup to curbside collection, a move that could affect tens of thousands of homes. The city is expected to release an update on the proposal this summer.
For residents like Jack Kocks, who has relied on alley trash collection for more than 40 years, the potential change raises concerns about convenience and accessibility. “Our alley is actually 10 feet wide… but I know how the city operates. There’s an appetite on the part of the sanitation department and likely the city manager to move all of the Dallas area trash pickup to the front of the home,” Kocks said. He pointed out the challenges of moving his bins through gates, narrow paths, and grass to reach the curb.
The city has cited worker safety and efficiency as reasons for considering the switch, noting the narrow alleys pose challenges for trash collection. However, residents say the city has not provided data or reports to substantiate these claims. “We have asked numerous times for the safety information… and they won’t provide it to us, and they won’t provide it to the City Council either,” said Dallas resident Jim Collet.
Collet and others have been vocal at City Council meetings, drawing attention online and even creating merchandise to advocate for keeping alley pickup. “The house was designed for the utilities to come in the back of the house. That’s why the alleys were put there in the beginning,” Collet said.
Currently, 94,000 Dallas homes receive alley trash collection, compared with 166,000 locations with curbside pickup. A citywide survey revealed nearly all responding residents wanted to keep alley pickup, and more than half were willing to pay extra for it. Still, the city has not announced a final decision.
During a February council meeting, the sanitation director said residents could expect information ahead of any service changes this summer. If a transition occurs, it would likely begin in February 2027. Residents like Kocks and Collet hope the city’s decision does not lead to wasted time, money, or disruption to long-standing neighborhood routines.