History, how we got here..
Dallas Alley Trash Facts: The City's Plan to End Your Service
What's Happening
Dallas is eliminating alley trash service for 26,000 households starting January 19, 2026. This affects neighborhoods with narrow alleys (8-9 feet) and unimproved surfaces.
The 75-Year History
Dallas neighborhoods were designed with alleys 75 years ago as part of deliberate city planning to:
- Consolidate utilities behind homes
- Keep front streets clean and attractive
- Create comprehensive waste infrastructure
95,000 homes
(36%) receive alley service
166,000 homes
(64%) use curbside pickup
The City's Long-Term Plan
2022 Policy Foundation
City Council adopted the Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) in 2022, which specifically calls for "minimizing alley and combined routes where household configurations allow curbside service." This plan recommends the city "exit the alleys" as a high-priority action.
In fact, in 2022, per the LSWMP, over 100,000 residents had alley service.
The city has already cut alley service for 5,000 residents since 2022 without approval from the City Council.
Sanitation Director's Vision
Sanitation Director Clifton Gillespie has stated in the June 18, 2024 Briefing to City Council that "ideal state involves no alleys" for waste collection.
2024 - City Council Requests Delay
The City Council requested a delay in implementation in 2024, because it thought the plan wouldn't work for constituents. The City Manager acquiesced to this request in the fall of 2024.
June 18, 2025 - New Push
After studying the problem for another year, Clifton Gillespie gave another presentation and proposed pushing these changes through without a vote by the City Council and the City Manager, Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, has supported that approach.
Alley to Curbside Service Implementation Timeline
Phase 1 - January 19, 2026
- 8-9 foot wide alleys
- Unimproved surfaces
- Dead-end alleys
Phase 2 - July 20, 2026
Additional narrow alleys
City's Justifications
Safety
Worker injuries, property damage, equipment hazards
Cost
Alley service costs more vs. lower curbside costs
Efficiency
Alley crews collect 125 homes/hour vs. 233 homes/hour curbside
Citizens Push Back
Keep Alley Trash Coalition
- Over 10,000 petition signatures opposing the change
- Coalition formed across multiple neighborhood associations
- Organized speakers at City Council meetings
Key Arguments Against
- Financial burden: Significant expense for modifications to landscaping, fences, new concrete pads
- Service equity: Elderly and disabled residents cannot move heavy bins; Helping Hands Program likely overwhelmed with demand
- City accountability: City controls 4 of 5 factors affecting alley service quality (citizens responsible for clearing brush, while city responsible for other alley maintenance and has failed at it)
- Alternative solutions: City owns specialized trucks designed for narrow alleys or could consider outsourcing to companies that have greater scale than the city and could operate more efficiently
- Aesthetic concerns: Many neighborhoods were designed with alleys to keep front yards looking neat and tidy. This change will make our city less beautiful and turn alleys into neglected zones of blight
Legal Authority Confirmed
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert confirmed in her September 5, 2025 response to Council Member Bill Roth that the Sanitation Director has authority under Dallas City Code Section 18-4 to designate collection points.
Take Action Now
2. Complain/Request Reevaluation
There is a form available to do this at the bottom of this webpage
Fill Form5. Attend City Council
Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street
Wednesdays at 9:00 AM | Register to Speak
6. Wait for Updates!
The Keep Alley Trash Coalition will continue to coordinate resistance efforts with emails
SubscribeThe Fight Continues
Despite over 10,000 petition signatures and organized citizen opposition, the city is proceeding with implementation. Your voice and action are needed now.