Next Tasks
Timely, right-now ways to help — and to look out for the crews who keep our alleys clean.
Beat the Texas Heat: Look Out for Our Sanitation Workers
The crews who empty our alleys work through triple-digit Dallas afternoons so our neighborhoods stay clean. Keeping alley collection means keeping the people who provide it safe. Here are a few simple, neighborly things we can all do for as long as the heat hangs on.
- Leave out cold water. A small cooler of bottled water or electrolyte drinks by your bins on collection day is a welcome relief on a hot route.
- Set trash out early. Put carts out the night before or first thing in the morning so crews can finish before the worst afternoon heat.
- Clear the path. Roll carts to an easy-to-reach spot and keep the alley clear so workers aren't hauling extra distance in the sun.
- Don't overfill. Close the lid, bag loose trash, and break down boxes so carts aren't dangerously heavy to lift and roll.
- Say thanks. A note taped to the cart, or a wave when you see the crew, goes a long way toward recognizing hard, hot work.
- Give them room. Slow down and watch for crews when you drive through the alley, especially on collection days.
Keeping our alley crews safe is part of keeping alley service — for our neighborhoods and for the people who serve them.
Attend a Meeting: Keep an Eye on the City's Schedule
Decisions about alley collection — including the tiered rate that would set separate prices for alley vs. curbside service — get made at public meetings. The best way to hold the City accountable is to be in the room and ask questions.
The City posts its own schedule of council meetings, committee briefings, and district town halls. Check it regularly, find out when and if your district is meeting, and show up when sanitation or the budget is on the agenda. Many meetings offer a virtual option, and most include a public comment period.
1. Know your district
Enter your address to see which council district you live in and who represents you.
Look up my district Council members2. Check the City's schedule
See upcoming council meetings, briefings, and district town halls, with dates, locations, and virtual links.
City of Dallas calendar Council agendasA question worth asking
“How can the City propose a price for alley collection without first seeing what the private industry charges for the same service? Before any tiered rate is set, will the City put alley collection out for competitive bids so we can compare its costs against what private haulers actually charge?”
A rate built only on the Sanitation Department's own internal cost study isn't a fair market price — it's the City grading its own homework. The only way to know whether alley service is truly “too expensive” is to see what private companies would charge to do the same work. Ask for that comparison before any new rate is locked in.
Dates, times, and locations are set by the City and can change. During budget season the City also posts a dedicated budget town halls page with each district's meetings. Confirm details there before you go.