Match Your Load to the Right Tucson Recycling Route
Tucson uses several separate systems for recycling and disposal. Los Reales Sustainability Campus handles self-haul waste, scrap metal and a Neighborhood Recycling Center; neighborhood sites serve City residents; glass goes to purple drop-off containers; and chemicals, electronics and other hazardous materials use the Household Hazardous Waste program.
Start with what you have
Fast answer for Tucson residents
Los Reales Sustainability Campus at 5300 E. Los Reales Road is Tucson’s main City-owned landfill and recycling campus. The main campus operates Monday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed Sunday.
For simple household recycling, City residents can also use Neighborhood Recycling Centers. Glass bottles and jars use separate purple containers. Household hazardous waste has different hours—Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM—with the Los Reales HHW site closed on the second Saturday of each month outside the summer-event pause.
On this page
- Tucson recycling system
- Los Reales hours
- 2026 holiday closures
- Neighborhood recycling centers
- Residency rules
- Blue-bin recycling
- Glass recycling
- Hard-to-recycle plastics
- Household hazardous waste
- 2026 HHW events
- Scrap metal & appliances
- Los Reales fees
- Brush & Bulky
- What not to bring
- Before-you-go checklist
- Map
- FAQs
- Official sources
How Tucson Recycling and Drop-Off Services Fit Together
Tucson does not operate one universal recycling center for every material. A household recycling load, glass bottles, a television, a container of pesticide and a truckload of furniture can all require different City programs.
Los Reales Campus
Use Los Reales for landfill/self-haul disposal, Neighborhood Recycling Center access, scrap metal and appliances, plus the City’s main HHW drop-off.
Neighborhood Centers
City of Tucson residents can use designated drop-off sites for household recyclables and the separate glass and hard-to-recycle-plastics programs available there.
HHW Program
Use HHW for chemicals, paint, rechargeable and lithium batteries, electronics, automotive fluids, pesticides, propane cylinders and similar material.
Choose the program before loading the vehicle
Do not assume that something accepted somewhere at Los Reales can be placed in a neighborhood recycling container or blue curbside barrel. Each stream has its own rules.
Los Reales Sustainability Campus Hours
Los Reales Sustainability Campus is at 5300 E. Los Reales Road, Tucson, AZ 85756. The City currently lists normal campus hours as Monday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with Sunday closed.
| Service | Current Hours | Important Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Los Reales main campus | Mon–Sat · 6 AM–5 PM | Landfill, self-haul and related campus services. |
| Sunday | Closed | Do not plan a normal Sunday self-haul trip. |
| Los Reales HHW | Thu–Sat · 7 AM–2 PM | Closed on the second Saturday of each month, except during the summer-month event pause. |
General Los Reales information is available at 520-791-4183. Environmental Services Customer Service is 520-791-3171, recycling information is 520-791-5000, and Tucson 311 can assist with City service questions.
2026 Los Reales Holiday Closures
The City currently lists Los Reales closed on three 2026 holidays.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Los Reales |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | Closed |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 26 | Closed |
| Christmas | Friday, December 25 | Closed |
Other City-observed holidays do not automatically close Los Reales. For a holiday-week trip, check the City’s current service notice before loading the vehicle.
Tucson Neighborhood Recycling Center Locations
The City’s Neighborhood Recycling Centers are funded for City of Tucson residents. The current City list includes four locations.
| Site | Address | Useful For |
|---|---|---|
| Los Reales Sustainability Campus | 5300 E. Los Reales Rd. | Household recyclables plus access to other Los Reales services. |
| Ward 2 Council Office | 7820 E. Broadway Blvd. | Neighborhood drop-off for City residents. |
| Ward 5 Recycling Center | 4300 S. Park Ave. | Neighborhood recycling and nearby specialty drop-off streams. |
| West Tucson | 1925 S. San Antonio Dr. | Neighborhood drop-off behind Tucson Fire Station 15. |
Container temporarily missing?
The City says a Neighborhood Recycling Center container that is temporarily absent may simply be out for servicing and is expected to return within about 24 hours.
Who Can Use Tucson Neighborhood Recycling Centers?
Neighborhood Recycling Centers are intended for residents who live inside the City of Tucson. The City specifically states that people outside City limits—including residents of unincorporated Pima County and nearby communities such as Marana and Vail—are not permitted to use these City-funded neighborhood sites.
City limits matter
A Tucson mailing address does not always mean the property is inside Tucson city limits. If you live in unincorporated Pima County or another municipality, confirm the correct county, municipal or private drop-off option.
The Los Reales landfill itself serves a broader regional customer base and should not be confused with eligibility for the City’s neighborhood recycling program.
Tucson Blue-Bin Recycling Rules
Tucson residential recycling is collected every other week. Recyclables should be empty, clean and dry, placed loose in the blue barrel, and set out by 6:00 AM on the assigned collection day.
Put these in the blue bin
- Plastic bottles, jugs and containers #1, #2 and #5
- Aluminum and tin cans
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Eligible cartons
Keep these out
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic grocery bags
- Flexible plastic film
- Garbage
- Food waste
- Very dirty food containers
Preparation details
- Put recyclables loose in the barrel rather than inside bags or boxes.
- Items should generally be larger than a tennis ball.
- Labels can remain on containers.
- Leave bottle and container lids on for the blue-bin stream.
- Do not flatten cans or bottles.
- Flatten or cut cardboard so it fits in the container.
- Remove plastic wrap and liners from cardboard.
Glass Recycling in Tucson Uses Purple Drop-Off Containers
Glass bottles and jars should not be placed in Tucson’s curbside blue recycling barrel. The City maintains a separate glass program using purple collection containers.
Only empty, clean and dry glass bottles and jars belong in these purple containers. Labels can stay on, but caps and lids should be removed.
| Example Glass Site | Address |
|---|---|
| Archer Center | 1665 S. La Cholla Blvd. |
| Armory Senior Center | 220 S. 5th Ave. |
| El Pueblo Center | 101 W. Irvington Rd. |
| El Rio Center | 1390 W. Speedway Blvd. |
| Los Reales | 5300 E. Los Reales Rd. |
| Ward 2 Office | 7820 E. Broadway Blvd. |
| Ward 5 Recycling Center | 4300 S. Park Ave. |
| Westside Police Substation | 1310 W. Miracle Mile |
The City maintains additional purple glass locations beyond the examples above.
Hard-to-Recycle Plastics: Current Orange Bin Rules
Tucson’s Orange Bin program is a separate residential stream for hard-to-recycle plastics that do not belong loose in the curbside blue barrel.
Important current change
The City’s current program page says participants no longer need to purchase Hefty ReNew orange bags once existing supplies are used. Eligible plastics should now be collected in a clear or transparent plastic bag, tied closed and placed in an orange roll-off drop-off container.
Examples of eligible hard-to-recycle plastics
- Plastic bags and film
- Bread and produce bags
- Bubble wrap and air pillows
- Single-use plastic utensils and straws
- Selected wrappers and flexible packaging
- Foam packing peanuts
- Foam blocks
- Foam clamshells, cups and plates
Do not place these loose into an orange bin
The current program instructs participants to contain eligible lightweight plastics in clear/transparent bags. Ordinary rigid #1, #2 and #5 bottles, jugs and containers still belong in blue-bin recycling rather than the Orange Bin stream.
Tucson Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
The main Household Hazardous Waste drop-off is at Los Reales Sustainability Campus, 5300 E. Los Reales Road.
Current HHW hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Los Reales HHW site is closed on the second Saturday of each month outside the summer-month event pause.
HHW residency and fees
The service is free for City of Tucson residents. Residents of Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and unincorporated Pima County are currently charged $15. Bring a driver’s license or current utility bill to document residency.
Examples accepted
- Automotive fluids, subject to a 10-gallon limit
- Cooking oil in suitable plastic containers
- Paint products, subject to a 25-gallon limit
- Oil filters
- Electronics
- Auto batteries
- Rechargeable and lithium batteries
- Small button batteries
- Cleaning products
- Fluorescent lamps and bulbs
- Solvents
- Hobby chemicals
- Pesticides
- Lawn and garden chemicals
- Pool chemicals
- Propane cylinders
- Printers and cartridges
- Computers and many electronic devices
- Products labeled flammable, caustic, toxic, poison or danger
Items the HHW program does not accept
- Alkaline batteries
- Business or commercial waste
- Commercial gas cylinders
- Dried paint and empty paint containers
- Explosives or ammunition
- Infectious or radioactive waste
- Sharps, syringes and old medications
- CRT computer monitors
Electronics rules are item-specific
The City’s HHW list accepts many electronics, including TVs and laptops, but specifically excludes CRT computer monitors. Verify unusual or older display equipment before driving.
Remaining 2026 Tucson HHW Community Collection Events
Tucson’s community HHW events are scheduled from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The summer schedule pauses and resumes in September.
| Date | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| October 10, 2026 | Rodeo Grounds | 4823 S. 6th Ave.; enter on 3rd Ave. |
| November 14, 2026 | Eastside City Hall | 7820 E. Broadway Blvd. |
| December 12, 2026 | Pima Community College West | 2202 W. Anklam Rd. |
These events accept household hazardous waste and electronic waste. Verify the specific event page before attending because locations, traffic instructions or accepted services can change.
Scrap Metal and Appliance Recycling at Los Reales
Residents and commercial customers may bring accepted metal appliances and scrap metal to Los Reales for recycling without the normal scrap-metal recycling charge.
Examples listed by the City
- Metal fencing without concrete or cement posts
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Air conditioners
- Stoves
- Washers and dryers
- Evaporative coolers
- Hot water heaters
Refrigerant appliances have a current fee
The Los Reales campus rate schedule currently lists a $20 refrigerant-appliance disposal fee in addition to other applicable landfill charges. An older recycling subpage still mentions a $5 evacuation fee, so fee-sensitive customers should confirm the current charge before loading a refrigerator, freezer or air conditioner.
Current Los Reales Self-Hauler Fees
Los Reales landfill pricing applies when you are self-hauling disposal material rather than using a free neighborhood recycling stream.
| Load or Item | Current Published Rate | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|
| Covered load under 2,000 lb | $18 | Contain and cover material to prevent flying debris. |
| Covered load over 2,000 lb | $38 per ton | Weight-based disposal rate. |
| Uncovered load | Additional $10 | Use a tarp, blanket, sheet or other suitable cover. |
| Passenger tire | $5 each | Limit 10; other applicable fees can also apply. |
| Special handling | $120/ton; $78 minimum | Confirm unusual loads before arrival. |
| Refrigerant appliance | $20 per appliance | Added to other applicable charges. |
| Environmental fee | $2 | Added to Los Reales loads. |
Current payment information lists Apple Pay, tap-to-pay, Visa, Mastercard and Discover for residential/self-hauler transactions. A deposit can be required for certain larger loads.
Rates can change
Tucson announced landfill tipping-fee changes in 2026. Check the live Los Reales rate table before a paid disposal trip rather than relying on an older screenshot or article.
Brush & Bulky May Save You a Trip to Los Reales
City residential service includes Brush & Bulky collection twice each year for qualifying customers. It is separate from normal curbside recycling and from Los Reales self-haul disposal.
Examples currently accepted
- Appliances with refrigerator/freezer doors removed
- Up to five auto tires in a separate pile
- Brush up to five feet long and 24 inches in diameter
- Boxed cactus up to 25 pounds
- Furniture and carpet
- Lumber up to five feet long
- Scrap metal and pipes up to five feet long
Examples not accepted
- Compressed gas or air cylinders
- Concrete
- Construction material
- Dirt, stone, rocks and gravel
- Glass and mirrors
- Paint, oil, pesticides and solvents
- Televisions and computer monitors
Use HHW for hazardous products and electronics rather than placing them in a Brush & Bulky pile.
Important Materials That Need a Different Route
| Material | Do Not Use | Better Starting Route |
|---|---|---|
| Glass bottles and jars | Blue curbside bin | Purple glass drop-off container. |
| Plastic bags and film | Loose in blue bin | Current Orange Bin hard-to-recycle plastics program if eligible. |
| Household chemicals | Trash or neighborhood recycling | Household Hazardous Waste program. |
| TVs and electronics | Blue recycling barrel | HHW/electronics route. |
| Furniture and large debris | Neighborhood recycling container | Brush & Bulky or Los Reales self-haul. |
| Hazardous commercial waste | Residential HHW program | Use an authorized commercial hazardous-waste service. |
Before-You-Go Tucson Recycling Checklist
- Identify the exact waste stream. Blue-bin recycling, glass, Orange Bin plastics, HHW, scrap metal and landfill disposal all have different rules.
- Check City residency. Neighborhood Recycling Centers are reserved for City of Tucson residents.
- Check the operating day. Los Reales is closed Sunday; HHW has a narrower Thursday–Saturday schedule.
- Check the second Saturday. The Los Reales HHW facility closes on the second Saturday of each month outside the summer pause.
- Keep blue-bin items loose. Do not bag ordinary curbside recyclables.
- Separate glass. Use purple glass containers rather than Tucson’s curbside blue bin.
- Use clear bags for current Orange Bin plastics. Follow the latest City hard-to-recycle-plastics instructions.
- Protect HHW during transport. Keep containers upright, closed and separated; never mix unknown chemicals.
- Cover self-haul loads. Uncovered Los Reales loads currently carry an additional charge.
- Call before unusual appliances or special waste. Current landfill fees and recycling-subpage fees can differ, particularly for refrigerant appliances.
- Check Brush & Bulky first. Furniture, appliances, tires and brush may already be included in your residential service schedule.
Los Reales Sustainability Campus Map
The map below points to Tucson’s Los Reales Sustainability Campus. Neighborhood Recycling Centers and glass sites are located elsewhere across the city.
Tucson Recycling Center FAQs
Where is the main Tucson recycling center?
Los Reales Sustainability Campus is at 5300 E. Los Reales Road, Tucson, AZ 85756. It includes landfill/self-haul services, a Neighborhood Recycling Center, scrap-metal recycling and the City’s primary HHW drop-off.
What are Los Reales hours?
The main Los Reales campus is currently open Monday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Is Los Reales open Sunday?
No. The City currently lists Los Reales Sustainability Campus as closed Sunday.
Can I recycle glass in Tucson’s blue bin?
No. Glass bottles and jars should go to Tucson’s separate purple glass drop-off containers.
Where can I recycle cardboard in Tucson?
Clean, flattened cardboard can go in eligible City curbside blue bins or City Neighborhood Recycling Centers. Remove plastic wrapping and liners first.
Can people outside Tucson city limits use Neighborhood Recycling Centers?
No. The City says these neighborhood sites are for City of Tucson residents and excludes users from unincorporated Pima County and nearby jurisdictions such as Marana and Vail.
What are Tucson HHW hours?
The Los Reales HHW drop-off is currently listed Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with second-Saturday closures outside the summer event pause.
Is Tucson household hazardous waste free?
It is free for City of Tucson residents. Current City guidance lists a $15 fee for residents of Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and unincorporated Pima County.
Can I recycle a television through Tucson HHW?
Yes. TVs are among the electronics accepted by the HHW program. The City separately states that CRT computer monitors are not accepted, so verify older display equipment before traveling.
Do I still need a Hefty ReNew orange bag?
The City’s current Orange Bin program page says participants no longer need to purchase Hefty ReNew orange bags after using existing supplies. Eligible hard-to-recycle plastics can be collected in clear or transparent plastic bags and taken to designated orange roll-offs.
How much is a small Los Reales self-haul load?
The current City rate page lists $18 for a covered load under 2,000 pounds, plus the applicable $2 environmental fee.
How much does Los Reales charge for passenger tires?
The current rate page lists $5 per passenger tire, with a limit of 10 tires, in addition to other applicable charges.
What holidays close Los Reales in 2026?
Los Reales is listed closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day in 2026.
Official Sources Checked
This guide was refreshed using current City of Tucson Environmental Services information covering Los Reales, residential recycling, Neighborhood Recycling Centers, glass recycling, hard-to-recycle plastics, Household Hazardous Waste, Brush & Bulky and 2026 service schedules.
- City of Tucson — Los Reales Sustainability Campus
- City of Tucson — Recycling Services
- City of Tucson — Neighborhood Recycling Centers
- City of Tucson — Glass Recycling
- City of Tucson — Hard-to-Recycle Plastics / Orange Bin
- City of Tucson — Household Hazardous Waste
- City of Tucson — HHW Accepted Materials
- City of Tucson — 2026 HHW Community Events
- City of Tucson — Recycling at Los Reales
- City of Tucson — Brush & Bulky
Verification date: September 30, 2026.