Dallas Residents May Pay More for Alley Trash Pickup

City Council to consider options to transition some customers to curbside service

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:07am

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The Dallas City Council will receive an update on the city's plan to move some customers away from alley trash collection to curbside service. While the original proposal to transition nearly 26,000 customers has been postponed, the city is now considering options that would affect fewer households, potentially less than 10,000. However, residents who keep alley pickup may face higher fees as the city looks to introduce a tiered rate structure.

Why it matters

This decision will impact thousands of Dallas families, with concerns raised about the costs of any potential changes, especially for those on fixed incomes. The city has cited safety and equipment issues as reasons to move away from alley collection, but residents argue the city has neglected alley maintenance, leaving homeowners to bear the burden of upgrades.

The details

The city delayed plans in October to transition nearly 26,000 customers from alley to curbside service after public outcry. Now, the city is considering three new options: transitioning less than 10,000 customers, a 'feasible, targeted transition' of less than 5,000 customers, or no transition at all. Sanitation Director Cliff Gillespie says the department will evaluate 'novel service models' to address safety concerns. Any plan that keeps alley pickup will likely come with fee increases, as the city plans to introduce a 'tiered rate structure' for alley and curbside service.

  • The City Council will receive an update on the sanitation department's plans at a briefing on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The updated plan is expected to be implemented in February 2027.

The players

Cliff Gillespie

The Sanitation Director for the City of Dallas.

Paula Blackmon

A Dallas City Council member representing District 9, which has the second-highest number of customers receiving service in potentially affected alleys.

Gay Donnell Willis

The Deputy Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Dallas, representing District 13, which has the largest number of residents living in alleys narrower than 9 feet wide.

Libby Collet

A District 13 resident who has led the fight to keep trash trucks in the alleys.

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What they’re saying

“I think it [the transition] will move forward. But if they're listening to nuanced comments, I think it's probably not going to be that [original] approach. It'll probably be a different one.”

— Paula Blackmon, Dallas City Council member (dallasobserver.com)

“In other areas, and in light of some utilities outside of the city's purview asking for rate increases, some residents may want the option of switching so they can manage household expenses. This is one aspect of this decision that is personal and affects different households in different ways.”

— Gay Donnell Willis, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem (dallasobserver.com)

“We've got seniors, we've got a lot of people that that's just an added expense that they're not counting on.”

— Libby Collet, District 13 resident (dallasobserver.com)

What’s next

Sanitation staff will consider Council and customer feedback following the briefing, with outreach to begin in June. The updated plan will be implemented in February 2027.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the complex trade-offs between cost, convenience, and safety that cities must navigate when updating their waste collection services. While the city aims to address safety concerns, the potential fee increases and burden on residents, especially those on fixed incomes, will be a key consideration as Dallas determines the future of its alley trash pickup.