Report any of the following problems by calling 623.222.6000 or submit a service request on-line.

The city of Surprise offers residential curbside recyling pickup once a week. Each resident is provided with a 95-gallon recycling receptacle.

The following is a guide for what can and cannot be recycled in the blue container.

If you have any questions about curbside recycling, please contact us at 623-222-6000.

Do Recycle

Recycle Glass
All glass accepted. No color restrictions. Note: Glass cookware, construction glass, mirrors and car winshields cannot be recycled in the blue bin.

Recycle Paper
Newspapers and ad inserts, magazines, catalogues, phonebooks, white paper, paper bags, junk mail, envelopes and any other clean dry paper. Please place shredded paper in a clear plastic bag.

Recycle Cardboard
Empty food boxes like cake, cracker and cereal boxes (without plastic insert), milk and OJ cartons, paper towel tubes, broken down large boxes.

Recycle Food and Beverage Cans
Aluminum beverage cans and steel cans like soup, pet food, tuna, fruit and vegetable.

Recycle Empty Aerosol Cans
Shaving cream, deodorant, and cooking spray.

Recycle Plastics
Any #1 - #7 Plastic container.

Do Not Recycle

No Styrofoam
Food containers, cups, plates, egg cartons, packing material and peanuts.

No glass cookware, car windshields, mirrors or construction glass.

No garbage
Diapers, air or furnace filters, pet waste, food, garden hoses.

No yard waste
Grass, rocks, leaves, branches. See bulk trash collection info or visit Northwest Regional Landfill.

No construction materials
Cement, wood, shingles, drywall, construction glass. To dispose of these items, visit Northwest Regional Landfill.

No plastic bags, motor oil containers, shrink wrap

No clothing or shoes

No automotive parts, car tires, or batteries
See battery recycling locations.

No appliances or electronics
See electronics recycling locations.

• Position the container in the street against the curb, with the handle side closest to your home. Make sure container is at least 3 feet away from fences, light posts, mailboxes or other obstacles.
• Place container curbside by 6 a.m. According to Surprise City Code, containers must be removed prior to 11:00 p.m. of that day of collection.
• Park at least 15 feet away from the container. Your container cannot be emptied if a parked vehicle blocks it.
• Please do not place hazardous materials in your trash container. Only regular household trash, garbage and small quantities of yard trimmings are acceptable. All trash should be bagged and tied.
• Prohibited items include dirt, sod, rocks, concrete, bricks, concrete blocks, roofing/construction materials, auto parts, batteries, tires, ashes, flammable materials, ammunition, guns, oil, gas, paint or any other hazardous materials.
• Pay close attention to children and animals! Please make sure children and animals are NOT playing near containers, especially at collection time.
• Avoid overfilling containers. Lid should be closed to eliminate odors, nuisances and to ensure the contents will remain in the container until dumped...and the weight limit is 200 pounds.
• Cardboard boxes should be cut into smaller pieces to prevent jamming and placed in the blue recycling container.
• Do not bag & tie recyclables
• Place all recyclables together in the blue container - no need to sort
• Rinse recyclable containers to remove food
• No need to remove labels from recyclables
• Lids may be left on if they are also recyclable
• Break down larger cardboard boxes

Surprise has several locations across the city that accept used cell phones and now other small electronic devices for recycling. There is also a location to recycle used rechargeable, household and auto batteries.

In addition to cell phones, people can now drop off old video game systems (Play Station, X-box, Nintendo); iPods, MP3 players, laptops and digital cameras to help support Senior Center programs. **Larger items, such as computer towers and monitors will NOT be accepted at these locations.

Small Electronics

City Hall; City Store - 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza
Surprise Senior Center - 15832 N. Hollyhock St
Fire Station 301 - 16750 N Village Dr East
Fire Station 302 - 18600 N Reems Rd
Fire Station 303 - 15440 N Cotton Ln
Fire Station 304 - 22443 N 163rd Ave
Fire Station 305 - 15517 N Parkview Place
Fire Station 306 - 16645 W Clearview Blvd
Sprint Preferred Retailer - 15609 W Bell Rd. Suite 103

Used Battery Recycling

All types of rechargeable, household and auto batteries may be discarded at:

Interstate Batteries
17173 N Litchfield Rd, Suite 35
Surprise, AZ
623.584.1300

For more information about the cell phone and small electronics recycling program call the Surprise Senior Center at 623.222.1500.

For information on recycling larger items and household hazardous materials please call the Surprise Public Works Department at 623.222.6000.

The city of Surprise offers Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events at different times throughout the year to help protect the environment by properly disposing items which may contain harmful chemicals. These events are open to Surprise residents only and proof of residency is required (driver’s license/city utility bill).

Tips to Reduce Hazardous Waste

• Read labels and buy environmentally safe products
• Buy only what you will use, or give away unused portions.
• Buy latex-based paint.

Paint

Paint, if completely dried, may be disposed of in the regular trash collection. Latex paint (paint that can be cleaned up with water) should be air-dried in its container away from children and pets. When the paint is completely solidified, the can and its contents can be thrown away.

Solvent-based. Air drying liquid solvent-based paint (paint that can only be cleaned up with turpentine or other solvents) is generally not recommended. If the paint has become completely solidified, it can be disposed of in the regular trash collection. If there is a small amount of paint leftover in the can, dry it out by adding an absorbent material such as cat litter. Otherwise, it should be considered household hazardous waste.

Motor Oil

To dispose of motor oil, consult the telephone directory for the nearest Checker Auto Supply or Pep Boys. Call for specific instructions.

Batteries & Other Small Electronics

View Battery & Small Electronics Drop-off Locations

Call 623-222-6000 to schedule a bulk trash appointment.

The City of Surprise offers bulk trash service to residents that are serviced by the City’s Sanitation Department. Acceptable bulk trash items are; household items, yard debris, or appliances. The bulk crew cannot pick up dirt, rocks, concrete, concrete blocks, bricks, roofing materials, batteries or hazardous materials.

There is a limit of 10 cubic yards per household and a limit of 20 cubic yards per year, at no charge to the resident. Residents do not need to be home when bulk items are picked up. Bulk items need to be set out before 6:00 a.m. and placed on the front edge of the resident’s property line, before the sidewalk. Bulk items cannot be placed on top of the sidewalk or into the street. For reference, one cubic yard is about the size of one washer or one dryer.

Remember this when arranging your Bulk Collection:

• Neatly stack your bulky items on the front edge of your property. Do not place items on the sidewalk or in the street.
• Large quantities of small items such as clothing, toys, or other debris should be bagged. Small quantities can go into your trash can. Small amounts of vegetation or yard debris can also be bagged and tied and placed in your trash can.
• Keep your bulk waste at least five feet from any object like a pole or a fence.
• Tree branches and large items need to be cut down to four foot sections.
• Large quantities of loose grass, leaves and other small yard debris should be bagged or boxed.
• Construction or demolition debris of less than 25 pounds or less than four feet in length will be accepted.

• Branches and brush larger than four foot in length – cut them into smaller pieces.
• Any Construction or demolition debris 25 pounds and over, longer than four feet, or any debris from a contractor. Call a private hauler for collection of this material.
• Dirt, rocks, concrete, concrete blocks, bricks, and roofing materials. Call a private hauler for collection of this material.
• Any metal or car parts in excess of 25 pounds or longer than four feet.
• Any glass, e.g., windows, shower doors, or mirrors.
• Tires, batteries or hazardous materials – hold these for the special spring and fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events.

Christmas Tree Disposal

The City of Surprise offers several Christmas Tree disposal sites. The drop-off period typically runs from the day after Christmas through the 2nd Sunday in January.

Please remove all decorations and place trees in designated areas only. Limit - two trees per household.

Drop-off locations:

Gaines Park
15837 N. Nash Street (north end of the parking lot)

Surprise Recreation Campus/ Youth Baseball Complex
15795 N. Parkview Place (across from Valley Vista High School)

Surprise Farms Softball Park
17894 Westpark Blvd (parking lot on corner of N Willow Canyon Rd & W. Surprise Farms Dr. South)

Moving Box Pickup Service

As a welcome to Surprise, each new resident receives a free, one-time pick up of moving boxes. Boxes must be flattened and tied or taped together. To schedule a pick up, call the Public Works Department at 623.222.6000.

Disposal of Unused Medicines

The City of Surprise Police Department hosts unused medicine disposal events throughout the year. These events are posted on the web calendar and our facebook page.

Click here to download a guide for proper disposal of unused medicines

Home Medical Sharps Disposal

The handling and disposal of used home generated medical sharps such as needles, syringes, and lancets, are exempted from regulation in Arizona's Medical Waste Regulations (Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-13-1401 et seq.). However, these materials still need to be handled safely. ADEQ needs your help in ensuring that medical sharps are disposed of in a manner that helps minimize health risks to garbage haulers, landfill personnel and the community.

Medical sharps should be placed in either a purchased medical sharps container (from a pharmacy or health care provider) or a heavy-plastic or metal container. The containers should be puncture-proof with a tight-fitting lid. Household containers such as plastic detergent bottles can be used if the following precautions are observed:

• Use heavy-duty tape such as electrical or duct tape to secure the lid to the container.
• Write the words "Not Recyclable" on the container with a black indelible marker. This helps to ensure the container will not be inadvertently mingled with recyclable materials.
• Do not use a clear or glass container.
• Do not over-stuff the containers with medical sharps (fill only to approximately: full).
• This can increase pressure on the lid and cause a release of the medical sharps.
• While waiting for a full container, keep out of reach of children and pets. Always wash your hands after handling or touching medical sharps. Once you have followed these precautions, the container may be placed in your regular trash for disposal.

Which container should I use for recycling?

RECYCLE in the Blue Can

Where do I place my container?

In neighborhoods without sidewalks, the container should be placed next to the street, but not on the asphalt. In all other areas, the cans will be collected from the street, just like regular garbage collection. Sidewalks must be kept clear for pedestrian and wheelchair access at all times.

Why didn't my recycling or garbage get dumped?

Usually it’s one of four reasons:

• The truck came by before your container was put at the curb. Your container should be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. Don’t rely on routes being run at the same time every week.
• It contained illegal materials such as rocks, bricks, etc., or was over the 200 pound weight limit.
• A car or other obstacle was blocking access to the trash container
• It’s a City holiday. Click here to download the Holiday Collection Schedule.

To request a courtesy pick-up, call 623.222.6000. If time allows, a truck may be rerouted to your home.

Where will recyclables be collected?

Every single-family residence already being serviced by the City's Public Works Division participates in the recycling program. This includes all Surprise neighborhoods that have their trash collected by the City of Surprise. Each residence receiving service will be issued a blue city-owned recycling container, and all recycling collection will take place at the public curb in front of the residences.

What can I place in my curbside container?

Click here for information on acceptable items in the blue container.

For damaged or missing containers, call 623.222.6000 for repair or replacement. Allow three to five days for delivery or repair.

How do I set up service and get a trash and recycling can for my new home?

New residents should call American Water at 888.300.3569 to order a receptacle. Allow seven to 10 days for delivery. Remember, we offer free, one-time pick up of moving boxes. Boxes must be flattened and tied or taped together. To schedule a pick up, call the Public Works Department at 623.222.6000.

I am moving. How do I cancel my service?

Call American Water at 800.300.3569 to discontinue service. The container remains part of the property and should be left in a secure location.

How do I report a street light out?

If it’s one of the decorative streetlights along Bell Road, or in the Mondell section of Kingswood Parke, call the City of Surprise Engineering Department at 623.222.3400. All other streetlights in the City are the responsibility of Arizona Public Service. Call APS at 602.371.7171, or click HERE to link directly with APS Customer Service. Be prepared to report the pole number. The number is located on the pole, about six feet off the ground and is usually six digits or more.

What items are considered "hazardous waste"?