Most people pull up old carpet, roll it, and drag it to the alley, then stand there wondering what actually happens next. In Midland, the answer is not as simple as the city's appliance pickup. Carpet is one of those items that falls into a gap in the official guidelines, and if you show up at the wrong place without calling first, you are making a wasted trip in West Texas heat.
Why Carpet Disposal in Midland Is Trickier Than It Looks
The City of Midland's solid waste program is solid for appliances and furniture. Carpet is a different animal. It is bulky, awkward to roll tightly, and most cities treat it as a gray-area item, not quite construction debris, not quite household furniture. Midland's official trash service page lists specific examples of what alley pickup covers: couches, chairs, freezers, AC units, water heaters, washers, dryers, refrigerators. Carpet does not appear on that list.
That does not mean the city will not take it. It means you need to call before you assume. Midland Solid Waste can be reached at 432-685-7278.
There is also no dedicated carpet recycling facility in Midland. Unlike mattresses or refrigerators, carpet does not have a manufacturer take-back program or a direct recycling path in this area. Your options are landfill disposal, donation of new carpet, or private haul-away.
Free Alley Pickup: What the City Will and Won't Take
Midland residents can schedule free bulky item pickup by calling 432-685-7278. Once scheduled, items go in the alley behind your home, in the city right-of-way. Not next to the dumpster, not on the front curb. The alley, behind the house.
The city explicitly does not pick up construction debris or tree limbs. If your carpet removal is part of a flooring renovation, which it usually is, make sure you are not mixing carpet rolls with tile, adhesive, or underlayment when you set things out. Construction-related debris gets refused.
Drop-Off Centers in Midland
Midland now has two city-run collection centers for residents hauling their own items. The Citizens Convenience Center on W. Highway 80 opened in May 2026 and is larger than the original Citizens Collection Station on Smith Road.
| Center | Address | Hours | Accepts Carpet | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens Collection Station | 4100 Smith Road, Midland, TX 79705 | Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm | Call ahead, not listed specifically | Free (residents only) |
| Citizens Convenience Center | 6400 W. Highway 80, Midland, TX 79703 | Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm | Call ahead, not listed specifically | Free (residents only) |
| City of Midland Landfill | 7904 S Garden City Highway, Midland, TX 79701 | Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm, Sat 9am-2pm | Yes, self-haul accepted | Fees apply, call 432-685-3431 |
Self-Haul to the Landfill
The most direct option for most Midland residents with old carpet is to haul it directly to the City of Midland Landfill at 7904 S Garden City Highway. Carpet is accepted. You pay by weight or load, call the landfill at 432-685-3431 for current rates before you load up.
Roll the carpet tightly and secure it before loading. A standard pickup truck can handle one to two rooms worth of carpet if rolled and stacked. Saturday hours (9am-2pm) work for most people who cannot get there on a weekday.
If you are hiring someone to haul it for you, that person needs a Garbage Hauler's Permit from the city, $500 per year per vehicle. A legitimate hauler will already have this. If they do not, the landfill charges a $25 access fee on top of the regular disposal rates.
Donation Option: New Carpet Only
If you have leftover carpet rolls that were never installed, or unused padding, the Permian Basin Habitat for Humanity ReStore on E Texas Ave accepts flooring donations. The condition requirement is strict: no used, stained, worn, or shag carpet. New or unused only.
For most people replacing flooring in a lived-in home, the carpet being pulled up will not meet that bar. But if you over-ordered new carpet on a project and have unused rolls, this is a worthwhile option before heading to the landfill.
Private Haulers and Junk Removal
If you do not have a truck or cannot make landfill hours work, private junk removal services operate in Midland. They haul carpet with no questions about condition. Costs typically run $100-$200 or more depending on how many rooms and whether there is padding underneath that needs to come out too.
Get at least two quotes. Pricing in West Texas varies considerably between operators and the same job can be quoted very differently depending on the company. Verify the hauler is licensed before booking, unlicensed dumping is illegal and the liability can follow the homeowner.
Common Mistakes
- Putting carpet out in the alley without calling first. The city's bulky pickup list does not include carpet. It may or may not be accepted. Call 432-685-7278 before you drag it out.
- Mixing carpet with construction debris. Tile, grout, adhesive, wood subfloor, none of it goes with the carpet in an alley pickup. Construction debris is explicitly refused by the city.
- Driving to the Collection Station without confirming hours. The Citizens Convenience Center opened in May 2026 and its accepted item list may still be updating. Call before you load the truck.
- Trying to donate used carpet. The ReStore is new-and-unused only. Pulling up old carpet from your floors and expecting them to take it is a wasted trip.
- Leaving it on the front curb. Midland's bulky pickup uses alleys, not front curbs. Items left out front are not guaranteed to be collected and may be cited as illegal dumping.
Tex's Take
Carpet disposal is the kind of task that looks simple until the carpet is rolled and sitting in your garage taking up space for three weeks. Midland's city services are actually useful for appliances and furniture, but carpet sits in a gray zone that the official page does not address directly. That one phone call to 432-685-7278 before you do anything else is the difference between a clean solution and a wasted afternoon.
Self-haul to the landfill is the move here. Just is. You control the timing, you know it is accepted, and the Saturday hours cover most working schedules. If you can borrow a truck or already own one, this is the path with the fewest surprises.
FAQ
Will Midland city bulk pickup take old carpet?
Carpet is not listed on the city's official bulky item pickup list, which specifically names furniture, appliances, and similar household items. Call Midland Solid Waste at 432-685-7278 before placing carpet in the alley to confirm whether it will be collected on your scheduled date.
Can I drop off carpet at the Citizens Collection Station in Midland?
The Citizens Collection Station (4100 Smith Road) and the new Citizens Convenience Center (6400 W. Highway 80) accept bulky household items and furniture, but carpet is not specifically listed. Call 432-685-7278 before making the trip. Both sites are open Tuesday through Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
Where is the City of Midland Landfill and what does it cost to drop off carpet?
The City of Midland Landfill is at 7904 S Garden City Highway, Midland, TX 79701. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:30am-4pm and Saturday 9am-2pm. Call the landfill at 432-685-3431 for current disposal rates before you go, fees apply for self-haul loads.
Can I donate old carpet in Midland?
Only new, unused carpet can be donated. The Permian Basin Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 305 E Texas Ave (432-682-9606) accepts new flooring donations but will not take used, stained, worn, or shag carpet. If your carpet has been installed and lived on, donation is not an option, landfill disposal is the practical route.
Is carpet recycling available in Midland, TX?
No dedicated carpet recycling facility was confirmed in Midland as of June 2026. Unlike electronics or motor oil, carpet does not have a manufacturer take-back program or a local recycling drop-off in this area. Landfill disposal through the city site or a private hauler is the practical option for most residents.
Data last verified June 2026 against official City of Midland solid waste sources (midlandtexas.gov). Hours, fees, and accepted items can change without notice. Call ahead before making a trip.
Conclusion
Getting rid of old carpet in Midland comes down to one question: do you have a truck and time on a weekday morning or Saturday? If yes, the landfill at 7904 S Garden City Highway is the most reliable path. If not, call 432-685-7278 first, either to schedule alley pickup or to confirm whether the Collection Station will take your load. Skipping that call is how you end up making two trips instead of one. For more on disposing of other large household items in West Texas, see how Longview handles carpet disposal and what Odessa residents do with old appliances.
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