Alice landfill closes due to weather, disrupting local trash disposal

Residents trying to clear storm debris, brush and household trash in Alice had to put those plans on hold after the city closed its landfill because of weather. The city did not list a reopening time in the notice, a detail that mattered for anyone with a trailer, pickup load or yard waste already headed for the gate.

The closure hit just as cleanup needs were growing across Jim Wells County. The City of Alice Public Works Department says the landfill division is responsible for disposing of trash, garbage and brush in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations. The city’s brush and bulky items information also says residents may haul brush to a permitted landfill within city guidelines or schedule a special pickup for a fee, which made the weather shutdown immediately disruptive for people trying to move limbs, leaves and other debris.

The city’s disposal rules also spell out who can still use the landfill at no charge. Residents with proof of residency and a water bill showing the garbage fee are allowed one free disposal per week and free disposal all day on Saturday. Commercial loads and construction and demolition debris do not qualify for that free service. For people paying by the ton, the city lists tipping fees of $56.00 per ton inside city limits and $86.00 per ton outside city limits, with minimum charges attached.

The timing came after a rough stretch of weather. On May 21, KRIS 6 News reported flooded streets, standing water and storm debris in Alice after heavy overnight rainfall, with residents also describing high creek water and branches down in the road. In that setting, a landfill closure meant more than a brief inconvenience. It forced households, contractors and cleanup crews to hold debris longer, change their routes or wait to unload until the site reopened.

Alice and Jim Wells County have also leaned on emergency communication tools to keep residents informed during weather disruptions. The City of Alice says residents can register for local emergency alerts and community alerts, and Jim Wells County says it partnered with Alice and Orange Grove to launch Be Alert, a mass-notification system powered by Everbridge. The landfill notice landed in the middle of a busy run of mid-May service updates, underscoring how weather can quickly ripple through trash pickup, street work and cleanup plans.

The landfill is listed at 3217 N U.S. Hwy 281 in Alice, Texas 78332, making the closure a direct hit to the routine trips many residents make for weekend cleanup and post-storm hauling.