Sweetwater runs two separate sites under one department, and which one you want depends entirely on what is in the vehicle. The landfill sits out on the North I-20 frontage road east of town — the city gives its address as 5452 North I-20 Frontage Road, though satnavs and mapping services usually find it as 3000 West Alabama Avenue. The recycling centre is in town at 807 West Broadway.

At the landfill the deal is simple. Bring a City of Sweetwater water bill and there is nothing to pay. No water account, or arriving as a contractor, and the charge is ten dollars for every cubic yard tipped. Opening is narrow: Monday through Saturday, eight in the morning until noon only, weather permitting, and closed on public holidays. The city asks people to ring 325-235-8184 before setting out, which is sound advice for a site that shuts when the weather turns.

What the landfill will take is bulky rather than everyday: appliances, brush, clothing, household furniture, remodelling and roofing materials, and yard waste. What it will not take surprises people — ordinary household rubbish is on the refused list, as are batteries, paints, household chemicals and tyres. Routine bin waste in Sweetwater is collected kerbside by Republic Services instead.

Several of those refused items are welcome at the Broadway recycling centre, free to Sweetwater residents, open weekdays eight until four and Saturday mornings until noon. It takes aluminium, clean cardboard, metal, oil filters from households, used oil up to sixteen quarts a day, and tyres at four per household per day. It will not take electronics, glass, paper, plastic bags, food waste or household rubbish. That number is 325-236-8169.