Texarkana residents have one of the better deals in north-east Texas and a surprising number of them do not know it exists. The landfill is a Waste Management site west of New Boston on U.S. 82, just east of I-30, and for City of Texarkana, Texas residents there is no disposal fee at all on regular household waste - sofas, washers, dryers, the bulky things that will not fit in a cart.

That matters because the curbside bulk allowance is small. Residents may put out one cubic yard of bulk waste a week alongside the carts, which is about two extra 96-gallon carts, or a single fridge, small sofa, large chair or washing machine. Anything beyond that either gets scheduled as a paid collection or gets driven to New Boston, and the second option is free.

Two conditions decide whether you pay. Proof of residency is required - a current water bill together with a driver's licence - and the free privilege covers household waste only. Construction and remodel debris does not qualify and is charged on a per-ton basis, so a load of demolished bathroom is a different transaction from a load of old furniture. Commercial and industrial waste is charged, and so is any load that arrives uncovered, which is the usual and avoidable penalty.

We have not printed a per-ton figure because WM does not publish one for this site and we will not guess at it; ring 903-628-6595 before hauling anything that is not plain household waste. Gate hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm and Saturday 8am to noon. Note that this is the landfill for Texarkana Texas; residents on the Arkansas side have separate arrangements and are directed to the Richardson Transfer Station in Miller County as well as here.