Austin Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule (2025)
Complete guide for Austin, TX: weekly trash & composting, every-other-week recycling, new on-demand bulk/brush/HHW pickups (3 per year each), holiday changes, drop-offs and how to report missed service.
Updated:
Trash (Gray Cart)
Weekly curbside collection; check your exact day in the City’s “My Schedule” tool. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Recycling (Blue Cart)
Every other week; single-stream (paper, cardboard, metals, glass, hard plastics). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Organics (Green Cart)
Weekly; food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings and natural fibers go in the green cart. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
📍 Address Lookup (Official)
Use the City’s My Schedule tool to get a personalized calendar (printable, iCal/Google/Outlook) and reminders. You can also schedule bulk/brush/HHW pickups there. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
🗓️ Weekly Pickup & Set-out Rules
- Set-out time: place carts by 5:30 a.m. (earlier set-out adopted for worker safety in heat). :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Spacing: keep carts ~5 ft apart; lids closed; don’t block sidewalks/bike lanes. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Frequencies: trash & composting weekly; recycling every other week. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Set-out window: carts can go out the evening before (after 8 p.m.) and must be out by 5:30 a.m.; remove after service. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Holiday weeks: see slide rules below (NYD, Thanksgiving, Christmas). :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
♻️ Recycling — Accepted & Not Accepted
Accepted (Blue Cart)
- Paper & cardboard (flattened)
- Glass bottles & jars
- Metal cans (aluminum/steel)
- Hard plastics (bottles/jugs/tubs) — no plastic bags/film
- Cartons & coated paper products (incl. coffee cups)
Not Accepted
- Plastic bags/film; tanglers (hoses/cords)
- Food/liquids; Styrofoam
- HHW/e-waste (see HHW options)
Official recycling rules (and recent additions like cartons/coated paper) are listed on the City site. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
🌿 Composting (Green Cart)
- What goes in: food scraps (incl. meat, dairy, bones), food-soiled paper, yard trimmings, natural fibers. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Why allowed: materials are processed at a commercial facility reaching high temps. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Keep plastics (incl. “compostable” liners) out of the green cart; use paper bags if lining is needed. See City guidance. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
📦 On-Demand Bulk, Brush & HHW (Launched 2025)
- As of January 2025, Austin switched from semiannual set weeks to **on-demand** pickups you schedule. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- You can schedule up to three (3) collections per year for each service: bulk, brush and household hazardous waste (HHW). :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- Book via the My Schedule tool, the Austin Recycles app, or by calling 3-1-1. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
🏗️ Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center
| Site | Address / Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center | 2514 Business Center Dr., Austin, TX 78744 — by appointment only | Drop off many hard-to-recycle/HHW items; appointments & info via City site (phone 512-974-4343). :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16} |
🎉 Holiday Schedule (Slide Days)
- Collections **slide one day** later if your day falls on — or after — New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day. No slide when these fall on a weekend. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
Your personalized calendar in “My Schedule” shows holiday adjustments for your address. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
🚚 Missed Pickup — What to Do
- Confirm set-out rules (out by 5:30 a.m., spaced, lids closed) and materials accepted. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
- If still missed, report via **Austin 3-1-1** (web/app/phone). :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
💲 Cart Sizes & Fees (PAYT)
Austin uses “pay-as-you-throw”: your monthly rate depends on trash cart size; you can downsize for free (larger cart exchanges incur a small one-time fee). :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
City requires recycling capacity to be equal to or larger than trash capacity when requesting additional carts. Call 512-494-9400 to change cart size. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
📞 Contacts (City of Austin)
- Austin Resource Recovery: collection info, schedules, app & on-demand services. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
- Customer service: (512) 494-9400 (also listed inside “My Schedule”). :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
- 3-1-1: service requests & missed pickups. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
🔗 Data Sources
- My Schedule (City of Austin) :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
- Residential Trash — Weekly :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
- Residential Services overview (frequencies & holiday slide) :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}
- Residential Recycling — Accepted materials :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}
- Curbside Composting Program :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
- On-Demand Bulk/Brush/HHW (2025) :contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}
- News: on-demand model & 3 pickups/year :contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}
- Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center :contentReference[oaicite:33]{index=33}
- Drop-off Center — appointments & contact :contentReference[oaicite:34]{index=34}
- Proper Set-out Guidelines (5:30 a.m., spacing) :contentReference[oaicite:35]{index=35}
- Admin Rules (set-out window & times) :contentReference[oaicite:36]{index=36}
- Holiday Slide Days :contentReference[oaicite:37]{index=37}
- Curbside Services (Open Data: biweekly recycling) :contentReference[oaicite:38]{index=38}
- Rates & Fees (PAYT; cart changes) :contentReference[oaicite:39]{index=39}