Houston Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule

Houston Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule (2025)

Complete guide for Houston, TX: weekly garbage pickup, recycling & heavy trash schedule, tree/yard waste, bulk items, holiday changes, drop-off points and how to report service issues.

Updated:

Find My Pickup Day
Bulk/Heavy Trash Rules
Recycling Guide

Garbage (Black Cart)

Weekly curbside collection. Place city-issued cart at curb between 6 p.m. the night before and 7 a.m. on collection day. Keep 3 ft clearance from other objects. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Recycling (Green Cart)

Collected every other week on the same day as garbage. Single stream; accepted plastics #1-#5 & #7, paper, glass, metal. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Bulk/Heavy Trash & Tree Waste

Monthly curbside for bulk items & tree debris (odd months tree waste, even months junk/bulk) – residents must follow rules for placement & limits. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

📍 Address Lookup (Official)

Enter your address to find your service day(s), cart type and schedule for garbage, recycling & heavy trash in Houston. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Find Your Schedule – City of Houston

You’ll need to subscribe for alerts and updates via the City’s Solid Waste Management Department site. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

🗓️ Weekly Pickup & Set-out Rules

  • Garbage (black cart): Place city-provided cart curbside between 6 p.m. the evening before and 7 a.m. on collection day; ensure 3 ft clearance and lids closed. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
  • Recycling (green cart): Sets out the same day as trash but collected every other week. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
  • Cart placement: handle facing house; keep carts at least 3 ft apart, away from mailboxes, cars, trees. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
  • Yard waste: Same day as garbage – use compostable bags (50 lb max) or bundles of branches (less than 4 ft long / 18 in diameter) separate from trash. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

♻️ Recycling — Accepted & Not Accepted

Accepted (Green Cart)

  • Empty & rinsed metal cans (aluminum/steel)
  • Empty & rinsed glass bottles & jars
  • Flattened cardboard & paperboard
  • Plastics #1-#5 & #7 (bottles, jugs, tubs) — no bags/film. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Not Accepted

  • Plastic bags, plastic film or wrap
  • Batteries, electronics, cords
  • Yard waste mixed in (use separate yard collection) :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Recycling in Houston is every other week — check your schedule and avoid contamination for better service. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

📦 Bulk / Heavy Trash & Tree Waste

  • Tree Waste (odd-numbered months: Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov) — furniture, branches, stumps etc. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
  • Junk / Bulk Waste (even-numbered months: Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec) — appliances, mattresses, bulky household items. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
  • Set-out rules: Place items between 6 p.m. the Friday before and 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day; items must be accessible and not block utilities. Limit: 8 cubic yards.:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

🌿 Tree & Yard Waste Collection

  • Yard waste bags must be compostable bags (approved by City) and weigh ≤ 50 lbs; branches should be bundled (< 4 ft long, < 18 in diameter). :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
  • Yard waste is collected the same day as trash for residents on automated service. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

⚠️ Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

The City’s Solid Waste Management Department handles rules and drop-off centers for hazardous waste (chemicals, paints, electronics, oils). :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

  • Commonly accepted at service centers and scheduled events — check City website for locations and dates.

📍 Drop-off & Recycling Centers

Site Address Notes
Reuse Warehouse 9003 N. Main St., Houston, TX 77022 Furniture, appliances, recyclables drop-off. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

🎉 Holiday Schedule

  • The City of Houston may delay or cancel services on major holidays — check the Solid Waste Dept. portal for current notices. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

🚚 Missed Pickup — What to Do

  1. Ensure your cart was placed correctly and on time (night before) and not blocked.
  2. Check the City online schedule and alerts for your area. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
  3. If still missed, submit a request via 3-1-1 or the online portal. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}

Report Service Issue (Houston SWMD)

💲 Cart Sizes & Fees

Service Notes Fee
Garbage & Recycling Collection Included for eligible single-family homes receiving automated service. Varies; consult City SWMD site.
Houston currently funds garbage/recycling via general fund rather than a fixed charge per household. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}

🏢 Apartments / Multi-family

Larger multi-unit residences and commercial properties often use private waste haulers under City franchise system. Residents should check with property management for specific schedule & services.

📞 Contacts & 311

  • City of Houston Solid Waste Management Dept (SWMD): Service portal online, or call 3-1-1 for service requests. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
Houston SWMD – Service Page

🔗 Data Sources

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