Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Baytown
Texas residential services run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your neighborhood's specific zoning map for your exact day.
State Mandate
Bag all trash to prevent pests.
City-provided Cart (or personal 30-50 gal can) Bin (Trash)
Place at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. Extra bags must be tied and weigh no more than 40 pounds each.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Up to 10 extra 30-gallon bags
City-provided Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Break down and flatten all cardboard boxes. Place items loosely in the recycling cart by 7:00 a.m. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Paper and cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass of any kind
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Do not mix with bagged leaves or household trash. Place limbs on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your designated Zone week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs (8 feet or less)
- ✓Shrubbery
- ✓Brush trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (On your regular trash collection days)
Placement
Place items curbside next to your trash bin by 7:00 a.m. Do not place under low-hanging wires, near mailboxes, or blocking sidewalks.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (Freon removed and tagged)
- ✓ Up to 1 room of bundled carpet (cut less than 4 feet)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Bricks and tile
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Batteries and hazardous materials
- ✕ Construction debris
Bulk collection is included in regular municipal utility services. For excessively large construction loads or restricted items, residents must rent a roll-off dumpster or utilize the Green Center (fees apply).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular trash or recycling collection day falls on an observed holiday, service is suspended for that day. Your collection will resume on your next regularly scheduled pickup day (routes do not simply slide by one day).
Yard Waste Exception
City brush collection zones may experience delays during city-observed holiday weeks, but you must still have your brush at the curb by Monday morning of your assigned week.
Always verify directly with Best Trash or the Baytown Public Works department if a holiday impacts a Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday route.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Cart
Do not toss glass bottles or jars into your curbside recycling bin. Glass must be taken directly to the Baytown Green Center for proper recycling and disposal.
Bagged Leaves Aren't Brush
Never mix bagged leaves or grass clippings into your heavy brush pile. Bagged yard clippings must be placed out with your regular household garbage collection for Best Trash to pick up.
Don't Bag Recyclables
Keep your paper, plastics, and aluminum completely loose inside the recycling cart. Plastic garbage bags jam up the recycling facility's sorting machinery and will lead to your cart being tagged and rejected.
Seasonal Information
Summer Storm Season
June - AugustDuring heavy Gulf Coast storms, ensure your trash and recycling carts are secure. Do not place brush piles in front of utility meters or hydrants, and keep debris away from storm drains to prevent severe street flooding.
Holiday Shifts
November - JanuaryBest Trash observes major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal service falls on one of these holidays, your trash will not be picked up until your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Spring Yard Maintenance
March - MayWhen aggressively trimming trees for spring, remember that the city's brush trucks will only accept tree limbs cut to 8 feet or less. Coordinate massive landscaping projects with your specific monthly Zone collection week.
About Baytown Waste Management
Comprehensive Twice-Weekly Collections
Baytown residents benefit from an active waste management system through a partnership with Best Trash. Trash service is provided twice weekly, segmented geographically by major roadways like SPUR 330 and Highway 146. If your bin reaches maximum capacity before collection day, there is no need to stress; Best Trash generously allows up to ten 30-gallon bags of overflow household trash alongside your bins, provided each bag is properly tied and weighs under 40 pounds.
Zoned Weekly Brush Pickup
Rather than relying on seasonal sweeps or a confusing on-demand service, the City of Baytown manages its own structured, weekly brush collection program. The city is divided into four color-coded zones (Blue, Orange, Purple, and Green), with each zone receiving brush pickup during a specific week of the month. To ensure your yard waste is collected smoothly, make sure limbs are cut to 8 feet or less and placed on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your assigned week.
Exclusive Resident Access to the Green Center
When standard curbside services aren't quite enough for large cleanouts, Baytown residents have exclusive access to the Green Center located on West Main Street. This dedicated drop-off facility accepts everything from old televisions and electronics to recyclable textiles, glass, and household debris. Be prepared to show your Texas driver's license alongside a matching City of Baytown water bill to verify your residency before unloading.
Bulk Item Collection on Regular Days
Disposing of heavy trash in Baytown is remarkably convenient. Best Trash seamlessly integrates heavy household items, such as mattresses and old furniture, into your regular twice-weekly collection days. You won't need to juggle a separate bulk schedule or call ahead for standard large items—just leave them at the curb next to your bin by 7:00 a.m. However, it is vital to ensure any discarded cooling appliances, like refrigerators, have their Freon professionally drained and tagged beforehand.
No Glass in the Curbside Recycling
While Baytown provides reliable weekly curbside recycling for plastics, aluminum, and paper, residents should take note of one major exception: glass is strictly prohibited in the green recycling bins. Mixing glass into curbside bins can cause significant hazards and sorting issues. Fortunately, you can still recycle your transparent, brown, and green glass bottles by dropping them off directly at the Baytown Green Center.
Drop-off Facilities
Baytown Green Center
1601 W Main St, Baytown, TX 77522
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What days are trash and recycling picked up in Baytown?
Trash is collected twice a week by Best Trash, either on Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday, depending on whether you live north or south of SPUR 330 and Highway 146. Recycling is picked up once a week, assigned to a specific day based on your location relative to Highway 146 and Main Street.
What should I do if my trash cart is full before collection day?
Best Trash allows residents to place up to ten additional 30-gallon bags of household trash next to their bin on collection day. Each extra bag or personal container must be securely tied and weigh no more than 40 pounds.
How do I dispose of old appliances like a refrigerator?
You can place heavy appliances on the curb on either of your regular trash pickup days. However, federal law requires that any appliance containing Freon (like refrigerators, freezers, or window AC units) must be professionally drained and tagged by a certified technician before the truck will collect it.
Can I drop off extra waste or old TVs somewhere in Baytown?
Yes, Baytown residents can use the Green Center located at 1601 W Main St. You can drop off electronics, glass, and recyclables for free, and dispose of bulk household debris or trailers of waste for a small cash fee. You must bring a valid driver's license and a matching Baytown water bill to prove your residency.