Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Brownsville
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.
Blue/Black Cart Bin (Trash)
Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure the lid is fully closed. Bags placed on top of or next to the cart will not be picked up by automated trucks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small bagged yard waste (leaves/grass)
Red Cart Bin (Recycling)
Service is every other week. Recyclables must be loose, not bagged. Keep the red cart 3 feet away from your trash cart and vehicles with wheels facing the home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, and books
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes and cartons
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (bottles and jugs)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Small bagged leaves must go in the regular trash cart. Large brush and bagged grass/leaves for bulk collection must be kept in a separate pile from household bulky items and placed at the curb only during your assigned zone week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (must be bagged)
- ✓Leaves (must be bagged)
- ✓Shrubs
- ✓Tree limbs (must not exceed 8 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Scheduled zone weeks throughout the year
Placement
Place items at the curb (not in the street) at least 6 feet away from parked cars, gas meters, overhanging trees, and overhead wires. Keep brush and bulk in separate piles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, sofas, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and stoves
- ✓ Water heaters
- ✓ Tree limbs (under 8 feet) and bagged grass/leaves
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction material (sheet rock, concrete, asphalt)
- ✕ Roof shingles and corrugated metal
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous materials and batteries
- ✕ Items with Freon (unless decaled)
To arrange a special pickup outside of your scheduled zone week, you must contact the City Call Center at (956) 546-HELP to request service and inquire about any out-of-cycle fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For both Republic Services and Redfish Recycling, if a major holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Brush and bulky item zone schedules may be temporarily paused or shifted during holiday weeks; always verify your specific zone dates on the City of Brownsville website.
Billing and inquiries are handled by the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB), but service delays are managed directly by Republic Services and Redfish Recycling.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Red Cart
Redfish Recycling does not accept glass bottles or jars in the curbside single-stream program. Place all glass items safely into your standard trash cart or take them to a specialized drop-off instead.
Don't Bag Your Recyclables
Never put your recycling inside plastic garbage bags or grocery bags. Keep all paper, metal, and approved plastics loose in the red bin so they can be easily sorted at the Materials Recovery Facility.
Separate Brush from Bulk
When your scheduled bulky week arrives, Republic Services requires you to create two distinct piles: one strictly for organic brush (tree limbs and bagged grass) and a separate one for man-made bulky items (mattresses, furniture). Mixed piles will be tagged and left behind.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring Gulf Coast tropical storms or hurricanes, normal collection routes may be suspended. Secure all trash and recycling carts inside a garage or shed so high winds do not turn them into dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryThe only holiday officially guaranteed to suspend Redfish Recycling service is Christmas Day, which shifts routes by one day. Republic Services typically shifts routes by one day for major holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year's Day as well.
Spring
March - MayHeavy spring pruning generates large amounts of brush. Remember that tree limbs must be cut to less than 8 feet in length, and you must wait for your zone's scheduled brush collection week to place them at the curb.
About Brownsville Waste Management
New Dual-Hauler System for 2026
Starting in January 2026, the City of Brownsville implemented a comprehensive residential solid waste upgrade to extend the lifespan of the municipal landfill and reduce costs. Republic Services continues to manage all standard household garbage and heavy bulk waste collection, while Redfish Recycling has been contracted to provide a new, dedicated, biweekly single-stream curbside recycling program.
Redfish Recycling Cart Rollout
Every eligible residence within Brownsville city limits now receives a 96-gallon red cart exclusively for recyclables. The single-stream system means residents no longer need to separate plastics from paper. Carts must be placed out by 7:00 a.m. on your designated every-other-week collection day with the wheels facing your home and at least three feet of clearance from other objects.
Scheduled Brush and Bulk Zones
Instead of on-demand pickups, Brownsville utilizes a strict zone-based schedule for bulky waste and brush. Residents are assigned specific weeks throughout the year to set out their heavy debris. Brush (like tree limbs and bagged grass) must be placed in a completely separate pile from bulky items (like sofas and appliances), as they are processed differently.
Strict Separation and Placement Rules
When preparing for your brush and bulky collection week, Republic Services requires debris to be placed at the curb on your property, never in the street or alleyway. You must ensure piles are at least six feet away from obstacles such as parked cars, gas meters, overhead wires, building overhangs, and telephone boxes.
Appliance Freon Guidelines
If you need to dispose of a refrigerator, freezer, or window air conditioning unit during your bulk collection week, you must prepare the appliance properly. The Freon refrigerant must be professionally removed by an authorized facility, and a physical decal verifying the removal must be attached to the item before Republic Services will collect it.
Drop-off Facilities
Redfish Recycling Materials Recovery Facility
5250 Coffee Port Road, Brownsville, TX 78521
Materials Accepted
RDA Technologies (E-Waste Drop-off)
468 Regal Rd., Unit 124, Brownsville, TX 78521
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up my recycling and trash in Brownsville in 2026?
Under the new 2026 program, Republic Services is contracted to collect your standard household garbage and bulk waste, while Redfish Recycling is exclusively responsible for servicing the new 96-gallon red recycling carts every other week.
Why didn't Republic Services pick up the trash bags I left next to my cart?
Brownsville operates under an automated collection system. All household garbage—including small bags of leaves or grass—must fit entirely inside your designated trash cart with the lid completely closed. Drivers will not exit the truck to collect extra bags placed on the ground or on top of the cart.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator in Brownsville?
You can place refrigerators and A/C units out during your scheduled bulky item week; however, the Freon must first be removed by a certified technician. An official decal verifying the Freon removal must be affixed to the appliance, otherwise, the collection crews will leave it at the curb.
Where do I take my electronics and old TVs?
Electronic waste like TVs, computers, and cell phones are not accepted in standard trash, recycling, or bulk collections. Redfish Recycling regularly partners with RDA Technologies to host free e-waste drop-off events at their facility. You can also take electronics directly to RDA Technologies on Regal Road.