Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for College Station
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.
Green Cart (Standard) Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged, tied, and securely stored inside the cart. The lid must be completely closed. Do not pile extra trash bags on top of or around the cart. Place at the curb by 8:00 a.m. with 4 feet of clearance from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Standard household refuse
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables empty, clean, and loose (unbagged) in the cart. The only exception is shredded paper, which must be secured in a clear plastic bag. Remove and discard plastic caps.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 only
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Mixed and white paper, magazines, junk mail
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Plastic bags, films, or wrappers
- ✕Styrofoam (packing peanuts)
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Glass ceramics or broken glass
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, ropes, wires)
- ✕Textiles or diapers
Yard Waste Bin
Collected weekly alongside bulky waste. Cut tree limbs to lengths of 8 feet or less. Stack neatly within 3 feet of the curb. Do not mix yard brush with household bulky furniture items.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Shrubs and woody vines
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular garbage collection day
Placement
Place items in front of your residence by 8:00 a.m. Ensure piles are at least 4 feet away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, and carts, and not under low-hanging tree limbs or power lines.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Household appliances (Freon removed and tagged)
- ✓ Tree limbs (cut to under 8 feet)
- ✓ Bagged grass clippings and leaves
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction/demolition debris
- ✕ Soil, concrete, rock, or sod
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste or flammable liquids
- ✕ Bags of standard household garbage
Weekly residential bulk and brush collection is included in your standard utility fee. Excessive contractor waste or specialized disposal (like untagged Freon units) requires transport to the Twin Oaks Landfill, where special fees will apply.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday falls on a weekday, trash, recycling, and bulk collections scheduled on or after that holiday are delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Weekly brush and bulky item collections are subject to the exact same holiday delay schedule as your standard garbage carts.
Not all city holidays affect trash pickup. Download the 'College Station Curbside' mobile app to receive automated push notifications regarding specific holiday service alterations.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Clear Bag Exception for Shredded Paper
While BVR Waste and Recycling requires all standard recyclables to be placed loose in your blue cart, there is one strict exception: shredded paper. To prevent a literal paper snowstorm at the sorting facility, shredded paper must be sealed in a clear plastic bag.
Ditch the Tanglers and Soft Plastics
Never put plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, garden hoses, or wire hangers in your recycling bin. These items are notorious for wrapping around the gears of the recycling facility's machinery, causing shutdowns and posing a safety risk to workers.
Plastics #1 and #2 Only
College Station only accepts #1 and #2 plastics (like water bottles and milk jugs). Plastics stamped with #3 through #7, including yogurt cups and butter tubs, are not accepted and must go into your regular garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
April and OctoberTake advantage of the bi-annual Brazos Valley Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection events. These Saturday events are free for residents to safely dispose of chemicals, paints, televisions, and herbicides that cannot go in normal bins.
Summer
May - AugustDuring the Texas A&M student move-out and move-in season, remember that bulky items like mattresses and couches can be placed at the curb, but loose bags of household garbage thrown on the lawn will not be collected. All garbage must fit inside the closed cart.
Winter
December - JanuaryCity solid waste services typically operate normally through the winter, but routes falling on Christmas Day and New Year's Day are delayed by one day. For example, Thursday routes will run on Friday. Always check the Curbside app for real-time alerts.
About College Station Waste Management
Welcome to Aggieland's Waste Management Program
In College Station, residential solid waste is managed through a strategic partnership. The City's Department of Public Works directly handles weekly household garbage, brush, and bulky items, while single-stream recycling is collected bi-weekly by BVR Waste and Recycling. To ensure residents never miss a pickup, the city offers the free 'College Station Curbside' mobile app, which provides personalized alerts and collection day reminders directly to your smartphone.
Navigating Weekly Brush & Bulky Pickups
Unlike many municipalities that restrict large item collection to a once-a-month schedule, College Station offers the convenience of weekly brush and bulky waste pickup. Residents must keep their yard trimmings and large household items in two distinct, separate piles. Once collected, all yard brush is transported to the Twin Oaks Landfill, where it is sustainably shredded into Tier 1 and Tier 2 compost and mulch, which is then made available for public purchase.
Strict Appliance and Refrigerant Safety Rules
Discarding old appliances in College Station requires a bit of prep work. If you are throwing away a refrigerator, freezer, or window AC unit, federal and local laws mandate that a licensed HVAC technician must remove the Freon first. A certification sticker must be visibly attached to the appliance. Additionally, for community safety, the city requires residents to secure all appliance doors with heavy-duty duct tape before placing them on the curb.
Bi-Annual Household Hazardous Waste Events
To protect local waterways and the Brazos Valley ecosystem, household hazardous waste like paint, motor oil, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries are banned from residential carts. Instead, College Station residents can participate in the free, drive-thru Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection events held every April and October. For year-round used motor oil disposal, the city maintains drop-off sites at Public Works and the Rock Prairie Road Landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Twin Oaks Landfill
2690 SH 30, Anderson, TX 77830
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should my trash, recycling, and bulk piles be out on the curb?
All garbage and recycling carts, as well as any brush and bulky piles, must be placed at the curb in front of your residence before 8:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Per city ordinance, empty containers must be removed from the curb within 12 hours after pickup.
How do I request an additional garbage or recycling cart?
To request an additional garbage cart, you must contact College Station Public Works at 979-764-3690. To request an extra recycling bin, contact BVR Waste and Recycling directly at 979-260-0006. An additional monthly fee will be applied to your utility bill for extra carts.
Will the city pick up old refrigerators or air conditioners?
Yes, but with strict safety conditions. Any appliance containing Freon must be inspected by a licensed HVAC technician, and the refrigerant must be removed. A certification sticker must be attached to the unit. Furthermore, you must secure the appliance doors shut with heavy-duty duct tape before placing it out for bulk collection.
Can I put construction debris from my bathroom remodel on the curb?
No. The City of College Station explicitly prohibits the curbside collection of contractor-generated construction and demolition materials, including soil, concrete, rock, and roofing. These materials must be hauled directly to the Twin Oaks Landfill, or you will need to rent a private roll-off dumpster.