Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Corpus Christi
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 or Brown Cart Bin (Trash)
Cart must be placed at the curb by 7:30 a.m. All household trash should be bagged, especially wet waste. The cart lid must close completely, and no extra items can be placed on top of or beside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and organics
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Collection occurs every other week. Items must be empty, clean, loose, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables, and always remove caps from plastic bottles before tossing them in.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Glass bottles (use drop-off locations)
- ✕Plastic caps and lids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
General yard waste should be bagged and placed inside your green/brown trash cart. Large branches and logs must wait for the twice-yearly Heavy Brush and Bulky collection or be taken to the transfer station.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and shrubs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a year (semi-annual schedule)
Placement
Limit of one truckload per household (6' height x 10' length x 6' depth). Do not place piles in the street, gutter, or near fire hydrants. Separate brush from man-made bulky items.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (Freon must be removed)
- ✓ Carpet
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger tires (20 inches or smaller)
- ✓ Heavy brush (must be piled separately from bulk items)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials (sheetrock, concrete, bricks)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Commercial waste
Setting items out early or exceeding the one-load limit will result in fines or an $82.63 charge on your utility bill for an extra truckload.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
On the listed major holidays, collection is suspended. Typically, the city assigns an alternate collection date (often the following Saturday) to make up for the missed zones.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected within the standard trash cart, its pickup shifts alongside the regular garbage schedule during holiday weeks.
Solid Waste Services will continue to run normal routes on all other federal holidays (e.g., Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day). Check the CC Recycles app for exact alternate dates during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove the Caps from Plastic Bottles
Unlike many municipalities, Corpus Christi specifically requires you to remove and discard plastic caps and lids into your regular trash before placing the empty plastic bottle into the blue recycling cart.
Keep Glass Out of the Blue Cart
Glass bottles and jars are not accepted in the curbside blue recycling carts. If you wish to recycle glass, you must take it to a designated Glass Recycling Drop-Off location in the city or discard it safely in your green trash cart.
Don't Bag Your Recyclables
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic grocery or garbage bag. Plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility. Simply toss your paper, cans, and plastics loosely into the blue cart.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring tropical storms or hurricane warnings in the Coastal Bend, secure your carts in a garage or shed. High winds can turn empty carts into dangerous projectiles. Normal collections may be suspended until roads are cleared of storm debris.
Summer
July - AugustTexas summer heat accelerates bacterial growth and odors in garbage bins. Make sure to securely double-bag food scraps and pet waste, and periodically rinse out the inside of your green or brown cart with a hose.
Spring/Fall
March - May, September - NovemberPlan your major yard pruning or garage cleanouts around the city's biannual Heavy Brush and Bulky Item schedules. Make sure to keep heavy brush piles completely separate from piles of bulky furniture or appliances to ensure pickup.
About Corpus Christi Waste Management
Corpus Christi's Automated Curbside Collection
The City of Corpus Christi operates an automated, single-stream waste collection system using distinctly colored rolling carts. Households utilize a green or brown cart for standard garbage and yard waste, which is serviced weekly, alongside a blue cart for recyclable materials collected every other week. To ensure safe operation of the automated truck arms, residents must place carts at the curb by 7:30 a.m., keeping them clear of vehicles, mailboxes, and overhanging trees.
Managing Heavy Brush and Bulky Waste
Instead of weekly bulky item pickup, Corpus Christi divides the city into designated zones (Areas 1 through 10) for specialized Heavy Brush and Bulky Item collections. These sweeps occur twice a year on a published, area-specific schedule. During your designated week, you are permitted to set out a maximum of one truckload (up to 6 feet high, 10 feet long, and 6 feet deep) of materials. Any excess or out-of-cycle piles may result in steep compliance fees and illegal dumping citations up to $2,000 per violation.
The CC Recycles App: Coastal Waste Management Made Easy
To help Coastal Bend residents easily navigate their alternating recycling weeks and bi-annual brush schedules, the city offers the 'CC Recycles' mobile app. Available on iOS and Android, this digital tool provides personalized collection reminders, alerts for schedule shifts caused by severe coastal weather, and an interactive 'Waste Wizard' to determine exactly which bin a specific item belongs in.
Options for Excess Trash and Cart Upgrades
Because Corpus Christi enforces a strict 'closed lid' policy—and automated trucks will not pick up extra bags left on the ground—residents with frequent overflow have two primary options. You can self-haul excess residential household waste to the J.C. Elliott Transfer Station for free (by showing a valid ID with your city address), or you can request an additional garbage cart by calling 311 for a nominal monthly fee plus a one-time delivery charge.
Drop-off Facilities
J.C. Elliott Transfer Station
7001 Ayers Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78415
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a second trash or recycling cart in Corpus Christi?
Yes. If a 96-gallon cart isn't large enough for your household, you can order an additional garbage cart by calling 311. There is a $10.50 monthly fee plus an $11.55 delivery fee for extra trash carts. A second recycling cart, however, is available for free.
When does the city pick up large furniture or tree branches?
Heavy brush and bulky items are picked up twice a year based on your neighborhood zone (Areas 1-10). You must check the city's interactive map or the CC Recycles app to find your area's specific set-out dates. Outside of those dates, you must self-haul items to the J.C. Elliott Transfer Station.
How do I dispose of grass clippings and everyday yard waste?
Standard yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and small twigs, should be bagged and placed directly into your green or brown garbage cart for your regular weekly pickup.
Are garbage routes delayed on Memorial Day or the 4th of July?
No. Corpus Christi Solid Waste Services runs regular routes on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Only New Year's Day, MLK Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Thanksgiving, and Christmas trigger a schedule change.