Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Galveston
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-issued Cart Bin (Trash)
Place out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup and return it by 10:00 p.m. Extra garbage left outside or overflowing carts will be billed an extra $5.50 per 32-gallon equivalent.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged refuse
Drop-Off Only (14-gallon blue bin for eligible elderly/disabled) Bin (Recycling)
General public must transport recyclables to the 61st Street Eco-Center (open 24/7). Curbside service is strictly limited to registered elderly/disabled residents on Wednesdays.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clear and brown glass
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓Plastics (milk jugs, water/soda bottles)
- ✓Unwaxed paper and cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Food-soiled waste
- ✕Plastic garbage bags
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in clear plastic bags, paper lawn bags, or tied in a single bundle (max 5x3x3 ft). Max pile size for bags is 3x3x5 ft to be collected for free.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regularly scheduled trash day.
Placement
Simply set your bulk items curbside or in the alley right next to your trash cart on your regular collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances (with Freon removed and red-tagged)
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large tree limbs and stumps
- ✓ Oversized waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and gasoline
- ✕ Concrete and roofing materials
- ✕ Combustible materials
- ✕ Tires (must go to Eco-Center)
Customers are charged $45 per cubic yard for piles of bulky waste or extra brush exceeding the free allowance. The minimum fee is $22.50 (½ cubic yard).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, routes generally run one day late (e.g., a Thanksgiving Thursday route is collected on Friday). Surprisingly, Christmas and New Year's Day routes are typically not affected and run on schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk items are collected by a separate litter truck on your regular trash day and follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the household carts.
Always verify the current year's holiday calendar on the Sanitation website, as delays fluctuate based on which specific day a holiday falls.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Use Clear Bags for Yard Waste
If you bag your leaves and grass clippings, you must use clear plastic bags or brown paper lawn bags. If you use standard opaque black trash bags, the litter truck cannot verify the contents and may leave them at the curb.
Freon Removal is Mandatory
Before leaving an old refrigerator or air conditioner on the curb for bulk collection, a certified technician must legally remove the Freon. The appliance must have an official red tag attached, or the city will refuse to haul it away.
Bring Your PPE to the Transfer Station
When utilizing your free 1,000-pound monthly drop-off at the Harborside Transfer Station, you must wear a hard hat and safety vest. If you show up without them, you will have to purchase them on-site before you are allowed to unload.
Seasonal Information
Summer / Fall
June - NovemberDuring peak hurricane season, securely tie up loose brush and utilize the transfer station to clear heavy debris from your yard before severe storms hit, preventing loose items from becoming dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Spring
March - MaySpring cleaning brings extra garbage, but be careful not to overstuff your cart. Overloaded carts or loose bags left outside the cart will automatically incur a $5.50 fee per 32-gallon equivalent on your next utility bill.
Winter
December - JanuaryHoliday trash schedules in Galveston can be unique. While Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Thanksgiving typically involve one-day route delays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day often do not interrupt the standard collection schedule.
About Galveston Waste Management
Galveston's Municipal Sanitation Service
The City of Galveston is one of the few Texas municipalities that operates its own sanitation services internally, a requirement set by the city charter. The Sanitation Division utilizes automated carts for standard household trash. To avoid ordinance violations, residents must wait until 5:00 p.m. the evening prior to place carts on the curb or alleyway, and the carts must be returned to a storage space by 10:00 p.m. on the day of service.
The Eco-Center Drop-Off Strategy
Because Galveston is an island community, standard curbside recycling is not broadly offered in order to keep municipal costs manageable. Curbside pickup is exclusively reserved for elderly and disabled residents via application. The general public is encouraged to utilize the Galveston Recycle Center (ECO-Center) on 61st Street, a highly accessible facility that operates a 24/7 drop-off zone for plastics, glass, paper, cardboard, and even discarded cooking oil.
Understanding the Brush Allowances
Maintaining coastal properties often generates significant yard debris. For weekly service, Galveston allows customers to place yard waste next to their carts, provided it is packed in clear plastic bags or biodegradable paper lawn bags. You may set out multiple bags for free as long as the entire pile does not exceed a volume of 3ft wide by 3ft tall by 5ft long. For unbagged brush, residents are limited to one securely tied bundle under 5 feet in length for free.
Navigating Paid Bulk Pickups
The Sanitation Division dispatches a dedicated litter truck to pick up heavy bulk items right on your regularly scheduled trash day. Simply set appliances, furniture, or oversized waste next to your cart. However, to create a more efficient service, the city limits free bulk collection. Additional piles of bulky waste and oversized tree stumps are charged directly to your utility bill at a rate of $45 per cubic yard, with a minimum charge of $22.50.
The Harborside Transfer Station Perk
For DIY home renovations or massive garage clean-outs that would incur heavy curbside fees, residential customers are provided a fantastic perk. You can bring up to 1,000 pounds of acceptable waste to the Harborside Drive Transfer Station completely free of charge once per calendar month. Note that the facility enforces strict safety rules: all visitors are required to wear a hard hat and a high-visibility safety vest while unloading.
Drop-off Facilities
Galveston Recycle Center (ECO-Center)
702 61st Street, Galveston, TX 77551
Materials Accepted
Harborside Transfer Station
5515 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77554
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Galveston provide curbside recycling?
No, standard curbside recycling is not available to the general public. Residents must drop off their recyclables at the Galveston Recycle Center on 61st Street, which features a 24-hour drop-off zone. However, the city does offer a monthly curbside service exclusively for elderly and disabled residents who apply.
How do I dispose of a mattress or old couch?
You can place heavy bulk items like furniture in the alley or at the curb right next to your regular trash cart on your normal garbage day. The city sends a separate litter truck to collect these items, though a bulk waste fee starting at $22.50 may be applied to your utility bill based on the volume.
Can I use black garbage bags for my yard leaves?
No. The Sanitation Division requires that all yard waste and leaves be placed in either clear plastic bags or paper lawn bags. The combined pile of bags cannot exceed 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall by 5 feet long if you want it collected for free.
What do I need to bring to the Harborside Transfer Station?
To use your one free 1,000-pound monthly drop-off, you must bring a current Galveston water bill and a matching ID. Additionally, for safety reasons, the facility strictly requires all visitors to wear a hard hat and a high-visibility safety vest while unloading.