Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Houston
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, based on your neighborhood's assigned collection schedule.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week (Schedule A or Schedule B) on your regular collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular trash collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste service fees are billed monthly as a line item on your City of Houston water and utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Utility assistance and fee coverage are available for qualifying low-income households, seniors, and residents with disabilities through the City's W.A.T.E.R. Fund.
Black Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be bagged and fit inside the black cart with the lid completely closed. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the handle facing your home. Keep 3 feet of clearance on all sides.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and films
- ✓Small household items
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Green Cart Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other week. Items must be empty, clean, loose, and dry. Do NOT bag your recyclables. Remove caps from bottles and flatten all cardboard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Cartons (milk, juice, broth)
- ✓Plastics #1-5 and #7 (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam (Plastic #6)
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Food waste or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
- ✕Textiles and clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Use 100% compostable bags (ASTM D6400) or personal reusable containers (max 50 lbs). Never use the City-issued 96-gallon carts for yard waste. Place 3 feet away from the black garbage cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Tied and bundled logs (max 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every other month (Alternating Schedule)
Placement
Set items near the front curb between 6:00 p.m. the Friday before and 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Do not stack under wires, trees, or near water meters.
Accepted
- ✓ Tree limbs and stumps (Odd months)
- ✓ Furniture and large appliances (Even months)
- ✓ Up to 4 cubic yards of resident-generated construction debris (Even months)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated debris
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Roofing shingles, brick, plaster, and concrete
Placing debris out on the wrong month or exceeding the 8-cubic-yard limit can result in heavy fines ranging from $50 to $2,000 per violation.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, curbside collection is typically suspended and pushes service days back by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Friday routes move to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Curbside yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage collection.
Administrative offices and Neighborhood Depositories are also closed on major holidays. Always verify specific schedule shifts using the HTX App or the SWMD website.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring tropical storms and hurricanes, high winds can turn roll carts into dangerous projectiles. Store your bins securely in a garage or shed until the storm passes. The SWMD will issue specific debris separation guidelines following a severe weather event.
Spring/Autumn
March - May, October - NovemberDuring peak yard cleanup seasons, remember the alternating bulk schedule. If you have large tree limbs or stumps, wait for an odd-numbered 'Tree Waste' month to set out up to 8 cubic yards of clean wood debris at the curb.
Summer
July - SeptemberIntense Houston heat accelerates odors and bacterial growth in garbage bins. To deter pests and flies, tightly bag all food waste, freeze meat scraps until collection day, and periodically wash out your black cart with a mild bleach solution.
Local Tips & Community Info
Got Cans to Cash? Houston's got your back!
While Texas doesn't have a statewide bottle and can redemption program like some other states, don't toss those aluminum cans and plastic bottles just yet! Many local scrap metal yards in and around Houston will happily take your clean recyclables for a little bit of cash. Some even pay for scrap metal like old appliances (make sure they're empty and clean!). A quick search for "Houston scrap metal prices" or "metal recycling Houston" can point you to places like ABC Recycling or E.M. Recycling. It's a great way to make a few bucks and keep those materials out of the landfill.
Give Your Old Stuff a New Houston Home
Instead of tossing perfectly good items, consider donating them! Houston has a fantastic network of places that can give your unwanted furniture, clothes, and household goods a second life. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are always looking for donations like gently used furniture, appliances, and building materials – they have a few locations in the Houston area. You can also find great local charities like St. Vincent de Paul, The Salvation Army, or The Star of Hope that accept clothing, household items, and more. Check their websites for donation drop-off times and what they accept.
Let's Keep Houston Spick and Span: Tackling Dumpers
Nobody likes seeing trash piled up where it shouldn't be. If you see illegal dumping happening in Houston, it's important to report it so the city can address it. You can usually report illegal dumping to the Houston Public Works department or through the city's 311 service. They have specific procedures for handling these situations. Also, keep an eye out for community clean-up events organized by local neighborhood associations or environmental groups. Participating in these events is a fantastic way to contribute to a cleaner Houston and connect with your neighbors.
Drop-off Facilities
Westpark Consumer Recycling Center
5900 Westpark Drive, Houston, TX 77057
Materials Accepted
Environmental Service Center (ESC) South
11500 S. Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, TX 77045
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use the City of Houston logo bags for yard waste?
No. Under the updated SWMD guidelines, you can use any 100% biodegradable or compostable bag that meets ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 standards. You can also use personal reusable refuse containers, provided the container and its contents weigh under 50 pounds.
What happens if I put my heavy trash out on the wrong month in Houston?
Houston strictly enforces its alternating bulk schedule (Tree Waste in odd months, Junk Waste in even months). Setting out junk waste during a tree waste month, placing it out too early, or exceeding the 8-cubic-yard limit can trigger code compliance citations with fines up to $2,000.
Does Houston recycle glass in the green curbside bin?
Yes! Thanks to modernized sorting facilities, you can place empty, rinsed clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars directly into your green curbside recycling cart.
Why did my recycling bin get an 'Oops' tag?
The SWMD uses an 'Oops' cart-tagging program to educate residents. If an inspector spots banned items like plastic grocery bags, cords, food waste, or styrofoam in your green bin, they will attach an 'Oops' tag. If contamination persists, your cart will not be serviced until the items are removed.