Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for La Porte
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-provided or heavy-duty personal bags Bin (Trash)
Trash must be securely bagged, weighing no more than 40 pounds per bag. Do not use grocery sacks or cardboard boxes as trash receptacles. Place behind the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Drop-off Only (No curbside bins) Bin (Recycling)
There is NO curbside recycling. Residents must take recyclables to the Recycle Center at 12201 N. C St. Items must be loose and clean. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and common mail
- ✓Clean plastics and glass containers
- ✓Tin, steel, and aluminum cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard and fiberboard
- ✓Electronics and rechargeable batteries
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam and polystyrene
- ✕Plastic wrap or plastic film
- ✕Medical waste and diapers
- ✕Paper towels and tissues
- ✕Hoses, tubes, rope, and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
Yard debris is not considered household garbage. Keep brush strictly separated from heavy trash piles so it can be chipped into mulch by the city. Limit 10 cubic yards per heavy trash collection cycle.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Bushes and tree trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Scheduled by specific geographic zones (trucks pass once in a 2-day period).
Placement
Place items behind the curb (not in the street or right-of-way) by 7:00 a.m. on the first scheduled collection day, but no earlier than 5 days prior to the date.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and household items
- ✓ Brush and yard wastes (separated)
- ✓ Discarded appliances (doors removed/empty)
- ✓ Small car tires (limit 2)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Rocks, bricks, and concrete
- ✕ Ceramic tile and dirt
- ✕ Paint and hazardous materials
- ✕ Ashes
- ✕ Piles exceeding 10 cubic yards
Heavy trash collection is included in city services up to the 10-cubic-yard limit. Excess trash will be left behind, and residents must arrange for private removal at their own expense or wait for the next cycle.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Because La Porte features twice-weekly trash collection, if an observed holiday falls on your scheduled collection day, your garbage pickup will simply be deferred until your NEXT regularly scheduled collection day.
Yard Waste Exception
Heavy trash schedules are pre-set by zone for the entire year. Consult the mailed La Porte Calendar or the city website for your zone's specific heavy trash dates around holidays.
For example, if your pickup days are Monday and Thursday, and a holiday falls on a Monday, you must wait until Thursday for your next collection.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Do Not Bag Recyclables
When utilizing the La Porte Recycle Center, ensure all items are deposited loosely into their respective bins. Plastic trash bags severely clog the sorting machinery and must be disposed of separately.
Keep Lids Inside Metal Cans
To recycle tin and steel cans safely, leave the sharp metal lids inside the cans. You can squeeze the top of the can slightly so the lid is retained inside and doesn't pose a cutting hazard to workers.
Ammonia Deters Pests
Because La Porte uses bags instead of rigid carts for household garbage, loose pets or neighborhood wildlife can cause spills. The city recommends pouring a small amount of ammonia into your garbage bags before tying them to deter animals.
Seasonal Information
Spring
February - MarchLook out for your annual supply of garbage bags. The City of La Porte delivers three free rolls of bags to every residential front door each February.
Summer
June - AugustDuring Gulf Coast hurricane season, avoid placing heavy trash or 10-cubic-yard brush piles at the curb if a major storm is approaching. Heavy rains can wash debris into storm drains, causing severe neighborhood flooding.
Winter
December - JanuaryIf you accumulate large amounts of cardboard from holiday shipping, break down and flatten all boxes completely before dropping them off at the Recycle Center to conserve bin space.
About La Porte Waste Management
La Porte's Unique Bagged Garbage System
Unlike many Texas cities that utilize automated polycarts, the City of La Porte relies on a manual bagged-garbage collection system. Every February, the city delivers three rolls of heavy-duty garbage bags directly to residents' front doors. All household trash must be securely tied inside these bags or equivalent personal bags. Sanitation crews will not collect loose garbage, grocery store sacks, or trash stored inside cardboard boxes, and no single bag can weigh more than 40 pounds.
Curbside Heavy Trash and Brush Collection
Heavy trash and brush in La Porte are collected based on six designated geographical zones. Residents are permitted to place up to 10 cubic yards of bulky items—roughly the size of a 6x6x8 foot pile—at the curb up to five days before their scheduled collection date. It is critical to separate brush and yard waste from furniture and appliances, as the city grinds clean brush into free mulch for residents.
Centralized Recycling Drop-Off Facility
The City of La Porte currently does not offer curbside recycling. To help keep municipal disposal costs low and protect the local 'beauty by the bay' environment, residents are encouraged to utilize the La Porte Recycle Center located on North C Street. The drop-off facility accepts a wide range of materials including clean plastics, flattened cardboard, glass containers, and even electronics and small car tires on Saturdays.
Free Mulch and Oil Drop-Off Programs
Sustainability goes beyond basic recycling in La Porte. The Public Works department transforms collected yard debris into high-quality mulch, which is available for free pickup at the main facility on N. 23rd Street and six other satellite locations throughout the city. Additionally, DIY mechanics and home cooks can safely drop off used motor oil, antifreeze, and cooking oil at several designated lift stations and neighborhood sites.
Drop-off Facilities
La Porte Recycle Center
12201 N. C St., La Porte, TX 77571
Materials Accepted
Public Works Service Center
2963 N. 23rd Street, La Porte, TX 77571
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I run out of the city-provided garbage bags?
The City of La Porte delivers three rolls of bags to your door every February. If you run out before the next delivery, you can purchase additional rolls for $7.22 at the Utility Billing counter inside City Hall, or use your own heavy-duty bags (under 40 lbs).
Does La Porte provide curbside recycling bins?
No. The City of La Porte does not offer curbside recycling. Residents who wish to recycle must drop off their clean, sorted materials at the La Porte Recycle Center located at 12201 N. C St.
Why didn't the city pick up all of my heavy trash?
The city strictly enforces a 10-cubic-yard limit per collection cycle. If your pile is larger than 6x6x8 feet, the crew will collect 10 cubic yards and leave the rest. Crews will also bypass piles containing prohibited items like bricks, concrete, or hazardous waste.
What happens if a holiday falls on my regular garbage day?
Since La Porte provides twice-weekly collection, the city does not push the schedule back by one day. If a holiday falls on your pickup day, your service is simply deferred until your next scheduled collection day later in the week.