Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Laredo
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 (Willie Bote) Bin (Trash)
Set out by 6:30 AM on your scheduled day, no earlier than 7:00 PM the night before. All trash MUST be bagged. Place 4 feet away from obstacles with wheels facing away from the street. Lid must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue (Billie Bote) Bin (Recycling)
Collection is Thursday or Friday depending on your zip code. Recyclables must be placed LOOSE in the bin, never bagged. Carts must be at the curb by 6:30 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (caps removed)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and mirrors
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Grass and leaves must be in bags weighing no more than 30 lbs. Branches must be tied with string/twine into bundles no larger than 2.5 ft high, 4 ft wide, and 5 ft long. Place at curb by 7:00 AM on your assigned zip code collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches (max 3 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free collections per year (max 4 items each)
Placement
Place items safely at the curb, ensuring they do not block vehicles, mailboxes, or pedestrian pathways. Do not place under low-hanging tree limbs.
Accepted
- ✓ Old furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Stoves
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (wood, sheetrock)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Concrete blocks and dirt
If you are a commercial account or a resident not paying the standard garbage fee, you do not qualify for the free pickups and must pay the per-item fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday falls on your regular trash day, collection is typically rescheduled. Monday holidays often push garbage pickup to Wednesday, and Thursday/Friday recycling collections are delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush and lawn clipping collections will be paused on major city-observed holidays and will resume on the next operating day within your zip code's scheduled rotation.
The Laredo Landfill is closed on Sundays and may have modified hours or full closures on major federal holidays. Always call 3-1-1 to confirm holiday landfill access.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Skip the Glass in the Blue Bin
Unlike some municipal programs, Laredo's curbside recycling does NOT accept glass bottles, jars, or mirrors. Placing glass in your Billie Bote can contaminate entire batches of paper and plastic, so throw all glass items in your green Willie Bote instead.
Bag Your Trash, Empty Your Recycling
It is a strict rule in Laredo to bag all household garbage going into the green Willie Bote to control litter. However, you must do the exact opposite for the blue Billie Bote—keep recyclables loose and never bag them.
Keep Tanglers Out of the Carts
Never dispose of hoses, extension cords, wire hangers, or ropes in your recycling bin. These items are considered 'tanglers' and will jam the sorting machinery at the Laredo recycling processing center.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryDuring the winter holidays, collection schedules typically shift. If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Monday, garbage routes are usually pushed to Wednesday, while recycling routes (normally Thursday/Friday) may shift to Friday/Saturday.
Spring
March - MaySpring is heavy brush season in Laredo. Remember that the city strictly enforces brush bundle limits. If you have large, untied branches or tree limbs exceeding 3 inches in diameter, the standard lawn-clipping crews will leave them behind.
Summer/Fall
June - OctoberDuring severe South Texas storms, secure your Willie and Billie botes indoors or against your house if high winds are projected. Unsecured empty carts easily blow into roadways or cause property damage.
About Laredo Waste Management
Meet Willie Bote and Billie Bote
The City of Laredo has affectionately named its green refuse cart 'Willie Bote' and its blue recycling cart 'Billie Bote' to promote community engagement in sanitation. A strict requirement for the green Willie Bote is that all household trash and food waste must be securely bagged before being placed inside. This prevents litter from blowing through Laredo’s streets on windy days and keeps the cart sanitary, reducing unpleasant odors and pests.
Recent Mid-Week Route Expansions
To accommodate Laredo's rapid population growth, the Solid Waste Services Department implemented a major route update in July 2024. While historical collections were strictly on Mondays and Tuesdays, central neighborhoods have now been shifted to a Wednesday collection schedule. If your Willie Bote features a bright neon label, it indicates you are on this newly established Wednesday rotation.
Zip-Code Based Brush Collection
Laredo offers a fantastic perk for residents paying the standard residential garbage fee: free, automated lawn-clipping and brush collection. The city divides collections into a five-day rotating schedule based on your specific zip code, so no phone calls or appointments are necessary for standard yard waste. Simply place your properly bundled branches and bagged grass clippings at the curb by 7:00 AM on your designated week.
Two Free Annual Bulky Pickups
Tackling spring cleaning is easier in Laredo thanks to the city ordinance allowing two free bulky item collections per calendar year for eligible residential customers. You can have up to four large items, such as furniture or appliances, hauled away per request. Because this is an on-demand service, you must contact the 3-1-1 Call Center or the Solid Waste Department to generate a work order prior to placing items curbside.
Saturday Landfill Perks for Residents
If you exhaust your free bulky pickups or have a truckload of debris, the City of Laredo Landfill on Highway 359 is an excellent resource. By presenting a valid Texas ID and a matching current water bill, residents can dispose of up to 2,000 pounds of residential waste for just $2.00 Monday through Friday. Even better, residential drop-offs under one ton are completely free on Saturdays.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Laredo Landfill
6912 State Hwy 359, Laredo, TX 78043
Materials Accepted
Department of Public Works - Motor Oil Recycling
5512 Daugherty Ave, Laredo, TX 78041
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my Willie Bote or Billie Bote gets stolen?
If your trash or recycling cart is stolen, you must file an incident report with the Laredo Police Department and obtain a case number. If you provide this case number, the city will replace the cart for free. If you do not file a police report, you will be charged a $50.00 replacement fee.
Can I request an extra trash cart for my home?
Yes, if your household generates more waste than a single Willie Bote can handle, you can request an additional refuse collection cart. The city charges an extra fee of $11.00 per month for the second cart.
Does the City of Laredo collect construction debris at the curb?
Yes, but it is not part of the standard free bulky pickup. Removal of construction and demolition debris like sheetrock, carpet, or siding is a paid service. The minimum charge is $55.00 for up to 5 cubic yards, plus $11.00 for each additional cubic yard.
How do I dispose of old tires in Laredo?
Tires are not allowed in your curbside Willie Bote. However, Laredo residents can take up to four passenger car tires per day to the City of Laredo Landfill on Highway 359 at no cost, provided you show a valid ID and a matching utility bill.