Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for New Braunfels
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 Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged. Place the green cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day (and no earlier than 8:00 p.m. the night before). Maintain a 5-foot clearance from mailboxes, vehicles, and other carts. The lid must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Unaccepted plant items (palms, cactus) if lid closes
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose inside the blue cart—do not bag recyclables. Rinse out food residue from containers and flatten all cardboard boxes. Keep the cart 5 feet away from your green waste bundles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic containers #1-7 (under 5 gallons)
- ✓Flattened cardboard (cut to size)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel food/beverage cans
- ✓Dairy and juice cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam (Plastic Foam #6)
- ✕Green waste
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in 30-gallon brown paper lawn bags or tied into bundles with rope or twine (max 4 ft length, max 40 lbs each). Limit of 20 bags/bundles per household per collection day. Set out by 6:00 a.m. on your designated recycling day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden trimmings
- ✓Branches, limbs, and twigs
- ✓Natural Christmas trees (cut in half if over 8 feet)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Demand (Curbside) or Quarterly (Free Drop-off Events)
Placement
Place items fully accessible at the curb by your scheduled pickup time. Trucks utilize lifting arms, so adequate overhead and side clearance is mandatory.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Large non-metal bulky items
- ✓ Mattresses (at specific drop-off locations)
- ✓ Whole passenger car tires without rims (limit 4 at drop-offs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances (take to Recycle Center)
- ✕ Primarily metal or glass items
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and remodeling debris
- ✕ Commercial trash
Curbside collection requires a $43.30 non-refundable service fee. If you have excess bagged garbage that won't fit in your green cart, you must purchase excess garbage tags ($21.65 for a sheet of five) from the City Municipal Building.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no residential collection on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day. Collection scheduled on those holidays will be made up the following day, and all subsequent collection days that week will shift by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste collection follows the same shifted holiday schedule as regular garbage and recycling.
Normal collection schedules are maintained for all other holidays (e.g., Labor Day, Memorial Day), though the City Recycle Center will be closed on all official City holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Plastic Bag
Never bag your recyclables. Sorting facilities cannot process plastic bags, and bagged recycling will be rejected as contamination. Keep all accepted items loose in your blue cart.
Separate Your Green Waste
Do not put grass clippings, leaves, or branches in your blue recycling cart. Yard waste has its own dedicated collection process and must be set out in brown paper bags or bundles.
Sort Out Styrofoam
Curbside recycling trucks do not accept Styrofoam (plastic foam #6). However, completely white, clean, and dry Styrofoam can be dropped off in person at the City Recycle Center.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
March - AugustAs the growing season accelerates in Central Texas, take advantage of the weekly 20-item green waste allowance. Grass clippings and pruned branches must be bagged in brown paper lawn bags or tied with twine.
Winter
December - JanuaryAfter the holidays, the city hosts free Christmas tree mulching events at the City Recycle Center. Natural trees must have all lights, ornaments, and stands removed before drop-off.
Year-Round
QuarterlyMark your calendar for the city's quarterly Bulky Goods and Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events. These scheduled dates offer a free and safe way to dispose of chemicals, old mattresses, tires, and large furniture.
About New Braunfels Waste Management
Complete Guide to New Braunfels Residential Trash Collection
The City of New Braunfels Solid Waste & Recycling division provides comprehensive waste management for residents, utilizing green 96-gallon carts for standard household garbage. To ensure smooth service, carts must be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Be mindful that all household trash must be bagged before going into the green cart to prevent windblown litter and odors. If your cart is overflowing, you must purchase excess garbage tags or request an additional cart for a monthly fee.
Proper Protocols for Curbside Recycling
Recycling in New Braunfels relies on single-stream blue carts, making it convenient for residents to divert waste from local landfills. Accepted materials include plastic containers #1-7, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and flattened cardboard. A critical rule is to leave recyclables loose—never place plastic bags in your blue cart. Adhering to these guidelines helps reduce processing contamination and keeps the city’s recycling program sustainable and efficient.
Navigating Green Waste and Yard Debris Limits
Managing yard clippings and tree limbs is simple with the city's dedicated green waste collection, which operates on your normal recycling day. Residents can set out up to 20 brown paper bags or tightly tied bundles per week. Remember to keep branches under 4 feet in length and ensure each bag or bundle weighs less than 40 pounds. Plastic bags for yard waste are strictly prohibited and will be left at the curb by collectors.
Cost-Effective Bulk Trash Disposal Options
Getting rid of old furniture or oversized items doesn't have to be a hassle. While New Braunfels offers scheduled curbside bulk pickups for a $43.30 fee, residents can also take advantage of free quarterly Bulky Goods Drop-Off events. Hosted at various locations like City Hall and the Mesquite Creek Landfill, these quarterly events are perfect for disposing of mattresses, passenger tires, and bulky non-metal goods without incurring extra charges.
Utilizing the City Recycle Center
When you have extra recyclables or materials not accepted curbside, the City Recycle Center on Castell Avenue is a valuable local resource. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the center accepts clean Styrofoam, scrap metal, and large appliances without Freon. Because the facility is heavily utilized, visitors must present proof of residency, such as a valid Texas ID or a local utility bill, to drop off items.
Drop-off Facilities
City Recycle Center
488 S. Castell Avenue, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss my trash pickup time in New Braunfels?
Carts must be on the curb by 6:00 a.m. If you place your cart out late and want the truck to return before your next scheduled collection day, the city will assess a $27.06 return fee.
How do I dispose of excess garbage that doesn't fit in my green cart?
The lid of your garbage cart must close completely. If you have extra bags, you must attach a City-issued excess garbage tag to each bag left outside the cart. Tags can be purchased in bundles of five for $21.65 at the City Municipal Building.
Can I put yard clippings in plastic bags for pickup?
No. Green waste must be placed in 30-gallon brown paper lawn bags or tied into bundles with rope or twine. Plastic bags cause contamination and will not be collected by the green waste trucks.
Does the city pick up large appliances at the curb?
No. Items that are primarily metal or glass, including home appliances, are not eligible for curbside bulk pickup. However, residents can drop off appliances (that do not contain Freon) year-round at the City Recycle Center.