Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for New Braunfels
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week (bi-weekly) on an alternating Week A or Week B schedule on your assigned collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard and green waste is collected every other week on the same alternating bi-weekly schedule as recycling.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City trash and recycling charges are included directly on your monthly New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) statement alongside water and electric services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, In-Person, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) offers a Senior Citizen Billing Program allowing extended payment deadlines for residents 60 and older, as well as hardship utility assistance in partnership with the New Braunfels Food Bank.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Recyclables into Cold, Hard Cash Around New Braunfels!
While New Braunfels doesn't have dedicated city-run buyback centers for cans and bottles, don't let that stop you from cashing in! Texas has a state bottle redemption program, so keep those aluminum cans and certain plastic bottles separate. You can often find private scrap metal yards in the greater San Antonio area that might take aluminum, copper, and other metals – it's worth a quick search for 'scrap metal recycling San Antonio' to see what's nearby and what they accept. Even a small amount can add up!
Giving Gently Used Goods a Second Life in the Comal County Area
Got items that are still perfectly good but you just don't need anymore? Before they hit the curb, think about donating them! In the New Braunfels vicinity, you can often find places like the New Braunfels Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They happily accept furniture, appliances, building materials, and home goods. Also, check out local thrift stores; many are run by churches or charities and help fund community programs. A quick search for 'New Braunfels charities accepting donations' will give you the most up-to-date list.
Keeping Our Texas Neighborhoods Beautiful: What to Do About Unwanted Junk
Nobody likes seeing trash dumped illegally in our beautiful Texas surroundings. If you see it happening, report it! For the New Braunfels area, illegal dumping is taken seriously. You can often report it to the City of New Braunfels Public Works department or code enforcement. They can guide you on the proper procedures. If you have large items that aren't part of your regular pickup, check with the city for any special collection days or designated drop-off locations for bulky waste. Sometimes, a little digging with the city can save you a headache and keep our community clean.
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.