Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pasadena
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-issued rolling bin (optional/by request) or City brown bags Bin (Trash)
Set your trash out before 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection days (twice a week). All trash must be securely bagged and tied. Keep carts at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, vehicles, fences, and utility poles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard household debris
Frontier Recycling Cart (where applicable) or Drop-off Center Bin (Recycling)
If serviced by Frontier, place the cart at the curb before 7:00 a.m. All recyclables MUST be completely loose (never bagged). If serviced by the city, take recyclables to the Pasadena Recycling Center at 2800 Pasadena Blvd.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clear, green, amber)
- ✓Cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs #1, #2, #3, #5, #7
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or plastic packaging
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Electronics or light bulbs
- ✕Ceramics or mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is collected during your designated Heavy Trash/Bulk weeks. Small brush piles are collected on your assigned Wednesday; massive piles must be out by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings (must be bagged)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every two weeks (Frontier) or 1st/3rd & 2nd/4th weeks (Municipal)
Placement
Place heavy trash at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure it is at least 3 feet away from carts, mailboxes, and vehicles. Do not place under low-hanging wires or trees.
Accepted
- ✓ Small furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Rugs
- ✓ Televisions (Frontier guidelines vary; confirm with city)
- ✓ Fence material
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial service provider debris
- ✕ White goods (refrigerators, washers)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ E-waste
Heavy trash collection is included with your residential service. You can also utilize the landfill for free (up to 2 cubic yards) once a month with your original water bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Both Frontier Waste and the City of Pasadena observe these major holidays. If your service day falls on a holiday, collection will typically be provided on the next scheduled collection date. Always check the city's official calendar for exact route shifts.
Yard Waste Exception
Heavy trash and brush collection schedules are suspended on major holidays and will resume based on the city's modified holiday calendar.
City offices, the Sanitation Department, and the Municipal Landfill will be closed during observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose Recyclables Only
The recycling processing machinery cannot open plastic garbage bags. If you place your cans, paper, and plastic bottles inside a plastic trash bag, the entire bag will be sent to the landfill as contamination. Always toss recyclables loosely into the bin.
Keep Tanglers Out
Never place garden hoses, extension cords, clothing, or wire hangers into your recycling cart. These items wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility, causing damage and halting operations.
Separate Heavy Trash from E-Waste
When placing your heavy trash at the curb, ensure it is free of hazardous materials. Items like televisions, computers, tires, and white goods (appliances) will not be collected with standard heavy trash and must be handled separately.
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
June - NovemberDuring Gulf Coast hurricane season, massive storm debris cleanups may alter standard heavy trash schedules. Always separate vegetative brush from structural debris (like fencing or drywall) to ensure the specialized crane trucks can efficiently collect your piles.
Winter
December - JanuaryDuring Christmas and New Year's, expect schedule shifts. If your collection day falls on the holiday, Frontier Waste typically pushes service to your next regularly scheduled collection date. City municipal routes will also be delayed.
Spring
March - MaySpring cleaning often generates excess household junk. Remember that you can use your free 2-cubic-yard disposal privilege at the municipal landfill once every month, provided you bring your water bill, ID, hard hat, safety vest, and a tarp.
About Pasadena Waste Management
Dual Service Providers: Municipal and Frontier Waste
Pasadena residents are uniquely serviced by either the City of Pasadena Municipal teams or Frontier Waste Solutions, depending on their specific neighborhood. Knowing your designated provider is critical because schedules and rules vary—for example, Frontier provides automated curbside recycling carts, while municipal customers primarily utilize the city's centralized drop-off recycling center.
The Monthly City Landfill Privilege
Pasadena residents have the unique benefit of dumping one 2-cubic-yard load of residential refuse (roughly a half-ton pickup truck load) per month at the municipal landfill on Old Genoa-Red Bluff Road at no cost. To bypass the minimum $140 gate fee, you must present a valid Texas driver's license and an original matching water bill. Additionally, OSHA regulations strictly require you to wear a hard hat and safety vest while dumping, which can be purchased on-site if you forget them.
Heavy Trash Weeks and Staggered Pickups
For municipal customers, heavy trash and brush are collected on specific Wednesdays depending on your regular trash days. Small piles are picked up on the 1st and 3rd, or 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. However, if your pile is larger than what a standard garbage truck can hold, it must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled week, as the city will use specialized trucks to collect it incrementally throughout the week.
Mandatory Load Securing at the Landfill
If you are utilizing your free monthly disposal privilege and transporting debris to the municipal landfill, you must securely cover your load with a tarp. Arriving with uncovered refuse automatically triggers a $10 surcharge. The city enforces this rule strictly to prevent windblown litter along local roadways and to maintain a clean environment around the facility.
Strict Bagging Rules for Carts
Whether you are serviced by the City or Frontier Waste, all household garbage in your designated trash cart must be securely bagged and tied. This prevents litter from blowing through Pasadena neighborhoods during automated collection. Conversely, if you have a recycling cart, all recyclables must be placed in completely loose; bagging recyclables is strictly prohibited and can cause the entire cart to be rejected.
Drop-off Facilities
Pasadena Municipal Landfill
550 Old Genoa-Red Bluff Road, Houston, TX 77034
Materials Accepted
Pasadena Recycling Center
2800 Pasadena Boulevard, Pasadena, TX 77502
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use my free monthly landfill drop-off in Pasadena?
Residents can dump one 2-cubic-yard load (about a half-ton pickup load) of residential refuse at the municipal landfill for free once a month. You must bring a valid Texas driver's license and an original matching Pasadena water bill. You are also strictly required to wear an OSHA-approved hard hat and safety vest, and your load must be covered with a tarp.
What is the schedule for heavy trash pickup?
For municipal customers, small heavy trash piles are picked up on Wednesdays of either the 1st and 3rd weeks, or the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month, depending on your regular garbage days. However, if your pile is large, you must have it on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled week, as it will be picked up incrementally over the course of the week.
What do I do with household hazardous waste or old appliances?
You cannot place household hazardous waste, e-waste, tires, or white goods (like refrigerators and washing machines) with your standard heavy trash. You must call the City Sanitation Department at 713-475-7884 to arrange for special handling, drop-off instructions, or to schedule an appointment for these specific items.
Do I have to bag my trash and recycling?
Yes and no. You must securely bag and tie all household garbage placed in your regular trash cart to prevent litter. However, if you are utilizing a Frontier Waste recycling cart, all recyclables must be completely loose. Placing recyclables in plastic bags will cause the sorting facility to treat them as trash.