Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Antonio
Trash Day
Trash (brown cart) is collected once per week, Monday through Thursday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route.
Recycling
Weekly (blue cart) on a designated day that differs from trash pickup, but is shared with green organics collection.
Yard Waste
Weekly (green organics cart) collected on the same day as your blue recycling cart.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash, recycling, and environmental service fees are billed directly through your monthly CPS Energy electric bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
No specific solid waste rate discount is listed, but residents can downsize their brown trash cart to lower their monthly fee. Income-qualified utility assistance is also available through the City and CPS Energy.
Brown Cart Bin (Trash)
Cart must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your trash day. Wheels must touch the curb with the lid opening toward the street. Lids must be fully closed, and no extra material outside the cart will be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and loose. Never bag recyclables. The blue cart is collected on a different day than the brown trash cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Use the Green Organics Cart. Do not use plastic bags (use BPI-certified compostable bags or paper bags if necessary). Collected on the same day as your blue recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps and leftovers
- ✓Yard trimmings (leaves, grass, small branches)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a year at the curb (Year-round at drop-off centers)
Placement
For curbside service, place piles within 8 feet of the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your assigned week. Do not block sidewalks, cars, or fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Large appliances (water heaters, AC units)
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Passenger tires (six or fewer without rims, at drop-off only)
- ✓ Brush and tree limbs (curbside brush week only)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Bagged household garbage
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Soil, rocks, and bricks
Drop-off centers are free, but you must present a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee and a valid picture ID. Limit 4 cubic yards per visit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a City-observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection for that day shifts one day later, and all subsequent days in that week also shift one day later (e.g., Friday routes move to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Because recycling and organics are collected on the same trucks, the blue and green carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the brown trash cart.
Not all federal holidays disrupt service. Always verify the schedule by calling 3-1-1 or checking the SA311 app before a holiday week, as some holiday observations can vary.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
May - OctoberSan Antonio regularly experiences temperatures exceeding 100°F. The extreme heat causes garbage and food waste to emit severe odors and attract pests rapidly. Thoroughly rinse recyclable containers, bag your trash tightly, and always keep cart lids fully closed.
Spring/Fall
March - May, September - NovemberThese seasons typically align with the City's semi-annual brush and bulky waste curbside collections. Monitor your CPS Energy bill inserts or check the 311SA app to find your neighborhood's exact designated Monday set-out date.
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the winter holidays, large cardboard boxes from gifts must be flattened to fit inside the blue recycling cart. Avoid placing foil wrapping paper or plastic ribbons into the blue cart, as these contaminate the paper stream.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Used Cans and Bottles into Cold Cash in San Antonio?
While Texas doesn't have a statewide bottle/can redemption program like some other states, that doesn't mean you can't make a little extra cash from your recyclables right here in San Antonio. Local scrap yards are often your best bet. Places like Atlas Iron & Metal or SA Metals & Recycling are known to pay for aluminum cans and other metals. It's a great way to get a few bucks back and keep valuable materials out of the landfill. Just give them a call to check their current rates and what they accept!
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a New Home in the Alamo City
Got items that are still in good shape but you just don't need anymore? Instead of tossing them, consider donating them to a local San Antonio charity! Goodwill Industries has multiple locations throughout the city where they’ll happily take clothing, household goods, and furniture. Another fantastic option is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which accepts furniture, appliances, and building materials – perfect for DIYers or anyone looking for a bargain. Your donation can make a real difference for neighbors in need.
Keeping San Antonio Beautiful: What to Do About Nasty Dumping
Seeing trash dumped illegally is a real bummer for our community. If you spot illegal dumping in San Antonio, the best thing to do is report it. You can usually report it to the city's Solid Waste Management Department or through their 311 service. They often have special collection events for things like electronics and household hazardous waste, so keep an eye out for those announcements too! Taking a moment to report or participate in a community cleanup event goes a long way in keeping San Antonio looking its best for everyone.
Drop-off Facilities
Bitters Bulky Drop-Off Center
1800 Wurzbach Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78216
Materials Accepted
Culebra Road Bulky Drop-Off Center
7030 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my trash and recycling carts collected on different days in San Antonio?
The City of San Antonio utilizes a split-day routing system to maximize efficiency across its massive service area. Your brown trash cart has its own designated service day, while your blue recycling cart and green organics cart are collected together on a different day of the week.
How do I dispose of a mattress or old couch?
You can either wait for your neighborhood's designated semi-annual bulky waste curbside collection week, or you can self-haul the mattress or couch to one of the City's four Bulky Item Drop-Off Centers. You will need to show a recent CPS Energy bill and a photo ID to use the drop-off center.
Can I leave extra bags of trash next to my brown cart?
No. The SWMD automated collection trucks will only pick up waste that fits completely inside your brown cart with the lid closed. Extra bags, boxes, or items placed on the ground next to the cart will be left behind.
What happens if a holiday falls on my trash day?
If a City-observed holiday like Thanksgiving or New Year's Day falls on a weekday, all collection routes for that day and the remainder of the week are shifted one day later. For example, Thursday routes will be collected on Friday, and Friday routes will be collected on Saturday.