Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Antonio
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.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Blue and Green Carts
Plastic garbage bags and grocery bags are strictly prohibited in both the blue recycling cart and the green organics cart. They jam recycling sorting machinery and contaminate compost. Keep your recyclables loose, and use compostable paper bags for organics if needed.
Pizza Boxes Go in the Green Cart
While clean cardboard belongs in the blue recycling bin, greasy pizza boxes and food-soiled paper cannot be recycled. However, in San Antonio, they are perfect for the green organics cart to be broken down into compost.
No Extra Bags at the Curb
San Antonio's automated trucks cannot pick up bags, boxes, or bulky items left on the ground next to your carts during regular weekly service. All waste must fit inside the respective cart with the lid fully closed.
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.
About San Antonio Waste Management
San Antonio's Unique Split-Day Collection Schedule
San Antonio stands out from most major US cities by utilizing a split-day collection schedule for its over 360,000 households. Your brown trash cart is collected on one specific day of the week, while your blue recycling and green organics carts are collected together on a completely different day. Setting the wrong cart out on the wrong day is a frequent mistake; residents should download the 311SA app or use the city's 'My Collection Day' tool to verify their exact service schedule.
The Green Cart Organics Program
The City of San Antonio is highly proactive regarding composting, providing every eligible household with a green organics cart. This cart is designed to keep organic material out of Bexar County landfills. Residents should use the green cart for all food waste, soiled paper products (like greasy pizza boxes or used napkins), and standard yard trimmings. The green cart is always picked up on the same day as the blue recycling cart.
Semi-Annual Curbside Brush and Bulk Collection
Rather than offering a monthly bulk pickup program, San Antonio provides two distinct curbside collections per year—one dedicated to bulky household items and another for heavy brush and yard debris. Residents are assigned specific collection weeks and must have their piles placed within eight feet of the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of their scheduled week. Piles must be kept clear of low-hanging trees, parked cars, and utility lines.
Year-Round Bulky Item Drop-Off Centers
If you need to dispose of oversized items outside of your semi-annual curbside pickup window, San Antonio operates four Bulky Item Drop-Off Centers (Bitters, Culebra, Frio City, and Rigsby). These facilities are open Tuesday through Saturday. To gain free access, residents must present a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the City Environmental Fee, alongside a matching photo ID.
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.