Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for The Woodlands
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-lid cart Bin (Trash)
The cart lid must close completely. Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your service day with the handle facing the house. Maintain 4 feet of clearance between the cart and other items. Max weight is 200 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
Yellow-lid cart Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loose in the cart—never bag them. Empty and rinse all containers, and replace caps. Do not include pizza boxes with food grease.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cans (aluminum, tin, or steel)
- ✓Food and beverage cartons
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Paper (newspaper, mail, magazines)
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jars, and to-go cups (#1-5 & 7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and films
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Styrofoam (cups, plates, block packaging)
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use petroleum-based plastic bags. Must use ASTM-6400 certified compostable bags, Kraft paper bags, or an open 32-gallon trash can. Limbs must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 feet long and 4 feet high. Max weight is 40 lbs per bundle or container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Prunings
- ✓Branches and tree limbs (under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited (Must be scheduled in advance)
Placement
Place bulky items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Maintain at least 4 feet of clearance from your carts, and do not park vehicles in front of the pile.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Carpet (cut to 4-foot bundles, limit 2)
- ✓ Refrigerators and AC units (MUST be certified Freon-free with tag)
- ✓ Toilets (place inside a duct-taped cardboard box)
- ✓ Large block Styrofoam
Not Accepted
- ✕ Bags of household trash (requires pink tags instead)
- ✕ Construction and remodeling debris
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Vehicle parts and tires
Bulky oversized pickup is provided at no additional cost to residents, but acquiring a 'Freon-free' certification for appliances requires hiring a private technician at the resident's expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management does not collect trash or recycling on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day. Collection routes scheduled on or after the holiday will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard trimmings and scheduled bulky collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash and recycling carts.
Normal collection schedules are maintained for all other holidays (e.g., Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day).
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Pizza Box Rule
While clean cardboard is heavily encouraged in your yellow-lid cart, grease-soaked pizza boxes belong in the trash. If the top lid of the box is completely clean and oil-free, you can tear it off and recycle it, but the greasy bottom must go into the green-lid cart.
Shredded Paper Trick
Standard loose shredded paper causes a mess at the recycling sorting facility. Instead of putting it in your recycling cart, The Woodlands allows residents to mix plain, non-glossy shredded paper evenly with leaves inside a certified compostable bag for yard trimming collection.
No Styrofoam in the Cart
Block packaging and Styrofoam cups (polystyrene #6) are not accepted in the curbside recycling program. If you have large Styrofoam pieces that do not fit in your trash cart, you can schedule them for a bulky oversized pickup rather than forcing them into your recycling bin.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryThe Township offers convenient green Christmas tree recycling. Remove all lights, stands, and ornaments, and place the un-flocked tree at the curb on your regular yard waste service day. Flocked trees must be scheduled as a heavy bulk pickup.
Spring
MarchWatch for the Township's annual Recycling Drive-thru event. This is the perfect opportunity to responsibly dispose of hard-to-recycle items like large block Styrofoam, electronics, and textiles that cannot go in your curbside carts.
Summer/Fall
June - NovemberIn the event of severe tropical storms or hurricanes, standard yard waste collection may be temporarily suspended. The Township will provide specialized storm debris drop-off dumpsters and issue specific guidelines for curbside debris separation.
About The Woodlands Waste Management
Managing Extra Trash with The Woodlands Pink Tags
The Woodlands Township provides each household with a 96-gallon green-lid cart, which is usually sufficient for weekly household garbage. However, if you find yourself with extra bags that prevent the cart lid from closing, you must use official Township 'pink tags.' Each extra trash bag (up to 55 gallons and 40 pounds) must have its own pink tag attached. You can purchase these tags for $2.10 each at local Kroger customer service counters, Township Town Hall, or The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park.
Unlimited Bulky Oversized Collection at No Extra Charge
One of the standout features of The Woodlands' solid waste program is the unlimited bulky trash collection provided by Waste Management. Residents can dispose of large items like furniture, mattresses, and appliances by simply calling 1-800-800-5804 at least two business days before their regular trash day. While the service is free and unlimited, you must schedule the pickup in advance, and it is crucial to remember that construction debris and electronics are strictly prohibited from this service.
Specially Scheduled Bulky Cardboard Pickups
The boom in online shopping can leave residents with mountains of boxes that quickly fill up a yellow-lid recycling cart. To address this, The Woodlands offers a specialized Bulky Cardboard collection service once a month for each village on select Mondays and Fridays. You must schedule this service at least two business days beforehand. Ensure all boxes are flattened, tied, and stacked securely at the curb, and remove all Styrofoam and plastic packing materials before pickup.
Navigating Strict Yard Trimmings Guidelines
Maintaining the lush, forested aesthetic of The Woodlands means residents generate significant yard waste, but petroleum-based plastic bags are entirely banned for yard trimmings. Grass clippings and leaves must be placed in ASTM-6400 certified compostable bags, Kraft paper bags, or an open 32-gallon traditional trash can. Tree limbs must be trimmed to four feet or less and securely tied in bundles. All yard waste containers or bundles have a strict 40-pound weight limit to ensure safe manual collection.
Handling Paint, Chemicals, and Household Hazardous Waste
Regular trash and bulk collection routes in The Woodlands are not equipped to handle household hazardous waste (HHW) such as wet paint, motor oil, or pool chemicals. Because keeping these toxic substances out of local landfills is vital for the local environment, residents must take their HHW to the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Residential Recycling Center. Always keep chemicals in their original, clearly labeled containers during transport.
Drop-off Facilities
Montgomery County Precinct 3 Recycling Facility
1122 Pruitt Road, Spring, TX 77380
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have more trash than fits in my green cart?
The lid of your green cart must close completely. If you have extra garbage, you must bag it (up to 55 gallons and 40 lbs) and attach a pink extra service tag to each bag. Pink tags cost $2.10 and can be purchased at local Kroger stores or the Township Town Hall.
Does The Woodlands pick up large cardboard boxes at the curb?
Yes. The Woodlands offers a separate, free Bulky Cardboard collection service once a month for each village on select Mondays and Fridays. You must flatten, tie, and stack the boxes, and call Waste Management at least two business days in advance to schedule the pickup.
Can I put yard trimmings in black plastic bags?
No. Petroleum-based plastic bags are strictly prohibited for yard waste. You must use ASTM-6400 certified compostable bags, Kraft paper bags, or an open 32-gallon rigid container, like a traditional trash can.
Will Waste Management pick up my old refrigerator?
Waste Management will only pick up refrigerators, freezers, and AC units if they are certified 'Freon Free' and visibly tagged by a licensed technician. If you cannot get the Freon removed, you must take the appliance to a facility that accepts freon appliances or hire a private junk removal company.