Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Universal City
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.
Frontier Waste cart with a yellow lid Bin (Trash)
Set out before 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection days. All trash must be securely bagged and tied. Place the cart at least 3 feet from cars, mailboxes, and other carts with the handle facing your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable household items
Frontier Waste cart with a blue lid Bin (Recycling)
Set out before 7:00 a.m. Place clean and empty items loosely inside the cart. Do NOT bag recyclables. Overstuffing may prevent the cart from fully emptying.
Accepted Items
- ✓Broken down cardboard boxes
- ✓Empty and clean plastic containers
- ✓Paper and mail
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and tin)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Bagged items
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Collected once a week alongside bulk waste. Limbs must be tied with string or twine into bundles. Loose grass clippings and leaves are not accepted; they must be bagged. Total pile cannot exceed 4 cubic yards.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Bagged leaves
- ✓Bundled tree limbs (under 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week on your designated bulk and brush collection day.
Placement
Place items at the front curb only. Maintain at least a 3-foot clearance from carts, parked cars, and mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ White goods (freon removed and certified)
- ✓ General bulk household items
- ✓ Bagged grass and leaves
- ✓ Tied and bundled limbs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Debris from paid tree contractors or landscapers
- ✕ Appliances with freon still inside
- ✕ Hazardous waste or chemicals
- ✕ Items placed in rear alleys
Bulk collection of up to 4 cubic yards is included in your standard utility fee. If you need extra trash or recycling carts, they can be ordered through the City Utility Billing Department for an additional monthly fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled service day falls on an observed holiday, your service day will be pushed one day later for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The weekly bulk and brush collection route will also be delayed by one day if it falls on or after a major observed holiday.
Minor holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day generally do not disrupt the standard Frontier Waste collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose and Unbagged
When placing items into your blue-lidded recycling cart, never put them inside a plastic garbage bag. Plastic films cannot be recycled curbside and will tangle the sorting facility's equipment.
Bag Your Grass and Leaves
Unlike tree branches which must be bundled, loose organic matter like autumn leaves and grass clippings cannot be swept into the street or left loose. They must be placed inside bags to qualify for your weekly bulk and brush collection.
Certify Your Freon Removal
If you need to dispose of a refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioning unit through the weekly bulk pickup, you must have the freon (CFCs) professionally removed first. A certification tag must be visibly attached to the appliance.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MaySpring trimming generates a lot of brush, but remember that paid landscapers and tree contractors must haul away their own debris. Frontier Waste will only collect up to 4 cubic yards of resident-generated, properly bundled brush.
Summer
June - AugustTexas summers can cause unbagged garbage to smell quickly and attract pests. Since trash is collected twice a week, ensure every piece of waste is tightly bagged and tied before tossing it into your yellow-lidded cart.
Winter
November - JanuaryDuring the busy holiday season, make sure you break down all cardboard boxes so they fit loosely in your recycling cart. Note that service will be delayed by one day following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
About Universal City Waste Management
Seamless Twice-a-Week Collections with Frontier Waste
Universal City partners directly with Frontier Waste Solutions to provide residents with exceptionally frequent waste removal. Unlike many Texas municipalities that only offer weekly garbage pickups, Universal City ensures neighborhoods stay clean by providing twice-per-week household trash collection alongside a robust once-per-week single-stream recycling schedule.
Decoding the Cart Lid Colors
When placing your waste at the curb, it is crucial to identify the correct Frontier Waste cart by its lid color. The cart featuring the yellow lid is strictly designated for bagged household garbage. Conversely, the cart with the blue lid is reserved exclusively for clean, unbagged recyclables. All carts must be rolled out by 7:00 a.m. with the wheels against the curb and at least three feet of clearance.
Managing the 4-Cubic-Yard Bulk and Brush Limit
A major benefit for homeowners is the weekly bulk and brush pickup, but strict volume limits apply. Residents can set out up to four cubic yards of material per collection—roughly the size of a standard refrigerator. For organic waste, tree limbs must be cut to four feet or shorter, be less than four inches thick, and securely tied with string or twine. Meanwhile, all leaves and grass clippings must be securely bagged.
At-Home Hazardous Waste Coordination
Disposing of toxic chemicals doesn't require a long drive to a regional dump. Universal City utilizes a modern, convenient approach for household hazardous waste (HHW). Residents can visit HHWSolutions.com to coordinate a monthly pickup for items like used motor oil, paints, pool chemicals, and batteries, ensuring these dangerous materials stay out of local landfills and are collected safely from your front porch.
Drop-off Facilities
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Solutions
At-home pickup service coordinated online
Materials Accepted
Universal City Utility Billing Office
2150 Universal City Blvd, Universal City, TX 78148
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Universal City collect household trash and recycling?
Frontier Waste Solutions collects standard household trash twice a week and single-stream recycling once a week. You must place your carts at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your designated service days.
How much bulk trash or brush can I put out each week?
You are allowed to set out up to 4 cubic yards per week, which is approximately the volume of a large refrigerator. Remember that tree limbs must be tied in bundles no longer than four feet, and grass clippings must be bagged.
Can my landscaper leave branches at the curb for the city to pick up?
No. The city’s guidelines explicitly state that paid tree contractors and commercial landscapers are responsible for hauling away their own debris. Frontier Waste will not service brush cut by professional companies.
Who do I contact to get an extra trash or recycling cart?
If you need an additional yellow-lidded trash cart or a blue-lidded recycling cart, you must contact the Universal City Utility Billing Office at 210-619-0713. An additional monthly fee will be applied to your regular utility bill.