Houston Trash & Recycling Schedule
Official garbage collection rules, bin guidelines, and holiday schedules for residents of Houston, Texas.
Find Your Exact Pickup Days
Enter your street address on the official collection map to see your specific trash, recycling, and yard waste schedule.
📍 View Official Collection MapService Provider
City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department
Phone Number
311 or 713-837-0311Facility Address
611 Walker St, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Collection Schedule
Trash is collected weekly with recycling and yard waste scheduled by neighborhood zones.
Bin Colors
Black/Green Trash, Blue Recycling
Guidelines & Rules
🎄 Holiday Delays
Holiday collections shift to the next service day when city holidays occur.
🛋️ Bulk Waste Pickup
Heavy trash collected monthly by neighborhood schedule.
⚠️ Important Guidelines
Place bins at curb by 7 a.m.; heavy trash scheduled monthly.
Comprehensive Guide & Details
Comprehensive Guide to Houston Trash and Recycling Services
Managing your household waste in Space City does not have to be a complicated process. The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department provides regular curbside collection for residents, ensuring neighborhoods across the region stay clean and green. Understanding your local pickup schedule is the first step to hassle-free waste disposal. Standard household garbage is collected once a week, while recycling is picked up every other week on an alternating schedule.
Finding Your Collection Schedule and Map
Because Houston is a sprawling metropolis, collection days vary significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood. To find your exact Houston trash pickup schedule, residents should consult the interactive collection map available on the city's official Solid Waste Management website. Simply type in your residential address to instantly view your assigned garbage, recycling, tree waste, and junk waste collection days.
Recycling Collection Guidelines
The city operates a single-stream recycling program, meaning all approved recyclables go directly into your green bin without needing to be sorted beforehand. Acceptable items include cardboard, mixed paper, plastic bottles and jugs that are clean and empty, as well as aluminum and tin cans. It is very important that you do not place glass, plastic grocery bags, or Styrofoam into your recycling cart, as these items contaminate the load and can seriously damage the automated sorting facility equipment.
Bulk Waste and Yard Debris Disposal
Large items that will not comfortably fit in your standard black bin are handled through the city heavy trash collection service. Houston alternates its bulk waste pickup schedule on a monthly basis. Odd-numbered months are reserved exclusively for tree waste and brush, while even-numbered months allow for heavy junk waste, such as old furniture and broken appliances. Yard debris, including grass clippings and small branches, must be placed in city-approved compostable bags for weekly collection.
Navigating Holiday Schedule Delays
During major federal holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year Day, regular collection services are usually suspended to give sanitation workers time with their families. When this happens, pickup days are typically pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week. Always check the local sanitation services portal or the Houston 311 app for real-time updates on holiday schedules so you do not leave your bins out at the curb unnecessarily.
Bin Placement Tips and Missed Pickups
Proper bin placement ensures the automated collection trucks can easily and safely empty your carts. Place your bins at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day, keeping them at least three feet apart from each other and away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, and low-hanging branches. If you experience a missed pickup despite following all guidelines, report it through the Houston 311 service request system within 24 hours to have a resolution crew dispatched to your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is trash collected in Houston?
A: Trash is collected weekly with recycling and yard waste scheduled by neighborhood zones.
Q: How does the holiday schedule affect garbage pickup?
A: Holiday collections shift to the next service day when city holidays occur.
Q: Which bins should I use for trash and recycling?
A: Black/Green Trash, Blue Recycling
Q: How can I schedule a bulk waste pickup?
A: Heavy trash collected monthly by neighborhood schedule.
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