Houston bulk trash pickup
Heavy Trash (junk + tree waste) every other month — up to six curbside collections per year for eligible homes.
Verified 2026-10-15 · houstontx.gov
At a glance
| Brush | Yard: biodegradable/compostable bags or reusable containers; small logs tied ≤4 ft / ≤50 lb. Heavy Trash tree waste pieces ≤8 in dia / ≤10 ft. |
|---|---|
| Limits | Heavy Trash ≤8 cy; building material ≤4 cy (resident-generated exclusions apply); yard bags/bundles ≤50 lb; limbs for yard stream ≤4 ft when bundled as yard waste. |
| Not allowed | Trash cart: household hazardous waste, tires/batteries/auto fluids, construction/remodel, recycling/yard/heavy-trash streams. Recycling: bags/film, greasy paper, yard, textiles, large plastics. |
| Curbside | Garbage cart 6:00 p.m. prior–6:00 a.m. day; recycling 6:00 p.m. prior–7:00 a.m.; remove both by 10:00 p.m. collection day. Heavy Trash 6:00 p.m. Friday before–7:00 a.m. scheduled day. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · houstontx.gov 1, houstontx.gov 2 |
Schedule
Bulk pickup is automatic in Houston — no city request needed.
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
Garbage cart 6:00 p.m. prior–6:00 a.m. day; recycling 6:00 p.m. prior–7:00 a.m.; remove both by 10:00 p.m. collection day. Heavy Trash 6:00 p.m. Friday before–7:00 a.m. scheduled day.
Where
Curbside; carts ≥3 ft from obstacles; recycling facing street. Heavy trash just behind curb line; not under wires/signs/mailboxes; not on meters/hydrants; don't block traffic/pedestrians.
Limits
Heavy Trash ≤8 cy; building material ≤4 cy (resident-generated exclusions apply); yard bags/bundles ≤50 lb; limbs for yard stream ≤4 ft when bundled as yard waste.
Not allowed
Trash cart: household hazardous waste, tires/batteries/auto fluids, construction/remodel, recycling/yard/heavy-trash streams. Recycling: bags/film, greasy paper, yard, textiles, large plastics.
Bags
Bag household garbage in cart. Recyclables loose (no bags). Yard in compostable/biodegradable bags or allowed containers.
Verified 2026-10-15 · houstontx.gov 1, houstontx.gov 2
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your day
Verified 2026-10-15 · houstontx.gov
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Full details for Houston: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- City Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD). Weekly curbside for single-family / eligible residential using City-issued 96-gallon automated garbage cart. Day by address via Garbage Pickup Via Physical Address / HTX Collects app. Place cart curb between 6:00 p.m. day before and 6:00 a.m. collection day; lids closed; not overfilled; ≥3 ft from mailboxes, vehicles, trees, other containers; don't block sidewalks/driveways/roadways. Remove cart by 10:00 p.m. collection day. Bagged household garbage, food waste, non-recyclable household materials, small items that fit in cart. Apartments/businesses = private haulers (not City).
- Recycling
- City-issued green recycling cart; bi-weekly A/B week (2026 Recycle_Cal.pdf). Same-day look-up via HTX Collects / HoustonRecycles.org. Set out 6:00 p.m. prior–7:00 a.m. collection day; face street, handle toward house; ≥3 ft from garbage cart; remove by 10:00 p.m. Accepted (recycling.html): paper (newspaper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper); plastics #1–5 & #7 rinsed; aluminum & bimetal cans; glass bottles/jugs/jars; flattened cardboard; gable-top & shelf-stable cartons. Not: film/flexible plastics, greasy/soiled paper, yard waste, textiles, large plastic items (toys/hoses/coolers/furniture/buckets). Don't bag recyclables (contamination).
- Bulk pickup
- Heavy Trash (junk + tree waste) every other month; up to six curbside collections/year for eligible City-served residences (occupied units; not multi-residential >8 units). Set out 6:00 p.m. Friday before–7:00 a.m. scheduled day; just behind curb (not in street/sidewalk). Cap 8 cubic yards/set-out. Tree waste: clean wood; limbs/shrubbery ≤8 in dia / ≤10 ft length. Junk: furniture, carpet (bundled), mattresses/box springs, toilets, bikes/toys, appliances (fridge/freezer only with certified refrigerant-removal tag). Resident-generated building material ≤4 cy (no shingles/brick/plaster/concrete). Up to 4 passenger tires (may take up to 1 week after main pickup). Not: household garbage, electronics, household hazardous waste/paint/chemicals, dirt/sod/soil, contractor debris, Freon appliances without tag. Yard waste (leaves/grass) with Heavy Trash month in biodegradable/compostable bags (ASTM D6400 / EN 13432) or reusable containers (not City 95-gal refuse carts); bundled logs ≤4 ft / ≤50 lb. Call 3-1-1 if yard waste missed on Heavy Trash day.
- Curbside: when
- Garbage cart 6:00 p.m. prior–6:00 a.m. day; recycling 6:00 p.m. prior–7:00 a.m.; remove both by 10:00 p.m. collection day. Heavy Trash 6:00 p.m. Friday before–7:00 a.m. scheduled day.
- Curbside: where
- Curbside; carts ≥3 ft from obstacles; recycling facing street. Heavy trash just behind curb line; not under wires/signs/mailboxes; not on meters/hydrants; don't block traffic/pedestrians.
- Curbside: limits
- Heavy Trash ≤8 cy; building material ≤4 cy (resident-generated exclusions apply); ≤4 passenger tires; yard bags/bundles ≤50 lb; limbs for yard stream ≤4 ft when bundled as yard waste.
- Curbside: brush
- Yard: biodegradable/compostable bags or reusable containers; small logs tied ≤4 ft / ≤50 lb. Heavy Trash tree waste pieces ≤8 in dia / ≤10 ft.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Trash cart: household hazardous waste, tires/batteries/auto fluids, construction/remodel, recycling/yard/heavy-trash streams. Recycling: bags/film, greasy paper, yard, textiles, large plastics. Heavy Trash: garbage, e-waste, household hazardous waste, dirt/sod, contractor piles, untagged Freon units.
- Curbside: bags
- Bag household garbage in cart. Recyclables loose (no bags). Yard in compostable/biodegradable bags or allowed containers.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Specific set-out citation dollars Ask the city or your hauler.
- Holidays
- New Year's Day 2026 (2026-01-01): shift not yet confirmed
- Mlk 2026 (2026-01-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Presidents Day 2026 (2026-02-16): shift not yet confirmed
- Spring Holiday 2026 (2026-04-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial Day 2026 (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Juneteenth 2026 (2026-06-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Independence Day 2026 (2026-07-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Veterans Day 2026 (2026-11-11): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Day After Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-27): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas Eve 2026 (2026-12-24): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
City posts 2026 Holiday Schedule dates on holiday.html. Delay rules vary by holiday — check HTX Collects or SWMD for the week of each holiday.
- Hauler
- City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) / Houston Public Works
- Contacts
- 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311; SWMD 611 Walker St, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77002; [email protected]
- Find your day
- Garbage Pickup Via Physical Address + HTX Collects / HoustonRecycles.org My Schedule
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: houstontx.gov
Bulk: houstontx.gov
Holidays: houstontx.gov
Curbside: houstontx.gov 1, houstontx.gov 2 - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer