Trash & Recycling in Austin, TX (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Austin, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Austin Resource Recovery collects trash and composting weekly on the same day, with recycling every other week. Find your day with the My Schedule tool or the Austin Recycles app. Collection slides one day later for New Year's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Austin Trash Pickup Schedule & Rules
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 365.012(c)-(e)
Sec. 365.012. (c) A person commits an offense if the person transports litter or other solid waste to a place that is not an approved solid waste site for disposal at the site. (d) An offense under Subsection (a), (b), or (c) is a Class C misdemeanor if the litter or other solid waste to which the offense applies weighs five pounds or less or has a volume of five gallons or less. (e) An offense...
Bulk Item Disposal
Austin Resource Recovery provides curbside bulk item collection by appointment. Residents can schedule up to two free bulk pickups per year for large items like furniture, mattresses, and appliances. Additional pickups are available for a fee. Items must be placed at the curb on the scheduled date. Austin also operates the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center for construction debris, tires, and other materials. Hazardous waste is accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste facility on Todd Lane.
Austin Bulk Item Disposal & Large Item Pickup
Some RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 365.012(a)-(b)
Sec. 365.012. ILLEGAL DUMPING; DISCARDING LIGHTED MATERIALS; CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person disposes or allows or permits the disposal of litter or other solid waste at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, including a place on or within 300 feet of a public highway, on a right-of-way, on other public or private property, or into inland or coastal ...
Recycling Requirements
Austin has a Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) adopted in 2012 requiring recycling and organics diversion for commercial properties, multifamily properties, and food-permitted establishments. The URO supports Austin's Zero Waste goal of diverting 90% of waste from landfills by 2040. All properties with trash service of 96 gallons or more per week must provide recycling. Food-permitted businesses must divert organics. Single-family homes receive single-stream recycling through Austin Resource Recovery.
Austin Recycling Requirements & Guidelines
Heavy RestrictionsAustin Universal Recycling Ordinance (Austin City Code Chapter 15-6)
The Universal Recycling Ordinance supports Austin's zero waste goal. The ordinance requires: Commercial business owners and multifamily properties to ensure that all commercial tenants, multifamily residents and employees have access to recycling. Food-permitted businesses to ensure that all employees have convenient access to diversion methods that keep organic materials out of landfills. Orga...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Austin's Universal Recycling ordinance layers a specific composting mandate on top of its general recycling rule. Section 15-6-91(A)(2) requires multifamily properties with five or more units to give tenants access to composting service starting October 1, 2024, and Section 15-6-91(E) separately requires any food enterprise holding a food permit to give employees access to on-site organics diversion.
Austin Mandatory Organics Diversion Rules
Significant RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 15-6-91(A)(2), (E); see also Sec. 15-6-92(A)(3)
(A)(2)after October 1, 2024, and for premises with five or more dwelling units, ensure that tenants and employees have access to composting services described under this article, for that portion of the premises that is multi-family residential...(E)the responsible party for a premises of which all or a portion has use attributable to a food enterprise that requires a food permit under Section ...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping refuse anywhere in Austin is a Class C misdemeanor. City Code Section 1-1-99 sets the fine at up to $2,000 per offense for sanitation violations that include dumping of refuse, and Code Compliance can also refer serious dumping for Texas criminal charges.
Austin Illegal Dumping Penalties: Up To $2,000 City Fine
Some RestrictionsAustin City Code Section 1-1-99(B) (Offenses; General Penalty)
An offense is a Class C misdemeanor, and if the Code does not state a penalty for an offense: (1) except as provided by Subsection (B)(2), the offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500; or (2) if the offense is a violation of an ordinance that governs fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse, the offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,...
Yard Waste Collection
Austin doesn't run a separate yard-waste chapter: brush and yard trimmings collection is folded into Chapter 15-6's general solid-waste eligibility rule. Section 15-6-5(A)(3) allows brush and yard trimmings pickup only for items that are compostable wood or fiber material the City's composting program accepts, and the director can add limits on quantity or item type.
Austin Yard Waste and Brush Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 15-6-5(A)(3); see also Sec. 15-6-4, Sec. 15-6-112(A)
(A)To be eligible for collection under this chapter:...(3)for brush collection and yard trimmings collection service, an item must be compostable wood or fiber materials acceptable for use in the City's composting program;...(B)The director may impose additional restrictions on items or quantities of items to be collected from the department's customers:(1)to protect the safety of department pe...
Dumpster Rules
A licensed private hauler can't just drop a mechanically-handled dumpster or roll-off container on an Austin street, alley, or other public right-of-way. Section 15-6-42(B) requires the director's approval or a signed license agreement with the City before that placement, and haulers must keep every dumpster in sanitary, non-hazardous condition under Section 15-6-112(B).
Austin Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Significant RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 15-6-42(B); see also Sec. 15-6-112(B)
(B)A licensee may not place a mechanically-handled solid waste container on public property or a public right-of-way, except with the director's approval or the execution of a license agreement with the city.
Collection Schedule
Austin Resource Recovery must offer collection service to every premises in the city, and City Code Section 15-6-11 requires most residential accounts to use it: any premises with fewer than five dwelling units has to be on department service unless it fits a narrow exception. The department, not each household, sets the pickup day and frequency under Section 15-6-16.
Austin Mandatory Trash Collection Service Rules
Some RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 15-6-11; see also Sec. 15-6-16, Sec. 15-6-17(F)
(A)Except as provided in this chapter, the department shall make collection service available to all premises in the City...(C)Except as provided in Subsections (D) and (F) and by rule, a person in control of a premises with less than five residential dwelling units shall use department collection services.
Looking for Travis County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Austin city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Travis County →