Trash & Recycling in Houston, TX (2026)
5 verified trash & recycling rules for Houston, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Houston Solid Waste Management provides curbside garbage and recycling collection under Chapter 39. Bins must be at the curb by 7 AM and removed by 10 PM on collection day. Recycling is collected every other week.
Houston Trash and Recycling Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
Houston requires trash and recycling bins to be placed at the curb at least 3 feet apart from other objects on collection day. Bins must be accessible and not blocked. Chapter 39 governs solid waste placement requirements.
Houston Trash Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
Houston provides curbside bulk waste collection for large items like furniture and appliances on a scheduled basis. Chapter 39 governs solid waste disposal. Certain items like hazardous materials, construction debris, and electronics have separate disposal requirements.
Houston Bulk Waste Disposal Rules
Some RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code Sec. 365.012 (Illegal Dumping; Criminal Penalties)
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 coast...
Recycling Requirements
Houston provides curbside single-stream recycling collected every other week in the green 96-gallon cart. While recycling is strongly encouraged, Houston does not mandate residential recycling. Contamination rules restrict what can go in the green bin.
Houston Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsYard Waste Collection
Houston picks up yard waste weekly on the same day as garbage. Material must be in compostable kraft paper bags or 32-gallon containers, weighing no more than 50 pounds each. Tree limbs are bundled. Citywide leaf and tree-waste recycling runs October through March.
Houston Yard Waste Curbside Bag Collection
Few RestrictionsLooking for Harris County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Houston city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Harris County →