Texas has no statewide commercial or residential organics diversion law similar to California SB 1383 or Massachusetts. Harris County does not require food waste separation for residents or businesses, but Houston runs a voluntary residential subscription compost pilot and accepts yard waste through curbside service.
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 361 governs solid waste, but there is no state mandate for organics diversion. Harris County Solid Waste does not contract residential collection in unincorporated areas, where households use private subscription haulers. The county does operate seasonal yard-waste and tree-debris drop-off sites after storms. Inside Houston, the Solid Waste Management Department accepts curbside yard waste in compostable bags and runs a voluntary food-scrap subscription pilot in a few zip codes. Commercial organics diversion is voluntary and incentivized through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recycling grants, not by any local mandate. Restaurants commonly contract privately with Moonshot Compost or similar haulers.
Because organics diversion is voluntary, no fines apply for placing food waste in trash. Illegal dumping of yard waste outside contracted service is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500 under the county litter order.
Tomball, TX
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See how Tomball's mandatory organics recycling rules stack up against other locations.
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