Houston Trash Day Guide: Garbage, Recycling and Heavy Trash Rules
Houston sets out garbage, recycling and heavy trash on different rules. Here is what the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department says, in one place.
Find your exact day
Your pickup day depends on your address. Use the official City of Houston schedule lookup. You can also browse regular pickup days on the TrashAlert collection day map where we have verified data.
Garbage: once a week
The City provides weekly curbside garbage collection for single-family homes, using city-issued automated carts. Each home is assigned a collection day.
Put your cart at the curb between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, and take it back in by 10:00 p.m. that day.
Keep the lid closed, leave at least 3 feet around the cart, and do not block sidewalks, driveways or the street. Apartment complexes and businesses use private collection instead.
Recycling
Place your city-issued recycling container at the curb between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day, facing the street with the handle toward the house.
Use the City lookup tool or the HTX App to see your recycling collection day.
Heavy trash: every other month
Heavy trash (bulk items and tree waste) is collected every other month for eligible addresses, with up to six curbside collections per calendar year.
Set heavy trash just behind the curb line between 6:00 p.m. the Friday before and 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Keep it off the street and sidewalk and away from wires, signs, mailboxes and meters.
Household hazardous waste and electronics do not go out for heavy trash. The City directs those to its Environmental Service Centers.
About TrashAlert coverage in Houston
TrashAlert has Houston zone data, but not every address may be covered yet. The official City lookup is the final word for your address. The map shows regular pickup days, not holiday changes.
Help and official sources
For missed collections or cart problems, the City asks residents to contact 3-1-1.
Source: www.houstontx.gov, City of Houston Solid Waste Management, verified 2026-09-26. Rules can change, so check the official pages before a holiday or bulky pickup.
🗺️ See regular pickup days
Browse the collection day map, then confirm your address with the official city lookup.
Open the Collection Day Map →