Solid Waste Management

Curbside Garbage Information

The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides weekly garbage and yard waste collection to more than 390,000 households and small businesses.

Automated collection using 96-gallon garbage carts is cleaner, safer, and more efficient than manual collection. It has significantly reduced worker injuries and lowered costs for the City. The carts are also environmentally friendly, made with 50% recycled materials.

Garbage Collection Guidelines

• Place your city-issued garbage cart at the curb between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
• Position the cart with the handle facing your house.
• Keep carts at least 3 feet apart from recycling carts, mailboxes, trees, or parked cars so trucks can safely operate.
• Remove carts from the curb and store them in a secure location by 10:00 p.m. on collection day.
• Blocked or inaccessible carts will not be emptied.

Do NOT put the following in your BLACK GARBAGE container: Household chemicals, computer equipment, yard trimmings, hot ash/coal, dead animals and construction/ demolition remodeling debris.

* Chemicals and hot ashes cause truck fires.

Yard Trimmings Collection

Effective immediately, changes to the City’s Code of Ordinances, Articles I and IV, provide expanded options for curbside yard waste collection. Here are the new provisions:

• Biodegradable Bags: Residents can now use any 100% biodegradable or compostable bags that meet ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 specifications. The previously required city-approved biodegradable bags bearing the City seal are no longer mandatory.
• Reusable Refuse Containers: Yard waste can be placed in personal reusable refuse containers, excluding city-issued 95-gallon refuse carts.
• Tied and Bundled Logs: Small logs can be tied and bundled in 4-foot lengths.

Note: Contents in personal reusable containers and bundles of yard waste must not exceed 50 lbs.

How to Participate

Eligible households can take advantage of the weekly curbside yard waste collection services, which coincide with the scheduled garbage collection days. Here’s how to participate:

1. Placement: Place yard waste materials at least 3 feet away from regular trash bins or other obstructions on the designated collection days.
2. Separation: Ensure that curbside yard waste is not mixed with trash, paper, plastic, or any other types of waste. Mixed contents will not be collected.
3. Contractors: Professional landscaping contractors hired for residential services must properly dispose of any debris resulting from their work.

The City of Houston is committed to making yard waste disposal more efficient and convenient for its residents. With these new options, Houstonians can participate in the curbside yard waste collection program more flexibly and sustainably.

 

Extra Capacity Garbage Collection

If you regularly generate more garbage than your cart can hold, the SWMD offers extra capacity collection options. Learn more about Extra Capacity Garbage Collection >>

What Goes Where?

Enter the item you wish to dispose of into the web tool to find the proper disposal methods and locations, including recycling options and drop-off centers.