Houston Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Collected every other month (up to 6 times per year) alternating between Tree Waste and Junk Waste | Up to 8 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Year-round. Yard waste is collected weekly in biodegradable compostable bags (ASTM D6400/EN 13432) or reusable containers up to 50 lbs; small limbs may be tied and bundled up to 4 feet in length. |
Trash container requirements
- Single-family homes receive weekly curbside garbage collection using 96-gallon automated black carts.
- Place cart at the curb between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. on collection day with lids closed.
- Keep cart at least 3 feet away from obstacles like mailboxes and parked cars; remove from curb by 10:00 p.m.
Houston recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Cardboard and cereal boxes (emptied of packing material and flattened)
- Paper: Newspaper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, envelopes
- Plastic bottles, tubs, jars, and jugs #1-#5 and #7 (rinsed and drained)
- Glass bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed)
- Aluminum and tin/bimetal cans (soup, vegetable, soda cans)
- Gable-top and shelf-stable food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, soup)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, wrap, film, or bagged recyclables
- Styrofoam or polystyrene containers
- Batteries, light bulbs, electronics, and cords
- Tanglers (hoses, wires, clothing, textiles)
- Food scraps, liquids, and yard waste
Houston bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Collected every other month (up to 6 times per year) alternating between Tree Waste and Junk Waste |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 8 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | (713) 837-0311 |
Houston holiday trash delays
Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.
Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Houston, TX
Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:
| Holiday | Observed Date | Schedule Status | Curbside Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Weekend Holiday | Holiday falls on a weekend. Regular weekday curbside routes are unchanged. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 12, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Wednesday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department · municipal dpw
Phone: (713) 837-0311
611 Walker St Fl 12Houston, TX 77002
These collection rules cover Zone Curbside Collection Routes (Mon–Fri by Street Address).
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Houston, TX?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m.. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Collection Routes (Mon–Fri by Street Address).
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Houston?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Collection Routes (Mon–Fri by Street Address).
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Houston?
Collected every other month (up to 6 times per year) alternating between Tree Waste and Junk Waste The listed limit is 8 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at (713) 837-0311 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Collection Routes (Mon–Fri by Street Address).
What items are accepted for recycling in Houston?
The listed accepted materials are Cardboard and cereal boxes (emptied of packing material and flattened), Paper: Newspaper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, envelopes, Plastic bottles, tubs, jars, and jugs #1-#5 and #7 (rinsed and drained), Glass bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed), Aluminum and tin/bimetal cans (soup, vegetable, soda cans), Gable-top and shelf-stable food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, soup). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, wrap, film, or bagged recyclables, Styrofoam or polystyrene containers, Batteries, light bulbs, electronics, and cords, Tanglers (hoses, wires, clothing, textiles), Food scraps, liquids, and yard waste. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Collection Routes (Mon–Fri by Street Address).