Houston Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Houston recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
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
Can you recycle these items in Houston?
Can you recycle cardboard in Houston?
AcceptedFlatten boxes; remove all plastic wrapping, bubble wrap, and foam.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Houston?
Accepted with conditionsClean cardboard only; greasy bottoms and food residue must go in trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse PETE beverage bottles and food containers.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse HDPE milk jugs, water jugs, and detergent bottles.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse PVC rigid containers.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse LDPE rigid containers; no plastic bags or film.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse PP yogurt cups, margarine tubs, and takeout containers.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Houston?
Not acceptedPlastic #6 and polystyrene foam are not accepted in curbside recycling.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse other rigid plastic containers; leave caps on.
Can you recycle glass in Houston?
AcceptedGlass bottles and jars only; rinse clean and place loose in cart.
Can you recycle aluminum in Houston?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse aluminum beverage cans and steel/bimetal food cans.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Houston?
Not acceptedShredded paper is prohibited in the green curbside cart as it jams sorting equipment.
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).