Containers need to be empty (rinse, wipe or scrape out food, drain out liquids). Don't bag recyclables. Place items loosely in the cart, without a bag.
How to dispose of just about anything, responsibly.
The city of Houston provides separate curbside service for these items.
branches, limbs, trunks, and stumps
odd months only
NO lumber, furniture, or treated wood
(up to four per month)
even months only
old furniture, appliances, and other bulky items
even months only
(must be in a container with a screw top lid)
Place next to your bins for curbside pick-up
These items contain hazardous substances and cannot be placed in any bin. Safe disposal is provided for each.
Place these items in a paper yard-waste bag for pickup. Yard waste is turned into Houston Mulch and used in parks and gardens to keep moisture in the ground and weeds at bay.
plants, flowers, leaves, brush
These items are taken to a recycling facility where they are sorted and then processed into raw materials to make new stuff.
beer, soda, etc.
coffee, soup, vegetables, pet food, etc.
milk, juice, soy, broth, juice boxes
junk mail, fliers, postcards, envelopes, office paper
phone books, paperback books
clean corrugated cardboard
flatten large boxes to make more room
cereal, pasta, frozen food, snack boxes, etc.
remove any bags
shoe boxes, gift boxes
toilet paper, paper towel, gift wrap, etc.
bottles, jugs, tubs, and their lids
plastic bathroom containers
bottles, tubs, jugs, and their caps
plastic laundry & cleaning supply bottles
yogurt, margarine etc.
clear plastic cups
milk and juice jugs
plastic takeout containers
This is the stuff that goes into landfills and remains there for generations. Reduce or re-use these items whenever possible.
grocery store bags, trash bags, zip-lock bags
You can recycle plastic bags at many local grocery stores.
all plastic wrap
food wrap, newspaper wrap, dry cleaner wrap
polystyrene & Styrofoam®
takeout containers, cups, plates, coolers
disposable coffee cups
paper fast food cups
and their lids, staws
opaque plastic cups
oily or soiled paper
oily or food crusted
Tip: tear off the greasy
parts and recycle the rest
napkins, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper
potato chip bags, candy bar wrappers, coffee bags, etc. with plastic on the outside and foil on the inside.
foil drink pouches
gift wrap, tissue paper
incandescent light bulbs
Note: fluorescent light bulbs cannot be disposed of curbside.
biodegradable & compostable plastics
utensils, plates, bags
all disposable diapers
biodegradable diapers and diapers made from recycled materials