Houston, TX heavy trash pickup: schedule, booking and rules

Who gets City of Houston heavy trash pickup?

As of November 12, 2026, Houston limits heavy-trash collection to occupied residential units receiving City curbside service. Buildings with more than eight residential units are excluded. Check your collection provider before moving anything outside; a Houston mailing address alone does not establish eligibility. Read the eligibility rules.

If you rent, live in a townhome community or have an HOA, ask the property manager who collects your waste. The City’s administrative-fee FAQ includes eligible small multi-unit properties, but properties using a private provider follow that provider’s arrangements. Check the City-service explanation.

This guide covers household disposal. Contractors must remove material from work they perform, including tree removal, remodeling and roofing. Do not add a contractor’s load to your residential pile. See the contractor restriction.

Houston heavy trash pickup schedule: check your address

The current heavy-trash page says collection takes place in February, April, June, August, October and December, with up to six curbside collections per calendar year. Each eligible residence has an assigned collection day. Use the address lookup or HTX app linked from the official heavy-trash page.

The current page groups bulk and tree waste under the even-month heavy-trash service. Confirm your address’s next collection and material instructions through the City’s current schedule tools before setting anything out.

Searching for heavy trash pickup by zip code Houston can help you find general information, but it cannot establish your home’s collection day. Enter the complete service address. If the result is missing or conflicts with an old calendar, call 311 or 713-837-0311. The City publishes both contact numbers.

What Houston bulk trash crews will and will not take

Sort your items before making a pile. Houston warns that mixing unauthorized material with acceptable items can lead to refusal of the entire load. The following distinctions come from its current curbside rules.

Bundle carpet securely. Keep appliances containing gas, chemicals or coolant out unless the published exception applies. Do not assume removing a refrigerator door replaces the technician’s refrigerant-removal tag; the City specifically requires that tag for refrigerators and freezers. Review appliance preparation.

When can you put heavy trash at the curb?

The set-out window runs from 6 p.m. on the Friday before collection until 7 a.m. on your assigned collection day. Place material just behind the curb in front of your home. Keep the street and sidewalk open. See Houston’s set-out window.

• Keep piles clear of overhead wires, signs and mailboxes.
• Do not cover meters, hydrants or other utilities.
• Leave pedestrian and vehicle access clear.
• Separate unacceptable items before the truck arrives.

Plan the move around the confirmed day, particularly if you need another person to help with a sofa or appliance. Measure branches before carrying them out. A pile that fits your front yard can still exceed the City’s volume or material restrictions. Check placement and limits together.

Heavy trash limits and Houston service fees

The curbside limit is 8 cubic yards per set-out. Within that allowance, up to 4 cubic yards of eligible resident-generated building material may be collected. The building-material allowance is not an extra 4 cubic yards on top of the overall limit. Check both volume limits.

As of November 12, 2026, Houston’s fee FAQ lists a $5 monthly administrative charge for residential accounts receiving City curbside collection. It is separate from the existing $1.29 container lease fee. This is an account charge, rather than a stated heavy-trash booking price. Read the administrative-fee FAQ.

The heavy-trash page does not publish an extra-load purchase option. If you have more than the allowance, check residential drop-off rules or speak with 311 before setting out the excess. Do not assume crews will collect an oversized pile for an automatic surcharge. Review residential drop-off options.

How to arrange bulk trash pickup in Houston

Houston’s published heavy-trash service uses an assigned collection day. Start with the schedule rather than trying to book a generic furniture-removal appointment. Follow this checklist using the City’s schedule tools.

1. Confirm that your occupied home receives City curbside collection.
2. Open the official heavy-trash page and select its service lookup or HTX app link.
3. Enter your full address and check the next assigned date and material instructions.
4. List what you plan to discard and compare it with the accepted-item rules, including refrigerant tags and tire limits.
5. Measure the pile; divert excess or prohibited items to the appropriate facility.
6. Set accepted items out within the published Friday-to-collection-day window.

If you cannot resolve your address or service status, call 311 or 713-837-0311. Have the address and item list ready. Ask the City to confirm the next collection date and preparation rules for your tree waste or household junk. See the City’s contact guidance.

Missed pickup, delays and dumping concerns

If items remain, first check the date, pile size and acceptance rules. Houston says passenger tires can be collected separately, up to one week after the main heavy-trash pickup. A remaining tire therefore needs a different check from an untouched furniture pile. Read the tire-collection note.

For service assistance, use 311 or 713-837-0311. Record the confirmed collection date, what remains and any obstruction or notice. Ask the City whether the issue is a missed collection, a material restriction or a service delay. Contact Houston for assistance.

We did not verify a heavy-trash-specific reporting deadline or a current fine amount from the pages reviewed. Check with 311 rather than relying on an assumed deadline. Keep any case number so you can refer to the same request when following up.

Residential drop-off centers and hazardous waste disposal in Houston

Residential Drop-Off Centers accept materials between heavy-trash collections, subject to their own rules. Houston lists six locations, including 9003 N Main and 5100 Sunbeam. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. Check all locations and current access rules.

Residents may use the centers up to four times per month, once per week, and must meet proof-of-address requirements. You unload your own vehicle. Furniture is limited to two large items; passenger tires have a separate allowance of five per visit and ten per month. Read the facility limits before loading.

Drop-off acceptance differs from curbside service. TVs, paint, chemicals, concrete, bricks and truck tires are excluded at these centers. Refrigerators require a Freon-removal tag. Check vehicle and trailer restrictions as well as the material list. Review drop-off exclusions.

For hazardous waste disposal Houston residents should check the Environmental Service Centers. The South center is at 11500 S. Post Oak Road; the North center is at 5614 Neches Street. Their opening days differ. The City lists household chemicals, paint and selected electronics, with material-specific limits. Check ESC hours, accepted materials and proof requirements.

Can your items be reused instead?

Before discarding useful building materials, check Houston’s Reuse Warehouse at 9003 N. Main Street. The program accepts clean, safe, reusable materials subject to staff inspection. Examples include lumber, cabinets and certain fixtures. Call ahead about your proposed donation. Read the Reuse Warehouse guidelines.

The warehouse does not provide pickup or delivery. Paint, hazardous materials and construction debris are excluded. Keep a reusable donation separate from a load of broken demolition material so staff can assess what is suitable. Check donation conditions.

For usable furniture, consider offering it directly to someone who can use it before collection day. Confirm the recipient’s condition requirements and transport arrangements before moving it outdoors. Do not leave an unwanted item on the sidewalk with a donation sign as a substitute for an approved disposal plan.