Your garbage, recycling, heavy trash days, the next pickup, and what holidays do to them. From City of Houston open data, checked Monday November 2, 2026.
Always check your city’s official notice. Schedules change, and storms, strikes or holidays can move pickups. The city’s own lookup: www.houstontx.gov.
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department collects garbage weekly from single-family homes in a city-issued 96-gallon cart, and recycling in a city-issued green container. Heavy trash, tree waste and bagged yard waste are picked up on a separate schedule in even-numbered months. Apartment complexes and businesses use private haulers instead.
Garbage zones map
MondayTuesdayThursdayFriday
4 garbage zones in the city’s data, coloured by collection day. Tap a zone to see its schedule.
Holidays: Houston publishes the holidays but no standing rule for how pickups move; each holiday gets its own notice.
20 zones, with 20 different schedules. Look up your address above to see yours.
Coming up: holidays
Holiday
Date
What happens
Veterans Day
Wednesday November 11, 2026
Holiday: pickups may change. Check the Solid Waste Management Department’s notice.
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday November 26, 2026
Holiday: pickups may change. Check the Solid Waste Management Department’s notice.
Day After Thanksgiving
Friday November 27, 2026
Holiday: pickups may change. Check the Solid Waste Management Department’s notice.
Christmas Eve
Thursday December 24, 2026
Holiday: pickups may change. Check the Solid Waste Management Department’s notice.
Christmas Day
Friday December 25, 2026
Holiday: pickups may change. Check the Solid Waste Management Department’s notice.
The city says: “Please keep this schedule handy so you will be informed of changes in your solid waste and recycling pickup services.” (source). All holidays for the next 12 months.
What goes where
Garbage (96-gallon city cart)
Bagged household trash
Food waste
Non-recyclable household items
Small items that fit with the lid closed
Not: Chemicals, paint and flammables; Tires; Batteries; Automotive fluids; Construction or remodeling debris; Recyclables, yard waste or heavy trash.
Keep the lid fully closed; overfilled or blocked carts are not serviced.
Not: Plastic bags and film wrap; Greasy or food-soiled paper; Napkins, paper towels and tissue; Yard waste; Clothing, shoes and linens; Large plastic items like toys, hoses and coolers.
Rinse and drain cans and plastic containers; face the container to the street with the handle toward the house.
Leaves and grass in compostable bags (ASTM D6400 or EN 13432)
Yard debris in your own reusable container
Small logs tied in bundles up to 4 feet
Not: Yard waste mixed with household trash; Yard waste in the city garbage cart; Containers or bundles over 50 lbs; Debris left by landscaping contractors.
Set yard waste out before your scheduled heavy trash pickup; city-seal bags are no longer required.
Summarised in our own words from the city’s pages, checked Monday October 26, 2026. The city’s list is the one that counts.
Setting out, and big items
When to put it outPut garbage and recycling at the curb after 6:00 p.m. the evening before collection; garbage must be out by 6:00 a.m. and recycling by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Bring both back in and store them by 10:00 p.m. that day. Leave at least 3 feet around each cart and don't block sidewalks, driveways or the street. Source
Furniture and other large itemsHeavy trash (furniture, mattresses, appliances, carpet, tree limbs) is collected every other month in February, April, June, August, October and December, up to six times a year. Set it behind the curb between 6:00 p.m. the Friday before and 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, up to 8 cubic yards per set-out. Refrigerators and freezers need a technician's tag showing the refrigerant was removed; electronics, chemicals, roofing and contractor debris are not taken. Up to four passenger tires can go out and may be picked up up to a week later. Source
Parking rules and permits
Parking
Large and commercial vehicles on residential streetsCommercial and large vehicles (over 8 feet tall or 22 feet long) may not park on a public street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., and large vehicles may not park on residential streets except while actively loading or unloading. Trailers and large vehicles, including portable storage units, have a 2-hour limit on public streets; rental moving trucks get up to 72 hours. Any vehicle left on the street 48 hours or more can be towed. Source
Mobility lanes and posted restrictionsSeveral downtown blocks become tow-away zones during commute hours (7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.), so check the signs before parking. During special events, watch for Emergency No Parking zones and red-bagged meters, which are reserved for permit holders; other vehicles can be cited and towed. Source
Permits
Residential parking permitOnly current residents of a block that has been designated a Residential Permit Parking area can buy resident and visitor permits. Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually; prices are published by ParkHouston. Source
Requesting permit parking for your blockAny resident of a block with chronic commuter parking can apply by submitting an application and a petition listing every address on the block. ParkHouston surveys parking, holds a public hearing and City Council decides; enforcement starts 60 days after approval. Source
Refreshed Monday November 2, 2026. 491,758 addresses matched to a zone. How this works.
This application uses data made available by the City of Houston through its Open Data Portal (https://data.houstontx.gov). The City of Houston makes no claims as to the content, accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the data.
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