Recycling Guide for Houston

The City of Houston provides separate curbside service for these items.

• Tree waste, limbs, branches, trunks, and stumps (please use diamond bullet points)
• Tires (4 a month)
• Junk waste, bulky items, old furniture, and appliances
• Motor oil

Special Handling

These items contain hazardous substances and cannot be placed in any bin. Safe disposal is provided for each.

• Electronics
• Oil based paints and stains
• Batteries
• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes
• Household hazardous waste

Compostable Bag

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.

• Garden trimmings, plants, flowers
• Grass clippings (try grasscycling instead)
• Chopsticks
• Popsicle sticks

Recycling Cart

These items are taken to a recycling facility where they are sorted and then processed into raw materials to make new stuff.

• Soda, beer cans
• Steel cans
• Glass Bottles
• Glass Jars
• Cartons (milk, juice)
• Junk mail, flyers
• Newspaper
• Telephone books
• Magazines
• Paper bags
• Cardboard
• Cereal and cracker boxes
• Gift boxes
• Paper towel rolls
• Plastic bottles
• Plastic bathroom containers
• Detergent containers
• Yogurt cups
• Milk and juice jugs
• Plastic takeout containers

Garbage Cart

This is the stuff that goes into landfills and remains there for generations. Reduce or re-use these items whenever possible.

• Plastic bags, wrap
• Coffee pods
• Food
• Styrofoam
• Packing peanuts
• Disposable coffee cups
• Fast food paper cups
• Opaque plastic cups
• Oily lunch bags
• Used pizza boxes
• VHS tapes
• Napkins, paper towels
• Chip bags
• Foiled drink pouches
• Shredded paper
• Gift wrap, tissue paper
• Light bulbs
• Hardback books
• Animal waste
• Bubble wrap
• Corks
• Biodegradable utensils, bags
• Diapers

Information gathered from www.recyclebycity.com. Go visit! We love it.