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.

Recent Posts