Houston Bulk Trash Pickup: Schedule, Rules & Fast Alternatives (2026)

Houston's Tree Waste & Junk Waste Collection is an add-on service available to residents with active solid waste service accounts.

**Cost:** $30 per quarter ($120 per year) **Billing:** Added to your Houston utility bill **Enrollment:** Call Houston 311 or manage online at houstontx.gov **Eligibility:** Must have active Houston solid waste service

**Payment options:** • Automatic quarterly billing (most common) • Annual pre-payment ($120 discount available) • Pay per pickup ($35 per collection if not enrolled)

Houston bulk pickup runs **four times per year** on a rotating neighborhood schedule:

**Quarterly collection weeks:** • Quarter 1: January-March (exact weeks vary by area) • Quarter 2: April-June • Quarter 3: July-September • Quarter 4: October-December

**Find your collection week:** 1. Visit houstontx.gov/solidwaste 2. Enter your address in the collection schedule tool 3. Your specific collection week appears with 2-week advance notice 4. Set reminders — collection dates don't change once scheduled

Houston accepts most household bulk items but has specific restrictions:

**Accepted items:** • Furniture (couches, tables, dressers, chairs) • Mattresses and box springs • Appliances (washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers) • Bicycles and exercise equipment • Outdoor furniture and grills • Large toys and play equipment • Carpeting (rolled and tied in 4-foot lengths) • Tree limbs and brush (bundled under 50 lbs)

**Weight and size limits:** • Individual items: Maximum 50 pounds • Total volume: 8 cubic yards per pickup • Length: No item longer than 8 feet • Appliances: Must be drained and prepared for pickup

**Prohibited items:** • Hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, motor oil) • Construction debris (concrete, roofing, drywall) • Automotive parts and tires • Appliances containing refrigerants (must be professionally recovered) • Electronics and computers • Household garbage in bags • Liquids of any kind • Materials over 50 pounds per piece

**Special disposal needed:** • **Electronics:** Houston Neighborhood Depositories or Best Buy recycling • **Refrigerators/AC units:** Professional refrigerant removal required first • **Hazardous waste:** Monthly household hazardous waste collection events • **Construction debris:** Private hauling to transfer stations

**Where to place items:** • At your curb or alley (same location as regular trash) • On your property, not in the street or neighbor's property • Away from mailboxes, fire hydrants, and utility poles • Clear of overhead power lines

**Timing:** • Place items no earlier than 6 PM the day before collection • Items must be curbside by 7 AM on collection day • Collection can occur any time between 7 AM and 6 PM • Uncollected items become code violations if left beyond collection day

Collection procedures vary slightly across Houston's diverse neighborhoods:

**Single-family residential:** • Standard curbside placement • 8 cubic yard limit per address • Homeowner responsible for placement

**Townhomes and condos:** • May require HOA coordination • Shared driveways need management approval • Some developments opt out of city service

**Apartments and multifamily:** • Building management typically handles enrollment • May use designated collection areas • Individual unit residents don't enroll directly

For immediate disposal needs, Houston operates 5 Neighborhood Depositories where residents can drop off bulk items for free.

**Westpark NDP** • Address: 5900 Westpark Drive, Houston 77057 • Hours: Saturday 8 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12 PM-5 PM • Best for: Southwest Houston, Bellaire, West University

**South Post Oak NDP** • Address: 2402 South Post Oak Road, Houston 77054 • Hours: Saturday 8 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12 PM-5 PM • Best for: Medical Center, Southside, Airport area

**Kashmere NDP** • Address: 4002 Lyons Avenue, Houston 77020 • Hours: Saturday 8 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12 PM-5 PM • Best for: Near Northside, Fifth Ward, Northeast Houston

**Settegast NDP** • Address: 3802 Collingsworth Street, Houston 77026 • Hours: Saturday 8 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12 PM-5 PM • Best for: North Houston, Settegast, East Houston

**Sunnyside NDP** • Address: 9314 Cullen Boulevard, Houston 77051 • Hours: Saturday 8 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12 PM-5 PM • Best for: Southeast Houston, Sunnyside, South Park

**Free disposal limit:** 1 cubic yard per visit (roughly one couch or appliance) **Required documentation:** Houston utility bill or proof of Houston residency **Accepted items:** Most bulk household items, furniture, appliances **Rejected items:** Hazardous materials, electronics, liquids **Vehicle requirements:** Must be able to unload items yourself

**1 cubic yard examples:** • One standard couch • One mattress and box spring • One washer or dryer • 2-3 dining chairs • One desk or dresser

When Houston's quarterly schedule doesn't meet your timeline, several alternatives provide faster service.

Professional services offer the fastest and most convenient alternative to Houston's quarterly pickup:

**Dropcurb Houston service:** • Coverage: Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County • Pricing: $79-399 with transparent, upfront costs • Timeline: Same-day or next-day service available • Process: Book online, place items curbside, pickup confirmed by text

**National chains:** • 1-800-GOT-JUNK: $150-600 (on-site estimates, full interior service) • College Hunks: $120-500 (hourly billing, moving + junk combo) • Junk King: $150-400 (volume-based pricing, eco-friendly focus)

**Local Houston options:** • Bayou City Junk Removal • Houston Hauling & Demo • Space City Junk Removal • Lone Star State Hauling

• You can wait 3-4 months for pickup • You have less than 8 cubic yards of items • Items are all under 50 pounds each • You want the most cost-effective option ($30/quarter) • You're doing seasonal decluttering or planned cleanouts • Items don't include prohibited materials

• You're moving and need items gone within days • You have more than 8 cubic yards of items • Items include heavy appliances or construction debris • You need weekend or evening pickup • You want interior pickup service • HOA or lease requires immediate removal

Houston's diverse neighborhoods have different bulk pickup patterns and challenges.

**The Heights, Montrose, Museum District, Third Ward**

Characteristics: • High density housing • Limited storage space • Frequent resident turnover • Active rental market

Considerations: • Bulk pickup fills neighborhood streets quickly • Limited parking during collection weeks • Higher demand for alternative services • Competition for NDP access

**Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, League City**

Characteristics: • Single-family homes with garages • Higher income levels • Less frequent bulk disposal needs • More storage options

Considerations: • Quarterly schedule works better for planned cleanouts • Professional services popular due to convenience preference • Distance from NDPs makes alternatives more attractive • HOA restrictions may limit curbside placement timing

Houston's hurricane season (June-November) significantly affects bulk waste patterns:

**Post-storm challenges:** • Massive increase in bulk waste from flood damage • Regular collection schedules may be suspended • Emergency debris removal takes priority • Private services experience high demand and premium pricing

**Preparation strategies:** • Know your bulk pickup schedule before storm season • Keep contact info for professional removal services • Document property and belongings for insurance • Understand your flood zone and evacuation routes

Houston's climate creates unique challenges for bulk waste:

**Summer impacts:** • Items left curbside can deteriorate quickly • Organic materials attract pests • Working conditions affect collection schedules • Indoor storage becomes difficult without AC

**Best practices:** • Don't place items early in summer heat • Clean items thoroughly before disposal • Consider professional pickup to minimize exposure time