Getting rid of bulky items in Houston, TX
Last updated: · Last checked: 2026-10-27 against the official sources listed below.
Short answer: Houston Solid Waste Management collects heavy trash (furniture, mattresses, appliances and tree waste) at the curb every other month, in even-numbered months, on a day assigned to your address. You don't book it: look up your date with the City's schedule tool or the HTX Collects app. Between pickups, six Residential Drop-Off Centers take bulk items Tuesday to Saturday.
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Rules change. Confirm with the city before setting anything out.
Curbside pickup rules
- Heavy trash is collected every other month in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December), up to six curbside collections per calendar year.
- Service is limited to occupied homes that receive City of Houston curbside service; buildings with more than eight (8) units are not eligible.
- Set items out between 6 p.m. the Friday before and 7 a.m. on your collection day, just behind the curb line. Keep them out of the street and off sidewalks, and away from wires, mailboxes, meters and hydrants.
- Junk waste accepted: furniture (couches, tables, dressers), carpet (bundled), mattresses and box springs, toilets, bicycles and toys, and appliances such as stoves, washers, dryers and water heaters.
- Tree waste accepted: clean limbs, branches and stumps, with pieces no more than 8 inches in diameter or 10 feet long. Bagged grass and leaves go out with yard waste instead.
- Not accepted: household garbage, electronics, paint and household chemicals, dirt or sod, roofing shingles, contractor-generated debris, and appliances still holding refrigerant.
How to book
- No appointment is needed. Your heavy trash day is assigned by address; look it up with the City's schedule lookup tool or the HTX Collects app, which can also send reminders.
- Check the status of a Solid Waste 311 service request at 832-394-1453 (weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Item limits
- Up to 8 cubic yards per set-out (about the size of a minivan), including no more than 4 cubic yards of resident-generated building material (no shingles, brick, plaster or concrete).
- Up to four passenger tires may go out with heavy trash; crews collect them separately, which can take up to a week.
- If allowed and banned items are mixed in one pile, the whole pile may be refused.
Fees
- The City's heavy trash page lists no separate charge for eligible households, and its drop-off center pages list no per-visit fee. Confirm with 311 if you're unsure.
Mattress recycling / state bans
- Mattresses and box springs go out with regular heavy trash in your collection month.
- Residential Drop-Off Centers also accept mattresses, so you don't have to wait for an even-numbered month.
Drop-off sites
- Residential Drop-Off Centers are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday), up to four visits per month: North (9003 N. Main, 77022), Northwest (14400 Sommermeyer, 77041), Northeast (5565 Kirkpatrick, 77028), Southeast (2240 Central St., 77017), South (5100 Sunbeam, 77033) and Southwest (10785 SW Freeway, 77074).
- They accept mattresses, furniture (two large items such as couches per visit), household appliances, refrigerators with a tag showing Freon was removed, tree waste and bagged junk waste. They do not take TVs, paint, chemicals, concrete, bricks or garbage.
- Bring proof of address: a current Texas-issued ID, or a current City of Houston utility bill or lease. Pickups and small trailers up to 10 feet are allowed; U-Hauls, box trucks, Sprinter vans and contractor vehicles are not.
- Electronics, including TVs and computers, go to a Recycling Center: Westpark (5900 Westpark, Tuesday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Clear Lake/Ellington Airport (246 Loop Rd., daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or Kingwood (3210 W. Lake Houston Pkwy, weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
- Household hazardous waste goes to the Environmental Service Center South (11500 S. Post Oak Rd., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or ESC North (5614 Neches St., second Thursday of each month, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
FAQ
How do I book bulky item pickup in Houston?
No appointment is needed. Your heavy trash day is assigned by address; look it up with the City's schedule lookup tool or the HTX Collects app, which can also send reminders. Check the status of a Solid Waste 311 service request at 832-394-1453 (weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Is bulky item pickup free in Houston?
The City's heavy trash page lists no separate charge for eligible households, and its drop-off center pages list no per-visit fee. Confirm with 311 if you're unsure.
Who is eligible for city bulky pickup in Houston?
Service is limited to occupied homes that receive City of Houston curbside service; buildings with more than eight (8) units are not eligible.
Paid option: junk removal
Not eligible for city pickup (for example, a larger apartment building) or need it gone sooner? A private junk removal service can haul items from inside your home for a fee. [Partner link not yet active]
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