{
 "slug": "houston",
 "city": "Houston",
 "state": "TX",
 "last_checked": "2026-10-27",
 "summary": "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.",
 "sections": {
  "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.)."
  ]
 },
 "sources": [
  {
   "title": "Heavy Trash Collection (Bulk & Tree Waste) | Houston Solid Waste Management",
   "url": "https://houstontx.gov/solidwaste/heavytrash.html"
  },
  {
   "title": "Residential Drop-Off Centers | Houston Solid Waste Management",
   "url": "https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/depository.html"
  },
  {
   "title": "Recycling Centers | Houston Solid Waste Management",
   "url": "https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/recycling_centers.html"
  },
  {
   "title": "Environmental Service Centers | Houston Solid Waste Management",
   "url": "https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/esc.html"
  },
  {
   "title": "Houston Solid Waste Management Department",
   "url": "https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/"
  }
 ],
 "items": {
  "mattress": {
   "verdict": "Free curbside with heavy trash in even-numbered months, or drop it at a Residential Drop-Off Center any Tuesday to Saturday.",
   "facts": [
    "Mattresses and box springs are on Houston's accepted junk waste list for heavy trash.",
    "Set it out between 6 p.m. the Friday before and 7 a.m. on your assigned collection day, behind the curb line.",
    "All six Residential Drop-Off Centers accept mattresses, open Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.",
    "Bring a current Texas ID or a City of Houston utility bill or lease to use a drop-off center."
   ],
   "book": [
    "No booking: find your heavy trash date with the City's schedule lookup or the HTX Collects app."
   ],
   "src": [
    0,
    1
   ]
  },
  "couch": {
   "verdict": "Free curbside with heavy trash in even-numbered months; drop-off centers take two large items per visit.",
   "facts": [
    "Couches, tables and dressers are accepted as junk waste in heavy trash.",
    "Each set-out can be up to 8 cubic yards, about the size of a minivan.",
    "Residential Drop-Off Centers limit furniture to two large items such as couches per visit, up to four visits a month.",
    "Buildings with more than eight units aren't eligible for curbside heavy trash."
   ],
   "book": [
    "No booking: check your heavy trash date with the City's schedule lookup or the HTX Collects app."
   ],
   "src": [
    0,
    1
   ]
  },
  "fridge": {
   "verdict": "Accepted only with a certified technician's tag showing the refrigerant was removed, at the curb or at a drop-off center.",
   "facts": [
    "Houston takes refrigerators and freezers in heavy trash only if a certified technician has tagged them as refrigerant-free.",
    "Appliances still holding gas, chemicals or coolant are not accepted at the curb.",
    "Residential Drop-Off Centers accept refrigerators with a tag indicating Freon removal, plus stoves, washers and dryers.",
    "Stoves, washers, dryers and water heaters don't need a tag."
   ],
   "book": [
    "Get the refrigerant removed and tagged first, then set it out on your heavy trash day or take it to a Residential Drop-Off Center."
   ],
   "src": [
    0,
    1
   ]
  },
  "tv": {
   "verdict": "Not taken in heavy trash or at drop-off centers; take it to a City Recycling Center that accepts electronics.",
   "facts": [
    "Electronics are on Houston's not-accepted list for heavy trash, and Residential Drop-Off Centers don't take TVs.",
    "City Recycling Centers accept electronics, including TVs and computers.",
    "Westpark (5900 Westpark) is open Tuesday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Clear Lake/Ellington Airport (246 Loop Rd.) is open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Kingwood (3210 W. Lake Houston Pkwy) is open weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.",
    "Bring a current Texas-issued ID; recycling centers allow up to four visits per month."
   ],
   "book": [
    "No appointment listed: drive to a Recycling Center during its hours with your ID."
   ],
   "src": [
    2,
    0
   ]
  }
 },
 "items_last_checked": "2026-10-27",
 "url": "https://bulkyatlas.com/cities/houston/",
 "site": "Bulky Atlas",
 "disclaimer": "Summarized from the official sources listed; rules change, confirm with the source before acting."
}