HOW TO SET OUT YOUR GARBAGE
Household garbage should be put inside the city-provided container. The handle of your container should point toward your house. (Arrows on the can should point towards the street). The container should be placed at the curb between 6:00 p.m. the day before and 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. The container must be accessible to the automated collection truck and not be blocked by obstacles such as trees, parked cars, mailboxes, basketball hoops and poles, holiday arches and powerlines. (Drivers will not move improperly placed containers.) Containers must be removed from the curbline by 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection and stored in secured location.
We recommend that you: Double bag any dusty, loose material to prevent litter; Place any sharp objects in metal containers (such as metal coffee cans) to prevent injury.
WHAT NOT TO PUT IN YOUR GARBAGE CAN
Your garbage container is for disposing of regular household garbage ONLY. Certain items should not be disposed of in your garbage can either because they are too heavy for our equipment or because they may harm our employees, your property, neighbors, pets, and the environment.
Please do not put the following items in your garbage can:
Household chemicals, including batteries, fluorescent lights, paints and thinners, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, cleaners, ammonia and bleach, motor oil and other automotive fluids, pool chemicals, aerosol cans and photographic chemicals Please take your household hazardous waste to the Environmental Service Centers (North or South).
Construction, demolition and remodeling debris, including rocks, dirt, plywood, bricks, stone, concrete, mortar, sand, sheet rock, insulation, flooring, shingles, siding, steel roofing, sheet glass, mirrors and other similar items.
ACQUIRING A GARBAGE CAN
Should you be a new resident to an area that is serviced by the City of Houston or our contractor, you will be issued a 90-gallon garbage container for your household garbage upon request. Please call 311 to request a container. Should you have more garbage than can fit in your one container, you may obtain an additional garbage container by enrolling in the Add-A-Can Program.
ACQUIRING AN ADDITIONAL GARBAGE CAN
Houston residents will have their first 90-gallon container serviced at no additional cost. The fee for servicing an additional container is $7.50 per month (plus tax) for a minimum subscription of 1 year. This fee will be added to your water bill upon request of the Add-A-Can service. A 90-gallon container and a sticker for your second and/or third container will be issued to you. The sticker must be affixed to the front of the additional container for it to be serviced by the Solid Waste Management Department crews.
EXTRA BAGS OF GARBAGE
Extra bags of garbage will only be collected if they have a special sticker attached. This "Tags for Bags" Program allows residents the convenience of purchasing "tags" instead of additional cans if they require extra service only occasionally. Tags for Bags sticker is $1 each.
Where can Tags for Bags be purchased? Fiesta, Kroger, Sellers Bros.
Can I order online? You may download the Tags for Bags form and send your completed form in with your payment. There is a $3 service charge for phone, e-mail or mail orders. E-mail, phone or mail orders must be purchased in increments of five (5).
Do I need to purchase Tags for Bags for my yard trimmings? No. As long as they are free from contaminants (food, paper, plastics, etc)., they do not need a Tags for Bag sticker.
Do I need to purchase Tags for Bags for my boxes? If you place your boxes out on your scheduled garbage day, you will need a tag. If you place your boxes out on your scheduled heavy trash day, you will NOT need a tag.If you place your boxes out on your curbside recycling day, it will NOT need a tag. However they must be flattened and placed under the green bin. Boxes must be corrugated boxes only and not measure more than 3 feet on every side.
