Commercial Dumpster Permits

In order to obtain a Combustible Waste Storage Permit, you must complete an application.

Learn more about Commerical Dumpster Permits here...

Citizens with Disabilities Application for Services

Application (.pdf)

Special Collection Assistance for the Physically Challenged

The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) offers physically challenged-customers special collection assistance at no additional cost to them.  SWMD offers this service to anyone who needs it; however, a Service Request (SR) with 311 must be on record and a “Citizens with Disabilities Application for Services” form must be submitted.  Specific details are as follows:

• The individual requesting assistance or their representative must call the city’s helpline at 3-1-1 to place an SR.
• After placing the SR, the “Citizens with Disabilities Application for Services” form must be submitted showing the physician’s certification that the individual is physically challenged and unable to place the container at the curb for collection.  If there is more than one individual living in the home, one form will be submitted certifying that all individuals living in the home are physically challenged.  The form is available on-line here.
• 311 will forward the SR to the SWMD who will then assign the SR to one of its inspectors. 
• The SWMD inspector will go to the home and confirm that the individual or individuals in the household are physically challenged.
• Special collection assistance will commence within seven to 10 days upon receipt of the physician’s certification and completion of the home inspection. 

Residential Garbage Collection

Currently, homes receive garbage collection service once a week on an Automated Garbage Collection System. Automated collection is a technologically advanced system that employs a specially fitted refuse truck. A side arm grabs and lifts a special container, dumps the garbage into the truck and returns the container to the curb. Residents participating in the program receive a 96-gallon cart from the City, specially designed for automated collection.

Automated trash collection is cleaner, safer and more efficient than traditional manual collection. In the past, the department has incurred as much as $4 million in workers' compensation costs each year using manual garbage collection. The automated system has reduced injuries, especially back-related injuries, which are common in garbage collection.

The containers used for automated garbage collection are manufactured using 50% recycled materials. This is the highest percentage of recycled plastic used in refuse containers in the country. In fact, these containers are manufactured from plastic collected in Houston's curbside recycling program.

• Tips on Residential Garbage Collection.

Dead Animal Collection

For dead animal collection information, visit the dead animal pickup web page here.