Dear Solid Waste Customer,
I want to remind you that the city’s Heavy Trash program has been revamped and the Tree Waste program is now in effect. This method of collecting your large waste comes with the benefits of diverting materials that can be recycled from landfills, saving landfill space and your valuable tax dollars. The Tree/Junk Waste schedule changes each month from Tree Waste to Junk. Tree Waste months are January, March, May, July, September and November. Junk Waste months are February, April, June, August, October and December. “Tree Waste” is defined as “clean wood waste such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps (lumber, furniture, and treated wood will NOT be accepted). “Junk Waste” is defined as items such as furniture, appliances, and other bulky material. Junk Waste may not be placed for collection during a Tree Waste Month. Please Note: Tree Waste is accepted during Junk Waste Months. However, to ensure that your Tree Waste is recycled, you may hold your tree waste materials until the next Tree Waste designated month or bring it to a Neighborhood Depository. For the depository nearest you or for more information, log onto www.houstonsolidwaste.org, or call 3-1-1. Again, thank you for your continued support on making Houston a cleaner, greener place to live.
Harry J. Hayes, Director
Solid Waste Management Department
The City’s Heavy Trash Collection has been overhauled!
In alternating months, residents may dispose of their Tree Waste, and Junk Waste at their curbside. This new method of collecting your large waste comes with the benefits of diverting materials that can be recycled from landfills, saving landfill space and your valuable tax dollars. The Tree/Junk Waste schedule changes each month from Tree Waste to Junk. Tree Waste months are January, March, May, July, September, and November. Junk Waste months are February, April, June, August, October and December. “Tree Waste” is defined as “clean” wood waste such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps (lumber, furniture, and treated wood will NOT be accepted).
“Junk Waste” is defined as items such as furniture, appliances, and other bulky material. Junk Waste may not be placed for collection during a Tree Waste Month.
A maximum of four cubic yards of building material (not including brick, plaster or concrete) generated by the resident in connection with the maintenance of the resident's property will be collected on your Junk Waste collection date. Please Note: Tree Waste is accepted during Junk Waste Months. However, to ensure that your Tree Waste is recycled, you may hold your tree waste materials until the next Tree Waste designated month or bring it to a Neighborhood Depository.
Residents who wish to discard TreeWaste/Junk Waste before their scheduled once-per-month pickup may use one of six Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Center locations.
Links and Information
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Changes to Tree Waste / Junk Waste Collection Letter From Director
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"The Trash Facts" Newsletter (.pdf)
Placement Instructions
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Tree/Junk Waste should be placed adjacent to the front curb in a location easily accessible to the collection vehicle between the hours of 6:00 p.m. the Friday before, and 7:00 am. on the scheduled collection day.
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Tree/Junk Waste material should not be stacked under low overhead electrical wires or other cabling, signs, or mailboxes; next to fences or posts; or on top of water meters, gas meters, fire hydrants, or other exposed utility components.
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Materials should not be placed in the street, on the sidewalk, or other right-of-way, or in any manner which would interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
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Tree/Junk Waste collection is limited to residential units and vacant residential lots only if the waste generated is in connection with the maintenance of the property.
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Styrofoam blocks or loose packing material should not be mixed with Tree Waste/Junk Waste piles. Styrofoam does not decompose. We encourage you to bring your styrofoam to the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center or your local Neighborhood Depository. Styrofoam in peanut shape is accepted by Mailbox, Etc. They can be reached at 713.667.5116. The last alternative is to bag your styrofoam and put it out for your weekly garbage collection.
Tires
Residents may place up to 4 tires at the curb for collection during Junk Waste months. Be advised that the collections crews will separate the tires from your Junk Waste piles and it may take up to a week before we return and retrieve them. Separating the tires from the rest of the Junk Waste allows the SWMD to properly process tires.
Restrictions:
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No more than 8 cubic yards of junk waste or tree waste may be placed at the curb for collection.
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A maximum of four cubic yards of building material (not to include roofing shingles, brick, plaster or concrete) generated by the resident in connection with the maintenance of the residential property may be collected by Solid Waste Management Department crews.
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Appliances containing refrigerant must have a tag attached to them certifying that a qualified technician has removed the refrigerant.
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The Solid Waste Management Department is not allowed to collect any material that was generated by contractors who were retained by a resident to perform work on his or her residential property. It is the responsibility of the contractor to remove all debris that may arise from the contractor's activities. These contractor-related activities include, but are not limited to: trimming and removal of trees, remodeling, new construction and roofing.
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If authorized items placed for collection are mixed with unauthorized items, department personnel shall not be obligated to sort the materials and may refuse the entire load.
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Solid Waste Management Department collection services are not available to multi-residential structures of more than eight units.