Recycling basics.

Containers need to be empty (rinse, wipe or scrape out food, drain out liquids). Don't bag recyclables. Place items loosely in the cart, without a bag.

RECYCLE THESE

CARTONSempty and re-cap
NEW: GLASS
Bottles & Jars
METAL
CANS & FOIL
PAPER & CARDBOARDflatten boxes
RIGID PLASTIC
CONTAINERSempty & re-cap

Household recycling guide

How to dispose of just about anything, responsibly.

Other Curbside Services

Other Curbside Services

The city of Houston provides separate curbside service for these items.  

tree waste

 

branches, limbs, trunks, and stumps

 

odd months only

 

NO lumber, furniture, or treated wood

other curbside services

tires
(up to four per month)

even months only

other curbside services

junk waste

 

old furniture, appliances, and other bulky items

even months only

other curbside services

motor oil

 

(must be in a container with a screw top lid)

 

Place next  to your bins for curbside pick-up

other curbside services

Special Handling Required

Special Handling Required

These items contain hazardous substances and cannot be placed in any bin. Safe disposal is provided for each.

DROP-OFF

old electronics

 

Best Buy

West Park Recycling Center

ESC (North & South)

 

map

hazardous stuff

DROP-OFF

Oil-based Paints &

Stains

 

ESC (North & South) 

Westpark Recycling Center

 

map

hazardous stuff

DROP-OFF

rechargeable batteries

 

Home Depot

Lowe's

West Park Recycling Center

ESC (North & South)

 

map

hazardous stuff

DROP OFF

fluorescent bulbs & tubes

 

Home Depot

West Park Recycling Center

ESC (North & South) 

 

map

hazardous stuff

Use caution when disposing of broken fluorescent

light bulbs...

Here's how to do it safely:

 

epa.gov

hazardous stuff

DROP OFF

household hazardous

waste (HHW) 

 

products with corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients 

 

ESC (North&South)  

map

hazardous stuff

Compostable Bag

Compostable Bag

Place these items in a paper yard-waste bag for pickup. Yard waste is turned into Houston Mulch and used in parks and gardens to keep moisture in the ground and weeds at bay.

garden trimmings

 

plants, flowers, leaves, brush

compostable bag

grass clippings

compostable bag

Texas A & M says: Don't bag your grass! 

 

Find out why... 

 

Try grasscycling instead, it helps keep your yard protected and moist. 

 

Here's how: 

houstontx.gov

compostable bag

chopsticks

compostable bag

popsicle sticks

compostable bag

Recycling Cart

Recycling Cart

These items are taken to a recycling facility where they are sorted and then processed into raw materials to make new stuff.

aluminum cans

 

beer, soda, etc.

recycling cart

steel cans

 

coffee, soup, vegetables, pet food, etc.

recycling cart

glass bottles

recycling cart

glass jars

recycling cart

cartons,

 

milk, juice, soy, broth, juice boxes

recycling cart

junk mail, fliers, postcards, envelopes, office paper

recycling cart

newspaper

recycling cart


phone books, paperback books

recycling cart

magazines

recycling cart

paper bags

recycling cart

clean corrugated cardboard

 

flatten large boxes to make more room 

recycling cart

 

cereal, pasta, frozen food, snack boxes, etc. 

 

remove any bags

recycling cart

shoe boxes, gift boxes

recycling cart

rolls

 

toilet paper, paper towel, gift wrap, etc.

recycling cart


plastic kitchen

containers

 

bottles, jugs, tubs, and their lids

recycling cart


plastic bathroom containers

 

bottles, tubs, jugs, and their caps

 

recycling cart

plastic laundry & cleaning supply bottles

recycling cart

plastic tubs

 

yogurt, margarine etc.

recycling cart

clear plastic cups

recycling cart

milk and juice jugs

recycling cart

plastic takeout containers

 

NO styrofoam

recycling cart

Garbage Cart

Garbage Cart

This is the stuff that goes into landfills and remains there for generations. Reduce or re-use these items whenever possible.

plastic bags

 

grocery store bags, trash bags, zip-lock bags

 

You can recycle plastic bags at many local grocery stores. 

garbage cart

Coffee pods


garbage cart

all plastic wrap 

 

food wrap, newspaper wrap, dry cleaner wrap

garbage cart

food

garbage cart

polystyrene & Styrofoam®

 

takeout containers, cups, plates, coolers

garbage cart

packing peanuts

garbage cart

disposable coffee cups

garbage cart

paper fast food cups

and their lids, staws

garbage cart

opaque plastic cups

(like Solo®)

garbage cart

oily or soiled paper

garbage cart

oily or food crusted
cardboard


Tip: tear off the greasy
parts and recycle the rest

garbage cart

VHS tapes

garbage cart

napkins, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper

garbage cart

potato chip bags, candy bar wrappers, coffee bags, etc. with plastic on the outside and foil on the inside.

garbage cart

foil drink pouches

garbage cart

shredded paper

garbage cart

gift wrap, tissue paper

 

garbage cart

incandescent light bulbs

 

Note: fluorescent light bulbs cannot be disposed of curbside.

garbage cart

Don't dump excess 

construction materials, donate them! 

Visit the Reuse Warehouse &

don't forget to get your donation receipt.

 

Acceptable Items

map

garbage cart

hardback books

garbage cart

animal waste

garbage cart

bubble wrap

garbage cart

corks

garbage cart

biodegradable & compostable plastics

 

utensils, plates, bags

garbage cart

all disposable diapers

 

biodegradable diapers and diapers made from recycled materials

garbage cart

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