Discover how you can help keep your neighborhood clean, green, and beautiful!
For Houston homeowners, good recycling habits aren’t just about being green and eco-friendly—they help keep the city clean, raise local property values, and reduce landfill costs. But do you know the essentials of recycling in Houston?
This practical guide for homeowners outlines what you can recycle in Houston, how to do it correctly, and why these rules matter.
Houston Curbside Recycling Rules
The City of Houston provides every eligible home with a standard 96-gallon green recycling bin that is collected bi-weekly on your normal trash pick-up day. Items put out for recycling must be empty, clean, and placed loosely in the bin (meaning, not in trash bags).
What you CAN curbside recycle in Houston:
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Paper, magazines, and mail
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Flattened, corrugated cardboard
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Aluminum and tin cans (rinsed and drained)
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Glass bottles & jars (rinsed and drained)
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Plastics labeled #1-5 and #7 (rinsed and drained)
What you CANNOT curbside recycle in Houston:
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Lids for plastic containers
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Plastic bags or films
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Styrofoam
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Cords and electronics
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Food-soiled items (like pizza boxes)
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Toys and hangers
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Organic material (like tree trimmings, etc.)
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Ashes or coals
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Chemicals of any kind (including cleaning products)
How to Prep Recycling in Houston
Proper sorting of recycling and trash is extremely important. Contamination from even just one ineligible material can disrupt the entire recycling process and cause good materials to be sent to a landfill.
Before placing materials in recycling bins:
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Rinse and drain all containers to prevent odors and pest attraction
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Flatten cardboard boxes and remove packing materials (especially styrofoam)
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Remove lids from all containers
Recycling Special Items in Houston
Some items aren’t accepted during curbside pick-up, but can still be recycled! These special items must be dropped off at special locations, depending on what they are.
Where to recycle special items in Houston:
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Motor oil & hazardous waste – Bring sealed containers to a Houston Environmental Service Center.
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Electronics, light bulbs, and batteries – Bring these to a Houston Environmental Service Center or donate to an eligible program.
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Yard waste – This can be collected on special days or dropped off at a local recycling center. Find more details here.
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Construction materials – Donate to the Houston Reuse Warehouse.
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Furniture and oversized items — Donate to these to non-profit organizations (like Goodwill) or the Houston Reuse Warehouse.
If you’re unsure of how to dispose of something, check out Houston’s “What Goes Where?” online tool for more info!
Routine Recycling
Making recycling a part of your daily routine will help make the whole process easier, while helping to reduce waste in Houston!
Here are some easy ways to ensure good recycling habits:
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Set a reminder for your home’s specific recycling collection day, and place bins at the curb by 7 AM (Remember to remove them by 10 PM) You can set them out the night before (after 7 PM) if needed.
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Teach all family members and guests what items can be recycled and how to prep them.
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Have a Houston recycling “cheat sheet” located near trash bins as a refresher.
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Report missed pickups or issues to the city; maintaining reliable curbside service keeps neighborhoods clean and desirable!
Why Proper Recycling Is Important
Recycling doesn’t just help the environment, it also has huge economical impacts. Cleaner streets have been proven to help increase property values and increase community engagement with local businesses or services. Plus, lower contamination rates of recycled materials result in more efficient waste management services and less landfill waste, which can reduce the costs associated with these local services.
If you’re a Houston homeowner, we encourage you to keep the city beautiful with this pledge: Recycle smart. Recycle right. Because although recycling may seem like such a small effort, the impact is huge when done properly!
Alexis Feezel is a results-oriented Marketing Coordinator responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all promotional strategies and activities to effectively market clients & listings and maximize sales.