Trash and Recycling

Date Reminders:

Heavy Tree and Junk Waste alternate on the 4th Friday of the Month

Heavy Tree Waste Months are January, March, May, July, September, and November. 

Junk Waste months are February, April, June, August, October and December. 

Download the Houston Solid Waste Management App

Houston Solid Waste Management has launched HTX Collects, a mobile app that will allow residents to stay better connected with the City’s waste and recycling collection programs.

Click here to learn more about it HTX Collects 

The app is available for iOS or Google and the solid waste schedule can be downloaded directly into your mobile calendar. City of Houston will also provide updates regarding delays or changes in schedules.

Please try to schedule big yard jobs or clean outs that will generate a lot of waste close to the time of Large Tree or Junk Waste pickup. If waste sits out for weeks it will kill your grass, increase the abundance of mosquitos and other bugs and create an unsightly mess for your neighbors. 

Please do not put heavy junk or tree waste out on the curb prior to the week before collection. 


Trash pickup for Kempwood North subdivision is handled by the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department. Fees for this service are built into the city water bill; there is no separate bill for trash. 

City of Houston Trash Facts 



General Information

Keep trash bins 3 feet away from each other and other objects, don't park near the bins and don't block the mailboxes.

For members located on Springview Lane and Railton which are both dead end streets and do not have a cul-de-sac for trucks to  turn around, all trash and recycle bins must be lined up on one side of the street. For the 9700 block of Springview it is the south side and 9600 Railton is the north side. Trucks must back down and can only use the automated lift system on one side of the truck. 

Do not put Junk or Tree Waste under power lines, or near anything that might be damaged by the collection claw, such as your mailbox or water meter.


Household Trash

Bag household garbage and put it in the 90-gallon black bin provided by the city. Place the bin at the curb after 6pm on Thursday night. Instructions for proper placement are on the lid. Hide the bin out of sight from street view again before 10pm Friday after collection.

Yard trimmings must not be placed within this container.

As a courtesy, you may hear the trash collectors honk the truck horn if they can't reach your trash. Check for cars and other obstructions if this happens.

If you are in need to an additional trash bin, the "Add-a-Can" service is available for an additional fee.

For more information, visit this page.

Trash can repair at your home is included in your fee. Call 311 for City Services or visit the Houston 311 web site.

Curbside Recycling

Put your mixed recyclable items unbagged in the green bin provided, and place the bin at the curb on recycling days (every other week).

Acceptable items for recycling include:

Remember to empty, rinse and drain all containers.

Yard Trimmings and Tree Waste

The City of Houston recycles natural waste through these programs:

Yard trimmings (grass clippings, leaves and twigs) are collected weekly on regular trash days. The city requires approved compostable bags for yard trimmings. Place the bags near your trash bin.

Tree branches may be put in bundles up to 4 feet long and 18" in diameter, weighing not more than 50 pounds. If possible, set out on Tree Waste days.

Tree Waste is natural wood such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps. (Furniture, lumber, and other wood products are considered Junk Waste.) Tree Waste is collected every other month on the 4th week (January, March, May, July, September, and November) and is rendered into mulch.

(Tree Waste can be put out on Junk Waste days, but it will be landfilled instead of composted.)


Junk Waste/Heavy Trash

Junk Waste includes furniture, appliances, and other bulky material. It is collected every other month on the 4th week (February, April, June, August, October, December) alternating with Tree Waste. You can put out up to 8 cubic yards of material, but with no more than 4 cubic yards of building materials (other than brick or concrete). Junk Waste may be placed on the curb no earlier than the evening of the previous Friday (one week in advance of scheduled pickup).

Contractors performing maintenance on your property must remove the waste they generate, and not leave it for the city to collect.