Curbside trash, recycling, and bulk collection rules during holiday weeks in Houston and the Greater Houston Metro Area. Check whether your service day is delayed by 1 business day:
| Holiday | Date | Service Status | Route Impact Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1, 2026 | 1-Day Slide (Observed) | 1-day delay for remaining week |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide (Observed) | Monday routes move to Tuesday |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide (Observed) | Monday routes move to Tuesday |
| Independence Day | July 4, 2026 | Regular Service | Normal schedule |
| Labor Day | Sept 7, 2026 | 1-Day Slide (Observed) | Monday routes move to Tuesday |
| Thanksgiving Day | Nov 26, 2026 | 1-Day Slide (Observed) | Thursday routes move to Friday; Friday moves to Saturday |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide (Observed) | Friday routes move to Saturday |
Help neighbors verify whether their street is delayed by upcoming holidays so cans aren't left out on empty curbs:
Check address-specific pickup days, recycling week parity, and local transfer stations:
In Houston, residential pickup generally slides forward by one business day when an observed municipal holiday falls on a weekday. Days earlier in the week prior to the holiday run on normal schedules.
Curbside solid waste, recycling, and bulk collection across Houston is managed by City of Houston and serviced primarily by City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) & Waste Management.
City ordinance strictly prohibits setting containers at curb before 6:00 PM the evening prior. Must be curbside by 7:00 AM on service day.
In Houston, Odd Months (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov) are Tree Waste only (branches, logs, tree cuttings). Even Months (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec) are Junk Waste (furniture, appliances, mattresses).
Under Houston City Code, trash cans and heavy waste cannot be placed at the curb earlier than 6:00 PM on the evening prior to your scheduled collection day.
Post this helpful notice in your local Houston Facebook group or Nextdoor feed before upcoming holiday weeks:
