Houston

Recycling Guidelines

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Mixed Recycling: Plastic, paper, metal and glass can be comingled together in your single-stream recycling collection

PLASTIC

Look for plastic items labeled #1 - #5.

  • Bath bottles – shampoo, soap, etc.
  • Beverage & food bottles, jars, and jugs
  • House bottles & jugs – cleaning supplies, detergent, etc.
  • Lids and caps can stay on plastic bottles
Lids and caps can stay on bottles and containers
Plastic, single-serve to-go containers with no food residue

METAL

Look for tin, aluminum and other metal items

  • Aluminum cans- beverage and food
  • Steel cans- beverage and food

Tin, aluminum, steel, and empty aerosol cans

PAPER

Look for Paper items

  • Cartons- milk, broth, etc.
  • Flattened cardboard- food boxes, moving boxes, etc.
  • Mixed paper- mail, magazines, computer paper, office paper, and newspaper

Paper can be recycled up to seven times, depending on the quality

Cardboard tubes from wrapping or toilet paper rolls

GLASS

Look for glass food jars and drink bottles

  • Bottles- beverage and food
  • Jars- beverage and food
Bottles and jars (remove lids or caps)
Clean and dry your glass bottles

OTHERS

Other items that may be recycled

  • Cartons- shelf stable and refrigerated
Check with your leasing office for official guidelines
Click the “Recycling Resources” for more details

Mixed Recycling: Plastic, paper, metal and glass can be comingled together in your single-stream recycling collection

Doorstep Recycling Collection
Place acceptable recyclables in a securely tied, see-thru bag, separate from your trash and place in your bin, outside your front door with your scheduled trash collection.

When in Doubt – Toss it Out
Please do not place any unacceptable items in communal recycling containers or in your household recycling bags. Remember, if recycling contains “contaminants” (non-recyclable items or containers not properly cleaned), the whole batch may be rejected and sent to a land fill. When in doubt – best to toss it out!

What can NOT be recycled

  • Shredded Paper
  • Tanglers, hoses,wires, chairs, or electronics,
  • Scrap metal or wood
  • Aerosol Cans
  • Catalogs
  • Concrete
  • Mattresses
  • Toys, packing materials, flower pots, styrofoam, or plastic furniture
  • Up to five (5) automobile tires (per month, per household)
  • Ceramics
  • Windows
  • Mirrors

Recycle Collection Tips

  • Battery Recycling:
    The city of houston accepts lead-acid and rechargeable batteries at the
    Westpark consumer recycling center and at the environmental service centers
  • Accepted batteries
    Lead batteries; those found in cars and boats as well as other motorized vehicles and equipment.
    Rechargeable batteries: lithium, nickel metal hydride and nickel cadmium
  • Not Accepted:
    Alkaline batteries (AA,AAA,C,D) and any other battery types not mentioned here.  Most of the heavy metal has been removed from alkaline batteries, so it is ok to dispose of them in your regular household garbage

Multifamily-specific highlights. Check with your municipality for the latest guidelines.

Per the City of Houston ordinance the Solid Waste Management Department provides service only to single-family homes, eight units or less. This excludes larger multi-family units from City service; therefore a private service contract for solid waste services is needed (City of Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 39) apartments; they will provide you with details for your specific area.
Recyclables may be collected and taken to one of seven City of Houston’s drop-off locations. Residents can speak with their building management about acquiring a recycling service contract/opportunity in addition to the refuse collection service.

  • You can contact Habitat for Humanity, who has offered to pick up recycling in area apartments; they will provide you with details for your specific area.
  • The City of Houston offers small to midsize businesses curbside recycling collection in select areas for a small fee.
  • For a nominal fee per cart, businesses are eligible to receive a maximum of four 96-gallon green carts to store recyclables. Included with the cart is information explaining the materials acceptable for collections. The program offers convenient Bi-weekly collection with no sorting required. Three- and six-month and one-year terms are available.

Recycling Program
To enroll in the program, select the number of carts and months you would like.
Prices vary.
For more information contact a business recycling consultant at 832-393-0444 or email at  [email protected].
Application: https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/Bus_Recycling_letter-APP.pdf

Houston Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Centers:
North 9003 N Main Street 77022
Northwest 14400 Sommermeyer 77041
Northeast 556 Kirkpatrick 77028
Southeast 2240 Central Street 77017
South 5100 Sunbeam 77033
Southwest 10785 SW Freeway 77074

Neighborhood Recycling Drop Off Locations:
Westpark Center  5900 Westpark, Houston, TX 77034
Clear Lake/Ellington Airport- Highway 3 @ Brantly Avenue Houston, TX  77034
Kingwood 3210 West Lake Houston Parkway, Houston, TX  77339
Reuse Warehouse 9003 N. Main Street, Houston TX  77022

Learn more about recycling in your city.

For more information, please contact:

City of Hourston
Business Recycling Consultant
832-393-0444 or email at  [email protected].

Green Houston
By phone: 713.837.0311 or 3-1-1
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/business_recycling.html

This information is not your official community or municipality guidelines. Recycling mandates may change based on the local processing capabilities and shifting markets. Contact your leasing office or local recycling agency to learn more or use the links under the “Recycling Resources"