Trash and Recycling Schedule for Holidays in Houston, TX

The City of Houston Solid Waste Management department provides garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection services to residents across the city. Houston observes several holidays each year which can affect your normal trash and recycling pickup schedule. This article covers Houston’s holiday trash schedule, how it impacts collections, and key dates for 2023.

Holidays Observed in Houston

Houston observes the following holidays, when city offices and Solid Waste Management facilities are closed:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

See the full 2023 holiday schedule for trash collection.

How Holidays Affect Trash Pickup

On city-observed holidays, there is no garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection in Houston. This includes curbside pickup and neighborhood depositories.

If your normal collection day falls on a holiday, pickup will be rescheduled for the next business day. So if your regular pickup is Monday, and the holiday is on Monday, your trash will be collected on Tuesday that week.

Holiday Schedule for 2023

Here are the key dates for Houston’s 2023 holiday trash schedule:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 16, 2023 (Monday)
  • Pickup resumes January 17
• Memorial Day – May 29, 2023 (Monday)
  • Pickup resumes May 30
• Independence Day – July 4, 2023 (Tuesday)
  • Pickup resumes July 5
• Labor Day – September 4, 2023 (Monday)
  • Pickup resumes September 5
• Thanksgiving – November 23, 2023 (Thursday)
  • Pickup resumes November 24
• Day After Thanksgiving – November 24, 2023 (Friday)
• Christmas Day – December 25, 2023 (Monday)
  • Pickup resumes December 26

View the full 2023 holiday schedule.

What Gets Collected on Holiday Weeks

When a holiday falls on your normal collection day, here is what will be picked up for the rest of the week:

• Tuesday – Monday’s pickup gets collected
• Wednesday – Tuesday’s pickup gets collected
• Thursday – Collection resumes normal schedule

So if the holiday is on Monday, Monday’s trash gets picked up on Tuesday, Tuesday’s on Wednesday, and collection proceeds as normal starting Thursday.

Notifications of Changes

The Solid Waste Management department posts any holiday schedule changes on their website. Updates are also published in the Houston Chronicle newspaper.

Residents can call 3-1-1 to ask questions or get more information on adjusted pickup days.

Holiday Tree and Junk Waste Pickup

• Monthly tree waste pickup moves to the day after a holiday.
• Quarterly junk waste pickup moves to the next collection day after a holiday.

So if your junk pickup day is the same as the holiday, it will be collected the next day along with that day’s normal trash.

Drop-Off Centers

All Solid Waste Management drop-off locations and depositories are closed on city holidays. This includes the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center.

Recycling and Yard Waste

Recycling and yard waste pickup follows the same holiday schedule as trash collection. If your normal pickup day is on a holiday, it moves to the next day that week.

Place all recyclables loose in your bin – no plastic bags. Yard waste must be in biodegradable bags or a can labeled “yard waste.”

Contact Information

Contact the City of Houston Solid Waste Management department with any questions about the holiday collection schedule:

Phone: 3-1-1

Website: www.houstonsolidwaste.org

By planning ahead for holidays, Houston residents can ensure their trash, recycling, and yard waste is collected on time. Check the 2023 schedule and remember that no pickup occurs on city holidays.