The city of Houston provides residents with trash, recycling, yard waste, and heavy trash pickup services. Houston Solid Waste Management adjusts the collection schedule for official city holidays to ensure continual service. This article covers Houston’s holiday trash schedule, service changes, and who to contact regarding collection.
Holiday Collection Changes
Trash and recycling collection are delayed by one day when a holiday falls on a Monday through Friday. For example, if the holiday is on Monday, Monday’s collection shifts to Tuesday, Tuesday’s collection moves to Wednesday, etc.
Collection returns to the regular schedule the week following a holiday. Friday collection is not rescheduled when a holiday falls on a Thursday.
The following holidays impact solid waste collection in Houston:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Holiday Schedules
Houston’s holiday schedule for the next two years is:
2024
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- MLK Jr. Day – January 15
- Memorial Day – May 27
- Juneteenth – June 19
- Independence Day – July 4
- Labor Day – September 2
- Veterans Day – November 11
- Thanksgiving – November 28
- Day after Thanksgiving – November 29
- Christmas Eve – December 24
- Christmas Day – December 25
2025
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- MLK Jr. Day – January 20
- Memorial Day – May 26
- Juneteenth – June 19
- Independence Day – July 4
- Labor Day – September 1
- Veterans Day – November 11
- Thanksgiving – November 27
- Day after Thanksgiving – November 28
- Christmas Eve – December 24
- Christmas Day – December 25
The city’s holiday schedule is updated annually. Veterans Day is a city holiday but does not affect collection.
Service Impacts
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Curbside trash, recycling, yard waste, and junk waste collection are delayed by one day. Friday collection is not rescheduled.
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Recycling centers and neighborhood depositories are closed on holidays.
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Heavy trash pickup appointments scheduled on a holiday are automatically rescheduled for the same time on the next business day.
Holiday Tips
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If possible, avoid scheduling heavy trash pickup on the day before a holiday since pickup will be rescheduled for after the holiday.
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If your collection day falls on or after the holiday, set materials at the curb one day later than usual.
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Separate yard waste and bulky items from trash and recycling to avoid having them mixed up.
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Recycling centers will have adjusted hours the day after a holiday – check the schedule beforehand.
Missed Collection
If your materials are not collected on your scheduled pickup day:
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Confirm it is actually your collection day using the collection schedule lookup.
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If accurate, report the missed pickup through Houston 311 or the Solid Waste Management website.
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Your pickup will be rescheduled within 1 business day. Leave bins at the curb until collected.
Contact Information
Houston 311 – Report missed collection and general inquiries
Call: 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311
Solid Waste Management – Holiday schedule, service alerts
Call: 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311
Email: [email protected]
Heavy Trash/Junk Waste – Schedule pickup, appliance collection
Call: 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311
Email: [email protected]
The city of Houston provides continual waste collection service to residents outside major holidays. Following the adjusted holiday schedule, reporting missed pickups promptly, and keeping updated through Houston 311 will ensure your trash, recycling, and yard waste are removed appropriately.
Reference
https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/holiday.html
https://www.houstontx.gov/events/cityholidays.html