Houston Junk Removal

Remember your ODDS and EVENS

Residents may dispose of their Tree Waste and Junk Waste at their curbside. Tree Waste is collected during ODD numbered months and Junk Waste is collected during EVEN numbered months. This method of collecting large waste comes with the benefits of diverting materials that can be recycled from landfills, saving landfill space and valuable tax dollars.

Tree Waste

“Tree Waste” is defined as “clean” wood waste such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps. Lumber, furniture, and treated wood will NOT be accepted.

Junk Waste may NOT be placed for collection during a Tree Waste month.

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

Junk Waste

“Junk Waste” is defined as items such as furniture, appliances, and other bulky material.

Tree Waste is accepted during Junk Waste Months; however, to ensure your Tree Waste is recycled, you may hold your tree waste materials until the next Tree Waste designated month or take it to a Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Center.

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

Tires

Residents may place up to 4 tires at the curb for collection during Junk Waste months. Collection crews will separate the tires from the Junk Waste. It may take up to a week before crews return and retrieve the tires. Separating the tires from the rest of the Junk Waste allows the SWMD to properly process tires.

Additional Information

Placement Instructions

• Tree Waste and Junk Waste should be placed adjacent to the front curb in a location easily accessible to the collection vehicle between the hours of 6:00 p.m. the Friday before and 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.
• Tree Waste and Junk Waste should not be stacked under low overhead electrical wires or other cabling, signs, or mailboxes; next to fences or posts; or on top of water meters, gas meters, fire hydrants, or other exposed utility components.
• Materials should not be placed in the street, on the sidewalk, or other right-of-way, or in any manner which would interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
• Tree Waste and Junk Waste collection is limited to occupied residential units and vacant residential lots only if the waste generated is in connection with the maintenance of the property.

Restrictions:

• No more than 8 cubic yards (about the size of a minivan) of Junk Waste or Tree Waste may be placed at the curb for collection.
• A maximum of four cubic yards of building material (not to include roofing shingles, brick, plaster or concrete) generated by the resident in connection with the maintenance of the residential property may be collected by Solid Waste Management Department crews.
• Appliances containing refrigerant must have a tag attached to them certifying a qualified technician has removed the refrigerant.
• The SWMD is not allowed to collect any material that was generated by contractors who were retained by a resident to perform work on his or her residential property. It is the responsibility of the contractor to remove all debris that may arise from the contractor's activities. These contractor-related activities include, but are not limited to: trimming and removal of trees, remodeling, new construction and roofing.
• If authorized items placed for collection are mixed with unauthorized items, department personnel shall not be obligated to sort the materials and may refuse the entire load.