If you live in Harris County, Texas, your 2026 recycling and trash holiday schedule depends on where you live. There’s no single county-wide sanitation department here.
Houston residents follow the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department’s calendar. Everyone else — unincorporated Harris County and Municipal Utility District (MUD) residents — follows whatever schedule their private hauler sets, like Best Trash, Waste Management, or Texas Pride Disposal.
On most observed holidays, collection “slides” forward by one day. If your pickup falls on a holiday itself, it usually moves to the next business day, though some private haulers simply resume on your next regular scheduled day instead.
Your exact pickup day can also shift slightly based on your address or route zone, so it’s worth double-checking with your provider directly.
Last verified: based on 2026 holiday notices published by the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department and area haulers.
Quick Summary
- Houston residents (SWMD): Collection is suspended on 7 of 9 major holidays in 2026, and routes slide forward by one day.
- MLK Day and observed Independence Day (Saturday, July 4): Houston collection runs as normal — no delay.
- MUD and unincorporated residents: Your hauler’s name is on your water bill or MUD tax statement — check there first.
- Best Trash observes 6 holidays in 2026; missed pickups resume on your next regular day.
- Waste Management and Texas Pride Disposal typically pause only for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
- Drop-off recycling centers, like Westpark Recycling Center, close on all City of Houston holiday dates.
City of Houston Recycling & Trash Holiday Schedule 2026
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) handles curbside recycling and trash collection for residents inside city limits. When a holiday falls on a collection day, that day’s routes — and every route after it that week — shift forward by one day.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Collection Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, Jan. 1 | No collection; service delayed one day |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan. 19 | Regular collection; offices closed only |
| Presidents’ Day | Monday, Feb. 16 | No collection; service delayed one day |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | No collection; service delayed one day |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19 | No collection; Friday routes move to Saturday, June 20 |
| Independence Day (observed) | Saturday, July 4 | Regular collection Friday, July 3; offices closed Saturday |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sept. 7 | No collection; service delayed one day |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov. 26 | No collection; Thursday moves to Friday, Friday moves to Saturday |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec. 25 | No collection; Friday routes move to Saturday, Dec. 26 |
Drop-off locations, including Westpark Recycling Center and neighborhood depositories, are closed on all the dates above — including MLK Day and the Saturday observance of Independence Day.
Unincorporated Harris County & MUD Recycling Schedule 2026
If you pay a MUD tax or an HOA fee instead of a City of Houston utility bill, your recycling and trash pickup is handled by a private hauler under contract with your district. That contract sets your holiday schedule — not the city.
Best Trash (2026 Holidays)
Best Trash is one of the most common providers for Harris County MUDs. If your pickup day falls on one of these dates, service typically resumes on your next regularly scheduled collection day, not necessarily the following day.
| Holiday | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 |
| Independence Day | Saturday, July 4 |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sept. 7 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov. 26 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec. 25 |
| New Year’s Day | Friday, Jan. 1, 2027 |
Waste Management (WM)
WM generally suspends service for only three holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Some individual MUD contracts with WM add extra holidays, so check your specific district’s page or calendar.
Texas Pride Disposal
Texas Pride is common in northern and western Harris County. The standard observed holidays are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, though some MUD contracts also include Memorial Day and Labor Day. Confirm with your MUD directly, since this varies by contract.
How to Find Your Exact Pickup Schedule
Because Harris County doesn’t have one centralized recycling calendar, the fastest way to confirm your schedule is to identify your provider first, then check their official page.
- Check your water bill or MUD tax statement. Your hauler’s name — Best Trash, WM, Texas Pride, or another — is usually printed there.
- Look up your specific MUD’s website. Many Harris County MUDs (for example, HCMUD 14, HCMUD 102, and HCMUD 502) publish their own 2026 collection calendars or holiday notices directly on their sites.
- Houston city residents can use the HTX Collects app or call 3-1-1 to confirm slide dates for their address.
- Still unsure? Call your MUD’s customer service line or your hauler directly — contact info is listed on your district’s website.
Since schedules can vary by ZIP code, route zone, and individual MUD contract, always confirm with your specific provider rather than assuming a neighbor’s schedule matches yours.
FAQ: Harris County Recycling Schedule 2026
Does Harris County have one recycling schedule for the whole county?
No. Harris County doesn’t operate a countywide sanitation department. City of Houston residents follow the SWMD schedule, while unincorporated and MUD residents follow their private hauler’s calendar.
What happens to my pickup if a holiday falls on my collection day in Houston?
Your collection typically moves forward by one day. If several holidays overlap with route days that week, later routes can shift by an extra day too, so check the specific week’s notice.
Is recycling picked up on MLK Day in Houston?
Yes. The City of Houston runs a regular collection schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Only city offices and administrative facilities close.
How do I know which hauler services my MUD?
Check your water bill or MUD tax statement — the hauler’s name (Best Trash, Waste Management, Texas Pride, etc.) is usually printed on it. You can also visit your specific MUD’s official website.
Are recycling drop-off centers open on holidays?
No. Locations like Westpark Recycling Center and neighborhood depositories close on all City of Houston holiday dates, including MLK Day and the Saturday observance of Independence Day.
Why does my neighbor’s pickup day differ from mine even though we’re both in Harris County?
Pickup days and holiday adjustments depend on your specific route zone, MUD, or hauler contract. Two nearby addresses can have different providers entirely, especially near city and unincorporated boundary lines.
Official Sources
Schedules for individual MUDs, HOAs, and private haulers vary by contract. Always confirm holiday adjustments with your specific provider or district website before your scheduled pickup week.
Related read: How to Find Your Trash and Recycling Provider by Address in Harris County
Recycling schedules can change with little notice, especially around holidays. Check your local sanitation department, MUD, or hauler’s official site — or use your city’s address lookup tool — to confirm your exact pickup date before you set out your bins.