Last Verified: June 12, 2026
Here’s the most important thing to know up front: there is no single recycling pickup day for all of Harris County, Texas. Your schedule depends on where you live.
If you live inside Houston city limits, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department picks up your recycling every other week.
If you live in unincorporated Harris County, your Municipal Utility District (MUD) handles it through a private hauler like Best Trash, Texas Pride Disposal, or Republic Services.
This guide shows you the verified 2026 schedules for the City of Houston and several Harris County MUDs, plus how to look up your exact pickup day in under two minutes.
Quick Summary
- Harris County does not run a county-wide curbside recycling program. Service is split between the City of Houston and hundreds of MUDs.
- City of Houston: Recycling is collected bi-weekly on an “A Week” or “B Week” rotation. Call 3-1-1 or use the city’s online lookup to find yours.
- Unincorporated areas: Your MUD contracts a private hauler. Pickup days vary by district — most run weekly.
- 2026 holidays: Most providers skip or slide service for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Your MUD number is printed on your monthly water bill — that’s the fastest way to find your provider.
- Schedules can change mid-year. Always confirm with your MUD or the City of Houston before setting out your cart.
Who Picks Up Recycling in Harris County?
Harris County is not one service area. According to the Harris County Office of County Engineer, the county itself does not provide curbside trash or recycling collection. Instead, service breaks down like this:
| Where You Live | Who Handles Recycling | Schedule Type |
|---|---|---|
| City of Houston | City of Houston Solid Waste Management | Bi-weekly (A/B rotation) |
| Unincorporated area with a MUD | Private hauler contracted by your MUD | Usually weekly, varies by district |
| Unincorporated area without curbside service | County precinct drop-off events | Monthly or seasonal events |
So before you can find your pickup day, you need to know which of these three groups you fall into. Your water bill is the quickest clue — it lists your MUD number if you have one.
City of Houston Recycling Schedule 2026
If you’re a City of Houston resident, your green recycling cart is collected every other week on an assigned weekday. The city splits neighborhoods into “A Week” and “B Week” rotations.
Here’s how the 2026 calendar works in practice:
- Friday B example: Service dates in January 2026 fell on January 2 and January 16.
- Friday A example: Service dates in January 2026 fell on January 9 and January 23.
The same alternating pattern continues all year, shifting only around observed holidays.
How to Find Your A or B Week Assignment
- Visit the City of Houston Solid Waste Management service schedules page.
- Enter your street address in the lookup tool.
- Note your collection day and your A or B designation — both matter.
- Prefer the phone? Call 3-1-1 (or 713-837-0311 outside city limits) and ask for your recycling schedule.
Set your cart out by 7:00 AM on collection day with the lid closed and wheels facing your home.
Unincorporated Harris County: 2026 MUD Recycling Schedules
If you live outside Houston city limits, your MUD contracts recycling to a private hauler. Below are verified 2026 pickup days for specific districts. Each district sets its own rules, so check your district’s site for cart requirements and set-out times.
| District | 2026 Recycling Day | Provider / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County MUD 153 | Tuesday | Weekly recycling by Republic Services |
| Harris County MUD 364 | Friday | Weekly; carts out by 7:00 AM in the provided bin |
| Harris County MUD 400 | Thursday | Weekly; 95-gallon carts |
| Harris County MUD 449 | Monday | Weekly; collected by Best Trash |
| Harris County MUD 480 | Varies | See the official MUD 480 2026 calendar (PDF) |
| Harris County MUD 489 | Wednesday | Weekly; 96-gallon Republic Services carts only |
| Harris County MUD 490 | Wednesday | Weekly; Republic Services carts only |
| Harris County MUD 502 | Thursday | Weekly; see the district’s 2026 collection calendar |
| Harris County MUD 503 | Monday | Weekly; 48-gallon green carts |
Your MUD isn’t listed? That’s expected — Harris County has hundreds of utility districts, and each posts its own calendar. Jump to the lookup steps below to find yours.
How to Find Your MUD’s 2026 Schedule
- Check your water bill. Your MUD number appears on your monthly statement (it may also appear on your property tax bill).
- Identify your hauler. Look at the logo on your trash or recycling cart — common Harris County haulers include Best Trash, Texas Pride Disposal, Republic Services, and WM (Waste Management).
- Search your district’s website. Most follow the format
hcmud###.comorhcmud###.org(for example, hcmud502.org). Look for a “Trash & Recycling” page. - Still stuck? Search “[hauler name] + MUD [number] + 2026 schedule” or call the customer service number printed on your cart.
Harris County 2026 Holiday Recycling Schedule
Most Houston-area haulers observe six holidays in 2026. When a holiday lands on your pickup day, service typically “slides” to the next day — or skips to your next scheduled collection, depending on your provider.
| 2026 Holiday | Date | Typical Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, Jan 1 | Thursday+ pickups slide or skip |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | Monday+ pickups slide or skip |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4 | Usually no weekday impact; confirm locally |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7 | Monday+ pickups slide or skip |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26 | Thursday+ pickups slide or skip |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25 | Friday pickups slide or skip |
A few important caveats:
- Holiday rules are not uniform. Some MUDs skip service entirely on holidays; others push the whole week back one day. MUD 102, for example, posts its own holiday delay rules (no collection on Memorial Day or Thanksgiving) on its garbage page — your district may differ.
- City of Houston residents should check the city’s holiday collection schedule before each holiday week, since bi-weekly A/B dates can shift.
- When in doubt, set your cart out on the normal day by 7:00 AM. A late pickup beats a missed one.
No Curbside Service? Use Precinct Drop-Off Events
Some unincorporated residents have no MUD recycling at all. If that’s you, Harris County precincts run free heavy trash and recycling drop-off events:
- Precinct 1 hosts recurring drop-off events, including a spring event on May 16, 2026 (8 AM–noon) at 550 Landa Street. Check the Precinct 1 newsroom for the current monthly calendar.
- Precinct 2 runs heavy trash clean-up and drop-off events throughout 2026; specific dates are posted as they’re scheduled.
- The county’s compost and electronics recycling pilot ran in fall 2025 only — 2026 dates have not been confirmed, so don’t count on it until the county announces a renewal.
Contact your precinct commissioner’s office to confirm dates before loading up the truck.
Frequently Asked Questions (2026)
What day is recycling pickup in Harris County, Texas?
There is no single county-wide pickup day. City of Houston residents have bi-weekly collection on an assigned A or B week. Unincorporated residents follow their MUD’s schedule — for example, MUD 153 collects on Tuesdays and MUD 502 on Thursdays in 2026. Check your water bill for your MUD number, then visit your district’s website.
Is recycling picked up every week in Houston?
No. The City of Houston collects recycling every other week on a bi-weekly A/B rotation. Trash, by contrast, is collected weekly. Most Harris County MUDs collect recycling weekly, but each district sets its own frequency.
How do I find my recycling day by address or ZIP code?
ZIP codes alone won’t tell you — one ZIP can contain Houston neighborhoods and multiple MUDs. Use your exact street address in the City of Houston’s online schedule lookup, or find your MUD number on your water bill and check that district’s website.
Will recycling be picked up on Memorial Day or Thanksgiving 2026?
Usually not. Most Harris County haulers observe Memorial Day (May 25, 2026) and Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026). Service on and after the holiday typically slides one day, though some districts skip to the next scheduled pickup. Confirm with your specific provider the week before.
What can I put in my recycling cart in Harris County?
Most local programs accept clean cardboard, paper, plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2), metal cans, and cartons. Do not bag your recyclables — place them loose in the cart. Glass rules vary widely: Houston accepts glass at drop-off centers but not curbside, and MUD rules differ. Check your hauler’s accepted-materials list.
My recycling wasn’t picked up. Who do I call?
Houston residents: report a missed collection by calling 3-1-1 within 24–48 hours. MUD residents: call the hauler’s customer service line printed on your cart (Best Trash, Texas Pride, Republic Services, or WM), or use the contact form on your MUD’s website.
Check Your Schedule Before You Roll Out the Cart
Recycling schedules in Harris County change with holidays, weather events, and contract updates. Before your next pickup, take two minutes to verify your day using the City of Houston Solid Waste schedule lookup or your MUD’s official website. If you’re not sure who serves your address, the Harris County Office of County Engineer FAQ explains how service works in unincorporated areas.
Related reading: Houston Heavy Trash & Bulk Pickup Schedule 2026: Junk Waste and Tree Waste Months Explained
Schedule details on this page were last verified on June 12, 2026, using official City of Houston, Harris County, and MUD sources. Individual district schedules may change — always confirm with your local provider.