Texas Waste Management Guide 2025

Texas Waste Management Industry Overview

Texas generates approximately 44 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, serving a population of 30.5 million residents. The state operates 340+ active landfills (most in the nation), 60+ materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and extensive commercial waste infrastructure.

State Waste Laws & Regulations

Texas takes a decentralized approach with limited state mandates and local control:

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): Primary regulatory agency. Permits landfills, transfer stations, and waste facilities. Enforces solid waste disposal laws.
• No Statewide Recycling Mandate: Texas does not require recycling. Cities set own policies. 18% statewide diversion rate (vs. 32% national average).
• HB 2263 (2023): Prohibits local plastic bans. Cities cannot ban plastic bags, containers, or packaging. Preempts existing city ordinances.
• Solid Waste Disposal Act: Chapter 361 Texas Health & Safety Code. Prohibits illegal dumping, requires proper waste disposal, regulates landfills.
• Municipal Authority: Cities control waste collection within city limits. Can grant franchises or provide municipal service.
• County Regulation: Counties regulate waste in unincorporated areas. Competitive markets common in suburban/rural areas.

Cost Analysis

Texas waste costs are 15-30% below national averages due to competitive markets, abundant landfill capacity (lowest tipping fees in nation), and minimal regulatory requirements. Costs vary by metro area and service level.

Regional Cost Factors

• Houston Metro: $35-$52/month residential. City provides service in city limits ($42/month flat rate). Suburbs competitive market. Harris County hosts largest landfill in U.S.
• Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: $32-$50/month. Mix of city services and private haulers. Competitive markets in suburbs. DFW has 30+ landfills serving region.
• Austin: $40-$58/month. Austin Resource Recovery manages city service. Travis County hosts multiple regional landfills. Higher costs reflect progressive policies.
• San Antonio: $30-$45/month. City manages waste collection. Lowest major city costs. Bexar County landfill system keeps costs down.
• Smaller Cities: $25-$40/month. Franchise agreements common. Limited recycling programs. Pay-as-you-throw rare.
• Rural Areas: $22-$35/month. Competitive markets with multiple hauler options. Some areas use county transfer stations or burn permits.

Major Waste Service Providers

Texas has extensive private hauler presence with competitive markets in most areas:

National Haulers

• Republic Services: Largest private hauler in Texas. Serves 1.8M+ customers. Major presence in DFW, Houston, San Antonio. Owns 40+ Texas landfills.
• Waste Management (WM): Extensive operations statewide. Owns largest landfill in North America (Chiquita Canyon Alternative near Houston). Strong DFW and Gulf Coast presence.
• Waste Connections: Growing Texas footprint. Serves suburbs and smaller cities. Owns multiple landfills across state.
• GFL Environmental: Expanding presence through acquisitions. Serves residential and commercial customers in major metros.

Regional/Local Haulers

• Texas Pride Disposal: Houston-area independent. Serves residential and commercial customers. Competitive pricing.
• Waste Corporation of Texas: DFW regional hauler. Family-owned. Serves North Texas communities.
• Balcones Resources: Central Texas recycling leader. Operates MRFs in Austin area. Waste Connections subsidiary.
• Meridian Waste: Southeast Texas operations. Serves Beaumont, Port Arthur, coastal communities.

Municipal Services

• Houston Solid Waste Management: Serves 435,000+ residential customers in city limits. Call 311 for service. Flat rate billing through water bills.
• Austin Resource Recovery: City department manages collection. Curbside composting offered. Progressive zero waste goals.
• San Antonio Solid Waste Management: City provides residential service. Known for efficient operations and low costs.

Recycling Programs

Curbside Recycling Availability

Major Texas cities offer voluntary curbside recycling:

• Houston: Single-stream recycling included in city service. Blue carts collected weekly. Accepts bottles, cans, paper, cardboard.
• Dallas: Curbside recycling included. Weekly pickup in blue bins. Recycling app helps residents know what's accepted.
• Austin: Robust recycling program with blue carts. Weekly collection. Also offers curbside composting (96-gal green cart).
• San Antonio: Blue carts for recycling. Bi-weekly collection in most areas. Expanding to weekly service.
• Fort Worth: Blue carts provided. Weekly recycling collection citywide.
• Smaller Cities: Varies widely. Some offer curbside, others drop-off only or no program. Check with local provider.

Commonly Accepted Recyclables

• Paper/Cardboard: Newspapers, junk mail, office paper, magazines, cardboard boxes (flattened).
• Containers: Plastic bottles/jugs (#1-5), glass bottles/jars, aluminum cans, steel/tin cans, drink cartons.
• NOT Accepted: Plastic bags (contamination issue - return to grocery stores), Styrofoam, food waste, electronics, batteries, clothing.

Recycling Drop-off Centers

Most Texas cities operate drop-off facilities for residents:

• Houston: 6 Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Centers. Accept recyclables, HHW, e-waste, bulky items. Free for residents with ID.
• Dallas: Multiple drop-off locations. Combined with HHW facilities. Free for residents.
• Austin: Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. Accepts wide range of materials. Open Tue-Sat.
• San Antonio: 5 Recycling Drop-off Centers. Accept recyclables, HHW, bulky items, yard waste. Free for residents.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Texas counties and major cities operate Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection programs:

Major City Programs

• Houston (2 locations): Westpark Environmental Collection Center (Mon-Sat), Summerwood Environmental Collection Center (Wed/Sat). Free for residents with ID. (713) 837-9130.
• Dallas: McCommas Bluff Landfill HHW facility (Fri-Sun). Accepts full range of HHW plus e-waste. (214) 670-3555.
• Austin: Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center (Tue-Sat). Comprehensive HHW program. Also accepts sharps and medications. (512) 974-4343.
• San Antonio: 5 Recycling Drop-off Centers accept HHW. Check hours by location. (210) 207-6000.
• Fort Worth: Seasonal neighborhood collection events. Check city calendar. (817) 392-EASY.

Commonly Accepted HHW Items

• Paint, stain, varnish, solvents
• Household cleaners, chemicals, pesticides
• Motor oil, antifreeze, car batteries
• Fluorescent bulbs, CFLs, mercury thermometers
• Batteries (all types)
• Electronics, computers, TVs
• Propane tanks (empty or full)
• Pool chemicals

E-Waste & Electronics Recycling

Texas does not have a comprehensive e-waste law but offers collection options:

• City Drop-off Sites: Most major cities accept e-waste at recycling centers or HHW facilities free for residents.
• Retailer Take-Back: Best Buy accepts TVs, computers, monitors ($30 fee for large items). Staples accepts smaller electronics free.
• Manufacturer Programs: Dell, HP, Apple, Samsung offer mail-back or trade-in programs.
• Certified Recyclers: Search for e-Stewards or R2 certified recyclers. Ensure data destruction and responsible recycling.
• Collection Events: Cities and nonprofits host periodic e-waste drives. Check local calendars.

Bulky Item & Special Waste Collection

Bulky Waste Programs by City

• Houston: "Junk Waste" program - set out heavy trash during monthly Junk Waste week. Free for residents. Also accepts at Neighborhood Depositories.
• Dallas: Bi-annual bulky trash collection for single-family (spring/fall). Call for pickup or drop at designated locations.
• Austin: Monthly large brush collection by zones. Also accepts at Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. (512) 494-9400.
• San Antonio: Weekly bulky item pickup (separate day from regular trash). Max 8 cubic yards. (210) 207-6000.
• Fort Worth: Bulky Brush Collection by monthly zones. Brush and furniture collected. (817) 392-EASY.

Mattress & Furniture Disposal

• Most cities accept in bulky waste programs
• Drop off free at city recycling centers
• Some haulers charge $25-$50 special pickup fee
• Charities (Goodwill, Salvation Army) accept gently used items

Tire Disposal

• Retailer Take-Back: Tire shops accept old tires when buying new (fee may apply). Typically $3-$5 per tire disposal fee.
• County Programs: Some counties host tire amnesty days. Free drop-off for residents.
• Landfills: Most Texas landfills accept tires with surcharge ($3-$10 per tire depending on size).
• Illegal Dumping Enforcement: Texas has strict penalties for tire dumping due to mosquito breeding concerns.

Yard Waste & Organics Management

Texas yard waste programs vary widely by climate and city:

• Curbside Yard Waste: Many cities offer seasonal yard waste collection (fall/spring). Set out in paper bags or loose alongside curb.
• Houston: Year-round yard waste pickup with regular trash. Also "Tree Waste" program for large limbs/branches.
• Austin: Curbside composting program (green carts). Accepts food scraps and yard waste. Progressive organics diversion.
• Drop-off Options: Cities operate mulch/compost sites. Drop off yard waste, receive free mulch.
• Backyard Burning: Legal in some rural areas with burn permits. Check local fire marshal and air quality rules.

Commercial Waste Services

Commercial Recycling

Select Texas cities mandate commercial recycling:

• Austin: Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) requires businesses, multi-family, and special events to provide recycling. Phased compliance based on property size.
• Dallas: Commercial properties generating 50+ tons/year must recycle. Waste hauler licensing ordinance tracks compliance.
• Houston: Voluntary commercial recycling. City offers programs but no mandate.
• San Antonio: Large businesses and multi-family encouraged to recycle. No citywide mandate.

Commercial Service Costs

• 2-yard Bin: $140-$280/month (1-2x/week service)
• 4-yard Bin: $260-$460/month (2-3x/week service)
• 6-yard Bin: $380-$640/month (3-5x/week service)
• 8-yard Bin: $480-$850/month (3-6x/week service)
• Compactor Service: $750-$1,800/month depending on size and frequency
• Recycling: Often 20-35% lower than trash rates to incentivize diversion

Construction & Demolition (C&D) Debris

Texas C&D regulations are minimal compared to other states:

• No State Diversion Mandate: Texas does not require C&D recycling (unlike CA's 65% requirement).
• Voluntary Diversion: LEED projects and progressive contractors recycle voluntarily for cost savings and certifications.
• Materials Recovered: Concrete, metals, wood, cardboard commonly recycled. Mixed C&D usually landfilled.
• C&D Landfills: Type IV landfills accept only C&D debris. Lower tipping fees than MSW landfills ($25-$55/ton vs. $35-$75/ton).
• Recycling Facilities: Austin, DFW, Houston have C&D recycling facilities. Concrete/asphalt crushing common.

Rural & Unincorporated Area Services

Rural Texas has diverse waste management approaches:

• Competitive Markets: Suburban and rural areas typically not franchised. Residents choose from multiple haulers. Shop around for best price.
• Burn Barrels: Legal in many rural areas with permits. Check with county and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
• County Transfer Stations: Some counties operate transfer stations. Residents haul waste themselves or hire private haulers.
• Limited Recycling: Rural areas often lack recycling infrastructure. May require driving to nearest city drop-off center.
• Illegal Dumping: Remote areas vulnerable. Counties enforce through fines and cleanup programs funded by TCEQ grants.

Finding Local Services

How to Identify Your Options

• City Limits: If within city limits, check city website or call city hall. Many cities provide service or grant exclusive franchises.
• Unincorporated Areas: Competitive market - shop multiple haulers. Search online or ask neighbors for recommendations.
• HOAs: Homeowner associations often contract with specific haulers. Check HOA documents for requirements.
• TCEQ Database: Search permitted waste haulers and facilities at TCEQ.texas.gov

Service Complaints & Quality Issues

• City Services: Contact city 311 line or solid waste department for missed pickups, damaged property, service issues.
• Private Haulers: Contact company customer service. File complaint with city if franchised hauler.
• TCEQ Enforcement: Report illegal dumping, unpermitted facilities, environmental violations via (888) 777-3186 or tceq.texas.gov/compliance/complaints
• County Enforcement: Counties handle complaints in unincorporated areas. Contact county environmental health or solid waste department.

Key Resources

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): State regulatory agency. Facility permits, enforcement, education. TCEQ.texas.gov | (512) 239-1000
• Texas Municipal League: Resources for cities on solid waste management best practices.
• Keep Texas Beautiful: Litter prevention, beautification, education programs. KeepTexasBeautiful.org
• Don't Mess with Texas: Iconic anti-litter campaign. Education and enforcement. DontMessWithTexas.org
• Local City 311: Houston (311), Dallas (311), Austin (512-974-2000), San Antonio (311), Fort Worth (817-392-1234)

Get Waste Service Quotes

Ready to set up or compare waste services in Texas? Get free quotes from haulers serving your area: