Austin Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026

Austin Resource Recovery serves residential curbside customers in single-family homes and up to fourplexes. Regular service includes weekly trash, weekly composting on the same day as trash, and recycling every other week. Since January 2025, bulk, brush, household hazardous waste, and clothing/textiles service have been handled through an on-demand scheduling system instead of fixed neighborhood collection weeks.

How to Find Your Austin Trash Pickup Day (Fast Lookup)

Austin’s official My Schedule tool is the fastest way to see your trash, recycling, and compost calendar for one address. It also gives you reminder options and direct access to on-demand scheduling for bulk, brush, and household hazardous waste.

1. Open the official Austin schedule page. Go to View your Recycling, Composting and Trash Schedule.
2. Enter your address carefully. Select your exact service address so the tool shows the correct weekly trash and compost day plus your every-other-week recycling schedule.
3. Save or print your calendar. Austin lets you add your collection schedule to Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook, print it, or sign up for text, email, or phone reminders.
4. Use the Austin Recycles app if you want reminders. The city also supports schedule lookup and on-demand service requests through the Austin Recycles app.
5. Use 3-1-1 if anything looks wrong. Call (512) 974-2000 if your address result looks off or you need help with a missed collection or service issue.

Austin Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When

Austin’s regular curbside setup is straightforward once you separate the recurring weekly services from the scheduled specialty services. Trash and compost run every week, recycling runs every other week, and bulk or brush must be scheduled.

For all three cart services, Austin says carts must be placed out by 5:30 a.m. on the collection day and should be at least five feet apart from each other and from obstacles like cars, mailboxes, trees, and overhead wires.

Austin Trash Cart Sizes and Monthly Rates

Austin’s monthly trash charge depends on the size of your brown trash cart. Recycling and composting are bundled into the residential service model, which means many households can lower their total bill by using recycling and composting more and choosing a smaller trash cart.

If you downsize to a smaller trash cart, Austin says you can do that at no charge. If you switch to a larger trash cart, a $15 one-time cart exchange fee applies, plus the monthly rate for the larger cart. To change cart size, call (512) 494-9400.

Austin Recycling Schedule: Every Other Week Blue Cart Service

Recycling in Austin is collected every other week, not weekly. Your exact pickup week depends on your address, so it is best to use the My Schedule tool instead of guessing from a neighbor’s cart day.

Austin recycling basics:

• Place your blue cart at the curb by 5:30 a.m.
• Keep carts five feet apart
• Do not bag recycling
• Extra recycling is collected at no extra charge if placed next to the cart in a reusable container or cardboard box no larger than the cart
• You can request an additional blue cart free of charge by calling (512) 494-9400

Common Austin recycling reminders:

• Keep tanglers out, including plastic bags, cords, hoses, and string lights
• Do not bag the recyclables inside the blue cart
• Use Austin’s “What do I do with it?” guidance if you are unsure about a specific item

Austin Compost Schedule: Weekly Green Cart Collection

Austin’s green compost cart is collected every week on the same day as trash. The city accepts a broader range of organics than many residents realize, which is why composting can make such a big difference in how full your trash cart gets.

Austin says to place your green compost cart out every week by 5:30 a.m., even if it is not full. You can use a BPI-certified compostable bag or a paper bag for composting materials. Keep the lid closed and make sure everything fits inside the cart.

Austin Bulk, Brush, HHW, and Clothing Collection: Now On Demand

Austin now offers on-demand collection for bulk items, large brush, household hazardous waste, and clothing/textiles. Residential curbside customers can schedule up to three collections per service each calendar year. You can schedule through the Austin Recycles app, online, or by calling (512) 974-2000.

Bulk set-out guidelines:

• Place bulk items at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on the appointment date
• Separate items into the required piles
• Keep materials 5 feet away from carts, parked cars, mailboxes, poles, and other obstacles
• Do not block sidewalks or extend piles into the street

Brush set-out guidelines:

• Place large brush at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on the appointment date
• Brush and tree limbs should generally be between 5 and 15 feet long
• If longer than 15 feet, cut them down
• Stack loosely in one row, no more than 15 feet across and no higher than 4 feet, with cut ends facing the street
• Tree trunks more than 8 inches in diameter should be 3 feet long or less

1. Open the city’s on-demand collection page. Use Austin’s on-demand collection service.
2. Choose the right service type. Austin separates bulk, brush, household hazardous waste, and clothing/textiles. Pick the correct category so crews bring the right equipment.
3. Schedule your appointment. Use the Austin Recycles app, online request tool, or call 3-1-1.
4. Set everything out correctly. Put the material out by 5:30 a.m. and keep it clear of carts, cars, driveways, sidewalks, and power lines.
5. Use drop-off if needed faster. Austin also offers drop-off options for hard-to-recycle items, hazardous materials, and large brush.

Austin 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule

Austin does not shift curbside collection for most city holidays. The city’s My Schedule page says collection slides by one day only if your service day falls on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day — or if it falls after one of those holidays in the same week. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, collection does not slide.

Because holiday slide rules in Austin are limited, many residents incorrectly assume every federal holiday causes a delay. The city’s official guidance says that is not the case. Always verify in My Schedule for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s week.

What to Do If Austin Missed Your Trash, Recycling, or Compost Pickup

If your cart was out correctly and collection did not happen, Austin says you should report the missed service quickly. The timing depends on the service type, but in general you should not wait too long.

1. Confirm the cart was set out correctly. It should be at the curb by 5:30 a.m., with the lid closed, and placed five feet away from other carts and obstacles.
2. Check that it was your actual collection week. This matters most for recycling since it runs every other week.
3. Report the missed pickup promptly. For recycling and regular cart service, Austin says to call 3-1-1 or email after 4 p.m. on the date of the missed collection and within 2 business days.
4. Ask about a return trip if needed. Austin notes that return-trip collection service can be scheduled for a fee in some cases.
5. Keep the service details ready. Have your address and whether it was trash, recycling, compost, or on-demand collection ready when contacting the city.

Austin Drop-Off Options for Extra Material

If you do not want to wait for curbside scheduling or you have items that belong at a facility, Austin also offers city-supported drop-off options for residents.

The Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center accepts many items for recycling, reuse, or safe disposal, including household hazardous waste, by appointment. Hornsby Bend accepts yard trimmings and large brush, and the material is composted into Dillo Dirt.

Austin Extra Trash Rules and Sticker Fees

If your trash does not fit in the brown cart with the lid closed, Austin allows extra bagged trash beside the cart — but it must follow the city’s rules.

• Each extra bag must have a $5 extra trash sticker plus tax
• Without a sticker, the charge is $10.20 per bag plus tax
• Bags should be 35 pounds or less and no larger than 40 gallons
• Large contractor bags of 42 gallons or more are not allowed
• If you often set out extra trash, it may be cheaper to switch to a larger cart

Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Trash Pickup

Official Austin Waste Collection Resources

Contact Austin Resource Recovery: Call (512) 974-2000 for 3-1-1 service requests, call (512) 494-9400 for cart-size changes, or use the official Austin Resource Recovery pages for schedule lookup and service details.