San Antonio Bulk Trash & Garbage Pickup 2026 — Large Items, Brush and Drop-Off Help
This guide is built for San Antonio residents who need a direct answer before dragging a sofa, mattress, appliance, brush pile or extra garbage to the curb. Learn when curbside brush and bulky pickup happens, how door hangers work, what the 8-cubic-yard limit means, which items are accepted, what gets rejected, how to use bulky waste centers, and when to call 3-1-1.
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How does San Antonio bulk trash pickup work in 2026?
San Antonio bulk trash pickup garbage schedule is different from weekly brown-cart garbage service. Curbside brush and bulky item collection is provided twice per year. Use the City’s Find My Collection Day tool for the estimated collection timeframe, then wait for the door hanger. The door hanger tells you when to set the pile out; it is not the exact pickup day.
For the scheduled curbside collection week, your pile must be ready by 7:00 AM on Monday, within 8 feet of the curb, no larger than 8 cubic yards, and not blocked by cars, low limbs or other obstacles. For missed collection, out-of-cycle pickup, or questions, call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000.
San Antonio Bulk Trash Pickup Week — Door Hanger, 7 AM Monday Rule and 8-Cubic-Yard Limit
The most important rule is simple: do not put brush or bulky items out just because you think the truck is coming soon. San Antonio tells residents not to set out brush or bulky items until they receive a door hanger. Customers are usually notified of the collection week 7 to 10 days before collection.
Step 1: Find your timeframe
Use the official Find My Collection Day tool for an estimated brush and bulky collection timeframe at your address.
Step 2: Wait for the door hanger
The door hanger tells you when your pile should be set out. It does not guarantee the exact truck arrival day.
Step 3: Set pile by Monday 7 AM
Your pile should be ready no later than 7 AM on the Monday of your scheduled collection week.
Resident warning: Collections can take up to a week to complete. If the pile is set out late, mixed incorrectly, blocked or placed in the wrong spot, you may receive a fine or collection/disposal fee.
| Rule | What San Antonio Residents Should Do |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Curbside brush and bulky item collection is provided twice per year. |
| Notice | Watch for the official door hanger 7 to 10 days before your collection week. |
| Set-out time | Have the pile ready by 7 AM Monday of the scheduled collection week. |
| Pile size | Keep the pile no larger than 8 cubic yards. |
| Placement | Place the pile within 8 feet of the curb, in front of your house, not in the alley. |
| Access | Do not block the pile with parked cars or place it under low hanging tree limbs. |
| Do not place | Do not place material on vacant lots or on top of water meters. |
San Antonio Large Item Tool — Should It Go Curbside, Drop-Off, HHW or Regular Garbage?
Use this quick helper before placing a large item outside. San Antonio’s curbside bulky list, brush list and bulky drop-off center list are not identical. A mattress may be accepted curbside, glass may be accepted at a bulky waste center, and hazardous waste should not go in either curbside bulky or regular garbage.
Best use: This tool gives practical direction. Always confirm the final rule on the official San Antonio SWMD page because accepted lists can differ between curbside collection, bulky drop-off centers and household hazardous waste locations.
San Antonio Curbside Bulky Items — What Large Items Are Accepted
San Antonio separates brush and bulky items. Do not mix brush into a bulky pile or bulky material into a brush pile. If a pile contains the wrong type of material, is obstructed, or is set out after crews have passed, the City warns residents may receive a fine and collection/disposal fees.
Bulky Items Accepted Curbside
- Barbecue grills.
- Carpeting in small pieces.
- Car tires, six or fewer, with no rims.
- Fencing.
- Furniture.
- Large appliances.
- Mattresses.
- TVs, up to three.
- Water heaters.
Brush Accepted Curbside
- Shrubs.
- Tree branches.
- Woody vines.
- Brush only, not mixed with household bulky items.
- Place curbside in front of the house, even if garbage service is in the alley.
Real local example: A mattress, sofa and small carpet pieces belong in the bulky pile. Tree limbs and shrubs belong in the brush pile. If you mix them together, the collection can be rejected or charged.
What San Antonio Bulk Pickup Will Not Take Curbside
Rejected items are where most resident frustration happens. The truck may pick up a sofa but leave roofing material. It may take a mattress but reject concrete. It may collect brush but reject plastic-bagged leaves. Use the lists below before setting out the pile.
Not Accepted in Curbside Bulky Piles
- Brush, leaves and yard waste.
- Concrete.
- Construction or demolition material.
- Glass and mirrors.
- Household hazardous waste.
- Roofing material.
- Soil and rocks.
Not Accepted in Brush Piles
- Bulky household items.
- Car tires.
- Construction, roofing or demolition material.
- Grass clippings.
- Household hazardous waste.
- Plastic-bagged leaves.
- Trash.
- Soil and rocks.
Fine warning: The City states that if a brush or bulky pile contains the wrong material, is obstructed, or is set out after crews have passed, residents could receive a fine of up to $2,000 per day, plus collection and disposal fees.
San Antonio Bulky Waste Collection Centers — Free Drop-Off Rules, Hours and Locations
If you miss curbside bulky pickup, cannot wait for the twice-yearly collection, or have acceptable bulky material you can haul yourself, San Antonio’s bulky waste collection centers may be the fastest option. These centers are for residential customers only. Bring a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee and a photo ID.
Drop-Off Limits
- Bulky items are limited to four cubic yards.
- Construction debris is limited to one cubic yard.
- No household trash is accepted.
- Commercial waste haulers are not accepted.
- Truck loads must not be over the fender wheel of the truck bed.
Drop-Off Center Hours
- Tuesday to Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM.
- Saturday: 8 AM to 12 PM.
- Confirm official alerts before going, especially around holidays.
- Bitters entrance is accessed from Jones Maltsberger and Wurzbach Parkway.
| Center | Address | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center | 1800 Wurzbach Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78216 | North-side bulky items and drop-off needs. |
| Frio City Road Center | 1531 Frio City Road, San Antonio, TX 78226 | Southwest-area bulky item drop-off. |
| Culebra Bulky Waste Collection Center | 7030 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238 | Northwest-side bulky item drop-off. |
| Rigsby Road Bulky Waste Collection Center | 2755 Rigsby Road, San Antonio, TX 78222 | East-side bulky item and drop-off access. |
Map: Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center
San Antonio Garbage Pickup Schedule — Brown Cart Rules, Extra Pickup and Missed Cart Help
Regular household garbage is different from bulk trash. Residential garbage is collected once per week in the brown cart. Put normal household trash in plastic bags, secure bags tightly, and make sure the cart lid can close.
Brown Cart Basics
- Residential garbage is collected once per week.
- Use the brown cart for regular household trash only.
- Place garbage in plastic bags and secure them tightly.
- Make sure the lid can close.
- Report lost or damaged carts by calling 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000.
Do Not Put in Brown Cart
- Batteries.
- Biohazardous items.
- Construction material such as metal, lumber and tile.
- Dead animals.
- Fireworks.
- Hazardous waste such as paint, motor oil or household cleaners.
- Hot coals and ashes.
- Medicine.
Extra garbage pickup: San Antonio allows an additional brown-cart collection up to three times per year for a fee listed by the City as $10. Request it online or call 3-1-1 / 210-207-6000.
San Antonio Garbage Holiday Schedule 2026 — What Changes and What Does Not
San Antonio’s holiday collection schedule is posted by fiscal year, which begins October 1 and ends September 30. The official My Collection Day page lists the 2025-2026 fiscal-year holiday effects. Some holidays have no changes, while others slide affected service days.
| Holiday / Period | Official Listed Change | Resident Action |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Week, January 1-3, 2026 | Thursday collection slides to Friday; Friday collection slides to Saturday. | Put carts out on the adjusted day if your route is affected. |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Week, January 19-24, 2026 | Monday slides to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday. | Expect a one-day slide for the listed week. |
| City Holiday, April 3, 2026 | No changes. | Use normal schedule unless a new alert is posted. |
| Fiesta San Jacinto Day, April 24, 2026 | No changes. | Use normal schedule unless a new alert is posted. |
| Memorial Day, May 25, 2026 | No changes. | Use normal schedule unless a new alert is posted. |
| Juneteenth, June 19, 2026 | No changes. | Use normal schedule unless a new alert is posted. |
| Independence Day observed, July 3, 2026 | No changes. | Use normal schedule unless a new alert is posted. |
| Labor Day, September 7, 2026 | No changes. | Use normal schedule unless a new alert is posted. |
Holiday note: Because San Antonio posts holiday schedules by fiscal year, check the official My Collection Day page again for later 2026 holiday weeks after the next fiscal-year schedule is posted.
Missed San Antonio Bulk Trash or Garbage Pickup — What to Check Before Calling 3-1-1
Do not report weekly garbage as missed until after 5 PM because drivers may still be finishing routes. For brush and bulky items, remember that collections can take up to a week to complete after the scheduled Monday set-out window.
Before Reporting Bulky or Brush
- Did you wait for the official door hanger?
- Was the pile ready by 7 AM Monday?
- Was the pile within 8 feet of the curb?
- Was it no more than 8 cubic yards?
- Was it blocked by cars or under low limbs?
- Was brush mixed with bulky or bulky mixed with brush?
Before Reporting Garbage
- Was it after 5 PM?
- Was the brown cart placed correctly?
- Could the lid close?
- Was the cart blocked?
- Did a holiday slide your service day?
- Was the material actually regular household trash?
Report path: Report missed collection online through the City service portal or call 3-1-1 / 210-207-6000. For an additional out-of-cycle brush or bulky collection, request it online or call the same number. A staff member provides a free estimate, and after the fee is paid, collection is made within two working days.
San Antonio Waste Video Guide — Official Video Check for Bulk Trash
No official relevant embeddable bulk trash or large-item video was found from the City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department or an official waste authority page at the time of writing. Because the rule for this site is to use only official, directly relevant videos, this article does not embed a random YouTube creator video.
Best for: Residents looking for bulky item help should use the official written San Antonio SWMD pages linked below. If the City later publishes an official bulky item, brush pile, drop-off center, or collection week video, it should be embedded here using the official source only.
San Antonio Solid Waste Official Links, Phone Numbers and Drop-Off Resources
Contact
| Need | Contact | Use For |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 | Brush/bulky questions, missed pickup, door hanger questions, out-of-cycle requests. |
| Solid Waste Department Phone | 210-207-6428 | Department-level contact from the official SWMD page. |
| Administration | City Tower, 100 W. Houston St., 7th Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205 | Official SWMD administration address. |
| Customer Billing | 1901 S. Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78204 | Customer billing address listed by the department. |
San Antonio Bulk Trash Pickup FAQ — Large Items, Brush, Garbage and Drop-Off
Source verification and editorial note
Independent guide — not affiliated with the City of San Antonio. trash-pickup.org does not operate garbage trucks, brush pickup, bulky pickup, drop-off centers, 3-1-1, out-of-cycle collection or Solid Waste Management services.
Brush and bulky pickup rules, accepted items, rejected items, collection limits, drop-off center locations, garbage cart rules, holiday schedule notes and contact information were checked against official City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management resources available in 2026. Always verify exact collection weeks, holiday changes, fees, forms, center hours and service alerts through official City links before acting.
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