Free & low-cost junk removal in San Antonio, TX

San Antonio runs a tightly structured but generous system: biannual curbside Brush & Bulky pickup (twice each per year, so 4 collections total spread throughout the year) with door-hanger notifications about 7-10 days before your week, a three-cart system (brown trash weekly, blue recycling weekly, green organics/composting weekly), and four FREE Bulky Waste Collection Centers open year-round for residents. The trade-off is the strict Tarp Law (Ordinance No. 2015-09-10-0760) requiring residents to cover brush loads or face a $5 penalty. Annual Free Landfill Day on Saturday, February 14, 2026 (8 AM-1 PM) offers an additional free disposal opportunity. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.

Free options

San Antonio residents have free biannual Brush & Bulky curbside pickup, free year-round access to four Bulky Waste Collection Centers, free weekly trash, free weekly recycling, free weekly organics/composting, free curbside leaf collection (twice a year), free permanent HHW center plus monthly drop-off and three quarterly mobile events per year, an annual Free Landfill Day in February, and donation pickup programs. The City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides services to residential customers, with monthly fees billed via CPS Energy.

City services in detail

SWMD service area. The City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides curbside service to traditional single-family home customers within city limits. Private/gated communities, In-Fill Development Zones (IDZs), Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), multifamily properties of 5+ units, and small businesses may be eligible for City service "by exception", the property owner, HOA, or representative must contact 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 to request a Property Assessment.

The three-cart system. Every traditional single-family home customer receives three carts: brown for trash (weekly, fee based on size), blue for single-stream recycling (weekly, FREE), and green for organics/composting (weekly, FREE). The brown cart fee is billed monthly via CPS Energy. Recycling and organics are collected one day per week by two separate trucks; trash is collected a different day. Customers can request up to 3 carts max each, so technically up to 9 carts total per household.

CPS Energy billing. Monthly collection fees are assessed by the size of the brown trash cart and billed to your CPS Energy bill. (1) Small brown cart (48 gallon) - $14.76/month per cart. (2) Medium brown cart (64 gallon) - $20.26/month per cart. (3) Large brown cart (96 gallon) - $30.75/month per cart. Plus a $3.00 Environmental fee that grants access to the Bulky Waste Collection Centers, and a $2.00 Parks fee. Smaller cart = lower monthly bill, so if you're not filling up the brown cart, request to downsize.

Set-out rules. Place carts curbside on your assigned day by 7:00 AM. Keep lids closed. Leave clearance for safe collection (no parked cars blocking, no low-hanging tree limbs). Cans must be removed from City property after pickup.

Recycling rules. Single-stream, all recyclables in the blue cart together. Keep items clean, dry, and LOOSE, no plastic bags. Items in plastic bags will be rejected as contamination. Repeat contamination at the same address may be assessed a fine.

Brush & Bulky pickup details. The City provides curbside collection 4 times per year per address, twice for brush and twice for bulky items, about every 6 months for each. You receive a door hanger 7-10 days before your scheduled week, OR you can use the Collection Day Finder at sa.gov. Place piles by 7:00 AM Monday of your scheduled week. Brush pile limit is approximately 8 cubic yards.

The Tarp Law. Per Chapter 14, Section 18 of the San Antonio City Code (Ordinance No. 2015-09-10-0760), residents must cover brush loads with a tarp during transport. Violators may be assessed a $5 penalty. The law applies when bringing brush to the centers or transporting it on a vehicle.

Out-of-cycle pickup. If you missed your Brush & Bulky week or need an additional pickup, you can request out-of-cycle service through 3-1-1 for a $10 fee (confirm availability in your area). Some out-of-cycle services include leaf collection at no extra charge.

Holiday delays. Some City holidays may shift collection days. Always check the official holiday curbside schedule at sa.gov/swmd before holiday weeks.

Find your collection day. Use the City's "Find My Collection Day" tool by entering your address at sa.gov/swmd/garbage/my-collection-day. Or call 3-1-1 (210-207-6000) for assistance.

SWMD customer service. 3-1-1 (210-207-6000) Monday-Friday. sa.gov/swmd. The CPS Energy bill is the central document, it shows your fees and grants drop-off center access.

Donation pickup, what gets accepted

San Antonio's donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don't work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you're unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.

Paid options

For households who need same-day or unscheduled pickup, exceed the $10 out-of-cycle option, have items the city won't take in Brush & Bulky (electronics, hazardous waste, construction debris beyond Bulky Center limits), live in 5+ unit multifamily without City service, or run a small business needing waste hauling, paid options are available. Note: with biannual Brush & Bulky pickup PLUS year-round access to 4 Bulky Centers PLUS the annual Free Landfill Day, most cleanouts can be handled free with planning.

What to do, by item type

Different items have different rules in San Antonio. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.

Hazardous materials

San Antonio residents have multiple free HHW disposal options: (1) ONE permanent HHW center (Tue-Fri 8 AM-5 PM, Sat 8 AM-12 PM), (2) ONE monthly drop-off center on the first Friday/Saturday of each month (8 AM-12 PM), and (3) THREE quarterly mobile HHW collection events at rotating locations. All FREE for residents. Limits: paint and liquid waste 5 cans of 5-gallon size and 25 cans of 1-gallon size, with 220-lb max per container. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, Walgreens for unused medications. The San Antonio River Authority hosts six free Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events each year in Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties (semi-annual events in spring and fall) for those county residents.

How to report illegal dumping in San Antonio

To report illegal dumping in San Antonio, call 3-1-1 (210-207-6000) or use the SA311 mobile app. Reports can also be filed online at sa.gov. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. San Antonio actively investigates dumping reports through code enforcement, fines under city ordinance can be substantial. If you're considering dumping because Brush & Bulky week is too far away, please use the FREE Bulky Waste Collection Centers (4 locations, year-round, just bring CPS bill + ID), the annual Free Landfill Day in February, or the $10 out-of-cycle pickup via 3-1-1. For urgent timelines, paid haulers like LoadUp at $80+ are dramatically cheaper than illegal dumping fines under Texas law.

Common questions