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Solid Waste Services
Portland residents receive trash, recycling, bulk household waste, brush and yard waste collection. Changes to Portland residents' bulk household waste, brush and yard waste collection schedules are now in effect.
Note: There are no changes to trash and recycling collections.
Solid Waste Services Changes
The City of Portland received feedback from residents regarding bulk, brush and yard waste being out on curbs for extended periods, resulting in waste blowing into the streets or bays and unsightly curb appeal. To combat these concerns, the City of Portland created a solid waste schedule that simplifies set-out timeframes and requirements. The new service model will help beautify neighborhoods and protect coastal environments.
Other benefits of these changes include easier identification of missed collections and help Portland Code Enforcement identify households not complying with the new provisions. The City’s initial objective is to educate and encourage compliance. Repeated violations are subject to fines.
2023 Solid Waste Services Customer Guide Booklet
The City of Portland created a Solid Waste Services Customer Guide Booklet. This booklet includes all information regarding trash and recycling cart set-out requirements, bulk household waste set-out requirements and what is and is not accepted, brush and yard waste set-out requirements, and other helpful information. The City of Portland is mailing a printed copy to all Portland households. The printed copy will also include a section-specific calendar.
Digital copy of the 2023 Solid Waste Services Customer Guide available now: 2023 Customer Service Guide (PDF)
Changes to Bulk Household Waste Collections
In 2023, Portland residents will continue to receive monthly bulk household waste collection.
Collection Changes Include
- All households city-wide will set out bulk household items on the same day each month
- Bulk household waste set-out day is Sunday of the first full week of the month
- See tabs below for city-wide set-out timeframes and more information
- Bulk household waste set-out day is Sunday of the first full week of the month
- Piles must not exceed 12 cubic yards in size (no longer unlimited amounts)
- 12 cubic yards = 12 feet long, 7 feet deep, 4 feet high
- Bulk household waste collection is now separate from brush and yard waste collection
- Brush and yard waste are collected at a different time of the month in 2023
Changes to Brush and Yard Waste Collections
In 2023, Portland residents will receive quarterly collections for brush and yard waste.
Collection Changes Include
- Brush and yard waste will be collected in March, June, September and December
- Residents who live west of HWY 181 (aka Chick-fil-A side) receive collection on the 3rd week of March, June, September and December
- Residents who live east of HWY 181 (aka Whataburger side) will receive collection on the 4th week of March, June, September and December
- See tabs below for a list of set-out dates and requirements
- Piles must not exceed 12 cubic yards in size (no longer unlimited amounts)
- 12 cubic yards = 12 feet long, 7 feet deep, 4 feet high
This tab includes:
- Set-Out Timeframes
- What is Bulk Household Waste
- Overview of Accepted and Unaccepted Items
Set-Out Timeframes Per Month
Beginning January 1, 2023: All Portland residents will set out Bulk Household Waste at the same time. The designated set-out date is the Sunday of the first full week of the month. The City of Portland's Code of Ordinances defines the set-out timeframe as noon prior to set-out date to 7:00 a.m. on Monday of collection.
Key: Orange text is the designated set-out date. Text below the orange text is the set-out timeframe.
January 1*
- Set-out items out between Saturday, December 31, at noon and Monday, January 2, at 7:00 a.m.
- *Republic Serivces is picking up Christmas trees with the January household bulk collection
- *Please place your Christmas tree in your bulk household waste pile
February 5
- Set-out items out between Saturday, February 4, at noon and Monday, February 6, at 7:00 a.m.
March 5
- Set-out items out between Saturday, March 4, at noon and Monday, March 6, at 7:00 a.m.
April 2
- Set-out items out between Saturday, April 1, at noon and Monday, April 3, at 7:00 a.m.
May 7
- Set-out items out between Saturday, May 6, at noon and Monday, May 8, at 7:00 a.m.
June 4
- Set-out items out between Saturday, June 3, at noon and Monday, June 5, at 7:00 a.m.
July 2
- Set-out items out between Saturday, July 1, at noon and Monday, July 3, at 7:00 a.m.
August 6
- Set-out items out between Saturday, August 5, at noon and Monday, August 7, at 7:00 a.m.
September 3
- Set-out items out between Saturday, September 2, at noon and Monday, September 4, at 7:00 a.m.
October 1
- Set-out items out between Saturday, September 30, at noon and Monday, October 2, at 7:00 a.m.
November 5
- Set-out items out between Saturday, November 4, at noon and Monday, November 6, at 7:00 a.m.
December 3
- Set-out items out between Saturday, December 2, at noon and Monday, December 4, at 7:00 a.m.
What is Bulk Household Waste?
Bulk household waste includes various household items that are too large to fit in a trash cart. Many household items are accepted during the bulk household collection, but some are not accepted by Republic Services.
Brief Overview of Accepted & Unaccepted Items
Republic Services collects household items that do not contain hazardous material and are not construction or remodeling items. See the lists below for a brief overview of items accepted and not accepted.
Please note: This is not a comprehensive list - more items are defined in the free RecycleCoach resource provided to all residents by the City of Portland.
Items Accepted
- Kitchen Appliances
- Stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, etc.
- Refrigerators and freezers*
- Must have the CFC/freon removed and tagged by a licensed technician
- Household Appliances
- Washers, dryers, water tanks, toilets, sinks, etc.
- Furniture
- Couches, sofas, chairs, bed frames, mattresses, light fixtures, dressers, carpet, large decor items, etc.
- Other Household Items
- Boxes, garage items, toys, gym equipment, flowerpots, TVs under 32 inches, etc.
Items NOT Accepted
- Construction or Remodeling Materials
- Flooring (linoleum or wood), rebar, sheet rock, plywood, roofing debris, concrete, masonry, paint, PVC, fluorescent lights, etc.
- Hazardous Materials
- Pesticides, pool chemicals, anti-freeze, insecticides, etc.
- Oil Products
- Motor oil, grease, cooking oils, etc.
- Other Household Items NOT accepted
- TVs over 32 inches, tires, items in trash bags, smoke detectors, glass items, batteries, combustibles, etc.
This tab includes:
- Set-Out Timeframes for Both Sections - East and West
- Brush and Yard Waste Requirements
- Special Events to Supplement Reduced Collections
Set-Out Timeframes Per Collection
Beginning January 1, 2023: Brush and yard waste are collected once a quarter in March, June, September and December. The new service model divides collection into two sections: East of HWY 181 and West of HWY 181. The City of Portland's Code of Ordinances defines the set-out timeframe as noon prior to set-out date to 7:00 a.m. on Monday of collection.
Designated Set-Out Dates for Each Section
Key: Purple or green text is the designated set-out date. Text below the colored text is the set-out timeframe.
Households WEST of HWY 181- 3rd Sunday of March, June, September and December
- March 19
- Set-out items out between Saturday, March 18, at noon and Monday, March 20, at 7:00 a.m.
- June 18
- Set-out items out between Saturday, June 17, at noon and Monday, June 19, at 7:00 a.m.
- September 17
- Set-out items out between Saturday, September 16, at noon and Monday, September 18, at 7:00 a.m.
- December 17
- Set-out items out between Saturday, December 16, at noon and Monday, December 18, at 7:00 a.m.
Households EAST of HWY 181 - 4th Sunday of March, June, September and December
- March 26
- Set-out items out between Saturday, March 25, at noon and Monday, March 27, at 7:00 a.m.
- June 25
- Set-out items out between Saturday, June 24, at noon and Monday, June 26, at 7:00 a.m.
- September 24
- Set-out items out between Saturday, September 23, at noon and Monday, September 25, at 7:00 a.m.
- December 24*
- Set-out items out between Friday, December 23, at noon and Tuesday, December 26 at 7:00 a.m.
- *NOTE: The December set-out time for the East section is extended due to the Christmas holiday.
- Set-out items out between Friday, December 23, at noon and Tuesday, December 26 at 7:00 a.m.
Brush and Yard Waste Requirements
Large branches and limbs must be cut into smaller pieces. Branches and limbs must not exceed:
- 4 feet in length
- 6 inches in diameter
Leaves and other small items must be in clear bags. Republic Serivces requires the ability to see the yard waste contents to collect the bag(s).
- Clear yard waste bags are commonly found at stores like Lowes, HEB, and hardware stores
Special Events to Supplement Reduced Collections
The City of Portland will supplement the regular collections with two special bulk, brush and yard waste drop-off events in the spring and fall. The special bulk drop-off events are held at the Portland Water Tower on the corner of Moore Ave. and Akins Dr. More information will be available in future editions of the Breeze, the weekly eNews, social media and on this website.
Changes in services can be confusing. The City of Portland has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help ease the transition. If you have a question that is not on this list, please contact us.
General Questions
With these changes, will my bill be reduced?
Yes, if the service level had stayed the same under the new contract, the cost for residents would have been a greater rate than the cost of the new service model.
We used to be able to put everything together in one pile, including brush, yard waste and bulky items. Why do we have to separate it now?
In the new service model, bulk household items, brush and yard waste are set out at different times. This allows for more efficient collection and the ability to separate waste streams for recycling or composting. Bulk household waste items will be collected in one week for the entire City. Brush and yard waste will be collected over a two-week period, with one half of the City collected during each of the two designated quarterly set-out periods.
How is the new plan supposed to make Portland look better?
At any given time under the previous service plan, there was always a section of the City with household bulk and yard waste placed on the curb. The new service model will collect bulk household waste items for the entire City over a one-week period and will collect yard waste over a two-week period each quarter.
The new service model substantially reduces the amount of time that bulk and yard waste will be on the curb throughout the City.
Will the City write tickets to people who put out brush and bulky items too early?
The Code of Ordinances specifies a timeframe for setting out trash cart(s), recycling cart(s), bulk household waste, brush and yard waste. Portland Code Enforcement will educate households not in compliance with the ordinances, initially. Repeat offenses will result in a fine.
Brush and Yard Waste Pickup
What do I do with my brush and yard waste between collections every 3 months?
Smaller quantities of yard waste can be placed into trash carts as long as the top of the cart is able to close. Cutting branches and trimmings can greatly increase the amount of material that can be placed in trash carts. Additionally, the City of Portland will host 2, free special bulk household, brush and yard waste drop-off events in the spring and fall. Therefore, all Portland residents will have 6 opportunities to dispose of their brush and yard waste items per year.
How does this affect commercial tree trimmers?
Commercial tree trimmers and landscapers are required to collect and remove yard waste. Commercial tree trimmers and landscapers are not allowed to place this material on the curb for collection.
Note: The quarterly brush and yard waste collection service provided by the City is intended for use by residents only.
Can I still put out grass clippings on my trash days?
No, unless you bag the grass clippings and place them in your trash cart. Using a mulching blade can also help eliminate the need to collect grass clippings and return nutrients to the lawn.
Why do I have to use clear bags for my grass clippings in the brush and yard waste collections?
Clear bags are used for grass clippings, leaves, and small tree trimmings so operators can view the materials inside the bags and make sure the material is yard waste and not regular trash or other materials that are not allowed to be disposed of and may pose a risk to the drivers.
Bulk Household Waste Pickup
What things are not allowed in bulk pickup?
Bulky items such as TVs over 32 inches, computers, tires, paint, appliances containing freon, and any hazardous household items will not be picked up and are the responsibility of the resident to safely discard.
NOTE: Appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, water coolers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners and any appliances containing refrigerants are accepted if the item is tagged certifying that all chlorofluorocarbons (“CFCs” also known as freon), have been removed by a certified refrigerant technician prior to their placement for collection.
Is there a limit on how much bulk household waste I can put at the curb?
Yes. No more than 12 cubic yards of bulky items or yard waste per residence may be set out for collection for each collection period.
What happens if Republic Services refuses to pick up my bulk household waste items?
Republic will collect all allowable items that are properly set out. If bulk household waste is not set out properly or contains items that are not allowed, it will be the responsibility of the resident to safely discard these materials.
Beginning January 1, 2023, both bulk household waste, brush and yard waste piles are limited to 12 cubic yards in size.
12 Cubic Yards Defined
12 cubic yards is measured:
- 12 feet long
- parallel to curb - left to right
- 7 feet deep
- from curb into the yard
- 4 feet height
- from ground to top of pile