Garbage and Recycling

Changes Coming to Recycling 

We’d like to let you know about changes with our residential recycling that includes new bins, trucks and services that will roll by early March. Each home will receive a NEW 64-gallon green cart with yellow lid for items considered recycling. For Boerne Utilities customers, there will be no additional cost for these new recycle bins and new programs.

There are other changes as well. Bulky item pick-up will now occur monthly, as opposed to every six months. Also, as part of this transition, Boerne utilities customers will now be able to take advantage of hazardous waste collection. Contact Waste Management’s ‘At Your Door’ at 800-449-7587 or atyourdoor@wm.com.

If you have any immediate questions you can call customer service at 830-249-9511 (option 1).

Residential Garbage Collection

Waste Management, operating under a contract with the City, provides a 96-gallon waste wheeler for each residential waste collection account. Each waste wheeler is assigned a serial number for a specific residential address and is used by the occupants at that address, even when the property changes hands. 

To ensure collection, place the waste wheeler and bags of trash at the curb by 7 AM on the service day. The automatic lift that empties the waste wheeler containers can handle up to 50 pounds, so avoid placing rocks, dirt and other heavy items in the container. Containers that cannot be lifted will be left so the customer can redistribute the contents for the following week’s pickup or for the bulky item collection. 

Recycling Service

Waste Management provides recycling service each week under a contract with the City. The service is included as part of your monthly solid waste fee. Waste Management provides a container for your recyclable items. All items can be placed together in the container. If your container is stolen or damaged, call the Customer Service Office at 830-249-9511 to get a replacement. 

Acceptable items

RECYCLABLES must be dry, loose (not bagged) and include ONLY the following:
Aluminum cans - emptyNewspaper, Mail
PET bottles with the symbol #1 - with screw tops only - empty
Glass food and beverage containers - brown, clear, or green - empty
HDPE plastic bottles with the symbol #2 (milk, water bottles detergent, and shampoo bottles, etc.) - emptyMagazines, glossy inserts and pamphlets
Plastic containers with symbols #3 - #7 - empty (no Styrofoam/extruded polystyrene foam)Uncoated paperboard (ex. cereal boxes; food and snack boxes)
Steel and tin cans - emptyUncoated printing, writing and office paper
Phone booksOld corrugated containers/previously used cardboard boxes (uncoated)

Items NOT accepted


NON-RECYCLABLES include, but are not limited to the following:
Plastic bags and bagged materials (even if containing recyclables)Microwavable traysMirrors
Window or auto glassStyrofoam (extruded polystyrene foam)Propane tanks, batteries
Aseptic containers/shelf-stable containers (ex. juice, soup, broth, & wine boxes)Cartons/Gable Top (ex. refrigerated milk, cream & egg substitute containers)Light bulbs
Coated cardboardPorcelain and ceramicsPlastics unnumbered
Glass and metal cookware/bake wareCoat hangersHoses, cords, wires
Household appliances and electronicsFlexible plastic or film packaging and multi-laminated materialsYard waste, construction debris, and wood
Food waste, and liquids, containers containing such itemsNeedles, syringes, IV bags or other medical suppliesExcluded materials or containers which contain excluded materials (non-recyclable materials inside of other non-recyclable materials)
Textiles, cloth, or any fabric (bedding, pillow, sheets, etc.)Any recyclables materials or pieces of recyclables less than 4" in size in any dimension Napkins, paper towels, tissue, paper plates, paper cups and plastic utensils


Collection Routes

To find out what day of the week your garbage and recycling is collected, click Garbage and Recycling Collection Routes List (PDF).