Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

TCEQ is the Texas environmental agency. It lists local hazardous waste programs; it does not collect trash.

Public authority or districtOfficial website Public phone: 512-239-1000 Schedule lookup

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, based in Austin, regulates landfills, recyclers and used oil handling and publishes the state’s household hazardous waste guide. It does not pick up carts or set a pickup day; cities, districts and haulers do. For a Texas household, the first page to open is TCEQ’s list of local HHW programs, searched by county, followed by the county or city program itself.

What the agency does

TCEQ is the state environmental agency, with a central office in Austin and 16 regional offices. Its stated goal includes the safe management of waste. It authorizes and writes the rules for municipal solid waste landfills, transfer stations and processing facilities, takes public comments and complaints about them, and sets rules for municipal recyclers, composting, scrap tires and electronics recyclers. It also runs the Used Oil Recycling Program and receives advance notice of one-time HHW collection events.

What it does not do

It does not collect household trash, recycling or hazardous waste, and it does not run drop-off sites. It keeps no list of collections limited to batteries, used oil, latex paint and antifreeze (the “BOPA” items); for those, it sends you to your city. TCEQ also notes that hazardous products from a household are not legally required to be handled as hazardous waste, and many can go in the regular trash. Local programs exist for people who want a safer route.

Programs a household can use

Household hazardous waste. Many Texas communities run a permanent drop-off site, a one-time event or a home pickup program. Some require a voucher from the sponsoring local government, and some charge a fee.
Used oil and filters. State law bans dumping used oil on land or into sewers and waterways, and bans used oil filters from landfills. Take both to a used oil collection center.
Computers and TVs. Texas law requires manufacturers to offer recycling for computers and televisions. TCEQ points households to TexasRecyclesComputers.org, where computer recycling is free, and TexasRecyclesTVs.org.
Paint, mattresses, lithium-ion batteries. TCEQ’s recycling pages describe no state take-back program for these. Oil-based paint counts as HHW; latex paint and batteries follow the BOPA route through your city.

How to find your local program

Open TCEQ’s HHW program contacts page and search the collection programs document for your county. It shows whether your city or county runs an ongoing site or an event. Event sponsors must notify TCEQ at least 45 days ahead, so a missing event may still be scheduled later in the year. If your area is not listed, call your local government or regional council of governments. TCEQ’s recycling page also links to the programs of the most-populated Texas cities.

Contacts

Main switchboard: 512-239-1000, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays. Hearing impaired: 800-RELAY-TX.
HHW and recycling questions: recycle@tceq.texas.gov; 512-239-0010 for fixes to the HHW program list.
Used Oil Recycling Program: 512-239-6413, wasteval@tceq.texas.gov.
Mail: TCEQ, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087.

On Trashbagging

Sources

Official TCEQ pages: Household hazardous waste guide · Local HHW program contacts · Electronics recycling · Recycling · Used Oil Recycling Program · Municipal solid waste · About Us · Mission · Contact Us.

Questions

Does TCEQ collect trash or hazardous waste?

No. It publishes the Texas household hazardous waste guide and the list of local programs; cities, districts and haulers set the pickup day, and the drop-off itself is a local program.

How do I find a household hazardous waste program in Texas?

Open TCEQ’s HHW contacts page and search the programs document for your county, then confirm the program’s hours, accepted items, voucher rules and fees before you drive.

Do batteries, used oil and latex paint go to an HHW event?

Not necessarily. TCEQ keeps no list of collections for batteries, used oil, latex paint and antifreeze alone and tells residents to check with their city.

Where do I take used motor oil in Texas?

To a used oil collection center. Texas bans dumping used oil and bans used oil filters from landfills.

Where do I find my Texas trash pickup day?

On the city edition for your address, such as Austin or Houston, or the lookup published by your city or hauler.

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