The short answer: Austin & Travis County residents drop off recycling, hazardous waste, electronics, appliances & reusable items free at the city’s Recycle and Reuse Center (2514 Business Center Dr) — appointment required, & tires cost $6 each. Brush & yard trimmings go free to Hornsby Bend (2210 FM 973), no appointment needed. For mixed trash & bulky loads, the area’s big landfills are Austin Community Landfill (WM) & the Texas Disposal Systems landfill — but neither is a one-stop shop, & WM will not take your old fridge.
Recycle and Reuse Center (free, by appointment)
This is Austin’s main spot for the things that don’t belong in your curbside carts — household hazardous waste, paint, chemicals, batteries, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, automotive fluids, clean Styrofoam & plastic film. It also takes large appliances the landfills refuse: air conditioners, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters & microwaves. You can pick up free items from the ReUse Store, free re-blended paint through Austin ReBlend, & free mulch if you bring your own containers, shovel & gloves.
Source: Austin Resource Recovery, Recycle and Reuse Center page — free for Austin & Travis County residents; fees apply for non-residents; tires $6 each; appointment required. Verified 27 July 2026. austintexas.gov
Key things to know:
- It’s appointment-only — book through the Austin Recycles app or the city’s online scheduler before you go; you can’t just drive up.
- Free for Austin & Travis County residents. If you live outside the county, fees apply.
- Tires cost $6 per tire.
- It does not take furniture, mattresses, toilets, packing peanuts or general non-recyclable trash — those need bulk collection or a landfill.
- Businesses cannot drop off hazardous waste here at all. Commercial operators should call 512-974-4335.
- Bring chemicals in their original containers (5 gallons or smaller), upright in a sturdy box, never in a trash bag. Don’t mix anything.
- Ammunition, explosives, radioactive material, syringes & medical waste are refused outright.
Where mixed trash & bulky loads go
For household garbage, furniture, mattresses & construction debris, the Recycle and Reuse Center isn’t the place — head to a landfill. The two main public options in the Austin area work quite differently, so it’s worth picking the right one before you load the trailer.
Austin Community Landfill (WM) — 9900 Giles Road, Austin, TX 78754
- Public disposal hours: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.–noon, closed Sunday.
- A safety vest is required for you & anyone helping you unload. Bring your own & tell the gatehouse, or buy one there for $5 plus tax.
- Appliances are refused. Fridges, freezers & A/C units cannot go in this landfill — WM directs customers to CMC Metal, 1704 Howard Lane, 512-442-2384. Turning up with a fridge means a wasted trip.
- Credit & debit cards are accepted.
- Fees depend on load size & include a fuel surcharge plus a state TCEQ fee. WM does not publish a gate rate — call ahead for an estimate.
Source: WM, Austin Community Landfill facility & contact pages — address, public hours, $5 vest, appliance exclusion & CMC Metal referral, card payment. Verified 27 July 2026. wm.com
Texas Disposal Systems landfill — 3016 FM 1327, Creedmoor, TX 78610
- Open Mon–Sat 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever comes first, closed Sunday. In winter that means the gate can shut well before 7 p.m.
- The public uses the Citizens Convenience Center, a separate area away from the working face. Staff help you unload & all roads to it are paved.
- General public load in a car, pick-up or SUV: $66.00 minimum, plus $12.00 per cubic yard over 5.5 yards, plus fees & charges.
- Larger loads at the landfill rate: $60.00 per ton with a 2-ton minimum, plus fees & charges.
- Mattresses, sofas, recliners & box springs carry a $25.00 each surcharge.
- Unlike WM, TDS takes appliances — scrap metal, water heaters & large appliances without freon are free. Freon removal is $50 each. Car batteries are free too.
- Clean concrete, rock, gravel, pavers, asphalt & road base: no charge.
- Paint, bulk liquids, chemicals & household hazardous waste are not accepted — those go to the Recycle and Reuse Center.
Source: Texas Disposal Systems published gate rates & landfill FAQ — hours, $66.00 citizens minimum, $60.00/ton with 2-ton minimum, $25.00 bulky surcharge, free scrap metal & appliances, $50.00 freon removal. Rate page last updated 16 July 2026. Verified 27 July 2026. texasdisposal.com
Both sites add surcharges on top of the headline figure — fuel, environmental & regulatory charges — so treat the numbers above as a floor, not a quote. Renting a bin instead might be simpler for a big clean-out; see our roll-off dumpster guide.
Yard waste & brush
The Recycle and Reuse Center does not take brush or yard trimmings — but Austin has a free drop-off for them, & unlike the Recycle and Reuse Center it needs no appointment.
- Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant, 2210 FM 973, Austin — open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Free for Austin & Travis County residents. Bring a government-issued photo ID; it’s required for entry.
- Takes tree limbs, branches, shrubs & leaves. It does not take treated or painted lumber, particle board or construction materials — the material is composted into Dillo Dirt, so contamination matters.
- The drop-off is self-serve & the ground can be muddy. Wear proper footwear.
- A trailer size limit is coming: only trailers of 6 cubic yards or under will be allowed for brush. Check before hitching up a big one.
- Live outside Austin & Travis County? Hornsby Bend will turn you away. TDS in Creedmoor takes brush & untreated lumber at $10.00 per cubic yard ($20.00 minimum) for small loads, or $30.00 per ton with a 2-ton minimum for large ones.
Source: Austin Resource Recovery, Yard Trimmings and Large Brush Drop Off — Hornsby Bend address, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Mon–Sat, free for Austin & Travis County residents, photo ID required, accepted & refused materials. Verified 27 July 2026. austintexas.gov
City curbside customers can also set yard trimmings out in the green cart on their collection day. Branches too big for the cart — no longer than five feet, no thicker than three inches — should be bundled to under 30 pounds & stacked beside it. See our yard waste, brush & tree limb guide for Texas-wide options.
Before you go
- Book your Recycle and Reuse Center appointment first — the calendar is the real “open today” check. Hornsby Bend needs no booking.
- Match the item to the site. Appliances: Recycle and Reuse Center or TDS, never WM Austin. Paint & chemicals: Recycle and Reuse Center only. Brush: Hornsby Bend. Mattresses & general trash: a landfill.
- Take photo ID & something showing your Austin or Travis County address.
- Don’t mix chemicals; keep oil, paint & pool chemicals separate & sealed.
- Cover & secure trailer loads. Texas law requires it, & TDS charges $35.00 for an unsecured load — though they’ll hand a pick-up truck a free tarp.
- Pack a safety vest if you’re heading to WM Austin Community Landfill.
Related guides
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