The City of Killeen's recycling centre sits at 111 East Avenue F, just off the railway line near Avenue G and 2nd Street, and the city states plainly that it takes recyclables free of charge. There is no tipping fee here and no weighing of ordinary drop-offs — this is a recycling yard, not a rubbish tip. Household garbage belongs at the transfer station out on State Highway 195 instead.

Beyond the usual paper, cardboard, number 1 and number 2 plastics, glass bottles and jars in clear, green or brown, and steel, tin and aluminium cans, this site handles several things the recycling trailers around town do not. Used cooking oil is accepted. So is automotive oil, up to five gallons a visit and from individuals only, along with oil filters and antifreeze. Mobile phones and rechargeable batteries — lithium ion, nickel cadmium, nickel-metal hydride and sealed lead — go here too.

One genuinely useful feature: the yard holds a certified public scale that will take most vehicles short of an articulated rig. The city notes a charge for using it but does not print the amount, so ring ahead on 254-554-7572 if you need a weight ticket.

A word of warning on opening times. Killeen's own website gives two different answers. The staff directory entry for the centre says Monday to Friday, ten in the morning until five. The solid waste department's news page says Monday, Tuesday and Friday from eleven until six, with Wednesday and Thursday eleven until five. We are not going to guess which is right — call the number above before you load the car.