3-1-1 Houston Service Center
The main component of the 311 Houston Service Helpline is the three-digit phone number, accessible from within the Houston city limits. From traffic fines and sewer concerns to pothole problems and neighborhood complaints, Houstonians can call 311 and speak to one of our highly-trained customer service representatives. From outside the City of Houston, callers simply dial 713-837-0311. Houstonians can also access this helpful service via fax to 713-837-0210, and e-mail to 311@HoustonTX.gov. A self-service request form is available online at www.houstontx.gov/311/311form.html.

City of Houston Public Works
Service and Information 
P.O. Box 4863 Houston, TX 77210-4863 713.371.1400

The City of Houston provides water and wastewater service to those areas inside or close to its corporate limits. Only businesses or individuals who receive water or sewer service directly from the city are its customers.

Additional information is provided through the links below. You may obtain more help online, email us at customer.service@houstontx.gov. Utility Customer Service is closed on Sundays and on all city holidays.

City of Houston Trash Service
Solid Waste Management Department
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251
E-Mail: swddirector@houstontx.gov

Customer Service Request
Call: 3-1-1
Online: 3-1-1 Self Service Online Web Requests

The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.

Residential Garbage Collection

Currently, homes receive garbage collection service on Thursday using an Automated Garbage Collection System. Automated collection is a technologically advanced system that employs a specially fitted refuse truck. A sidearm grabs and lifts a special container, dumps the garbage into the truck and returns the container to the curb. Residents participating in the program receive a 96-gallon cart from the City, specially designed for automated collection.

Automated trash collection is cleaner, safer and more efficient than traditional manual collection. In the past, the department has incurred as much as $4 million in workers’ compensation costs each year using manual garbage collection. The automated system has reduced injuries, especially back-related injuries, which are common in garbage collection.

The containers used for automated garbage collection are manufactured using 50% recycled materials. This is the highest percentage of recycled plastic used in refuse containers in the country. In fact, these containers are manufactured from plastic collected in Houston’s curbside recycling program. Tips on Residential Garbage Collection.

Tree Waste and Junk Waste Program