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Residential Recycling
Curbside residential recycling collection is provided to all single-family and some smaller multifamily dwellings.
Residents who live in apartments and condominiums can still recycle, but must drop-off their recyclables at the City Recycle Center.
Help us collect your recyclables by following these rules:
- Clean out containers for recycling.
- Flatten boxes - cardboard should be cut into pieces no longer than 18 inches.
- Do not bag items - leave them loose in your cart.
- Secure shredded paper in a paper bag and staple it shut.
- Become familiar with the accepted items list. Keep trash, Styrofoam, and plastic bags out.
- Keep your cart 5 feet away from any obstacle, including Green Waste.
- Place your cart at the curb with the wheels and handle facing your home. Lid must be completely closed.
- Place the cart out no earlier than 8:00 pm the day before collection.
- Place the cart out no later than 6:30 am on the day of collection.
Download the recycling information brochure.
Days of Service
Collection does not change on City-observed holidays, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. View the Days of Service Map.
Days of Service Map (Adopted in 2010)
Can it go in the blue cart?
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| Plastic containers #1-7, less than 5 gallons in size | Plastic bags Plastic wrap Styrofoam Cups, plates, utensils Hangers Hoses |
| Newspaper Paper Junk mail Magazines Catalogs Cardboard Paperboard Food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, soup, etc.) | Diapers Tissues Paper towels Napkins Wax coated paper products Coated paper bags Cups, plates, utensils Pizza boxes |
| Glass bottles Glass jars | Mirrors Ceramics Vases Drinking glasses |
| Aluminum cans and bottles | Aluminum foil Aluminum baking tins |
| Steel cans Tin cans | Hangers Wires Cords Chains |
REMEMBER - all foam brought for recycling MUST be free of food residue, tape, labels, and any other items that might be attached to the foam. The City Recycle Center does not have the facility space to remove these prior to densification.
Bring foam in a bag or container that can be easily and quickly emptied. Once dropped-off, an onsite machine cuts the foam into small pieces, heats it, and densifies it. Once densified, the densified foam can be used by plastics manufacturers to create new products, such as picture frames and crown molding.
FAQ:
I bought a new light fixture and it was packaged in foam. Is this foam recyclable?
Yes, the foam is accepted, but all the contents must be removed prior to drop-off. Please remove any tape, labels, or stickers that may be attached to the foam, as well. Make sure the packaging has the #6 on it before bringing it.
Do not place plastic bags, plastic film, or shrink wrap into your blue recycle cart. Plastic bags are not recyclable through the curbside recycling service or at the City Recycle Center. These bags become entangled in the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility where recyclables are sorted.
If you shred paper, please place the shredded paper into a paper bag . Use a clear or opaque plastic bag only if no paper bag is available and tie it in a knot.
Please take your plastic bags to local retailers, such as HEB, Target, Best Buy, or Walmart, for recycling. These locations have a drop-off recycling bin or barrel near their entrances just for plastic bags.
To reduce waste, consider using reusable bags at the grocery store instead of single-use plastic bags. Reusing plastic bags you do accumulate can also be a great alternative to disposal.
Where Can I Recycle Electronics Locally?
Several local electronics retailers accept various electronics for recycling, or electronics can often be donated to charity organizations. Remember to clear any personal data before donating or recycling electronic devices. If you live in Comal County, call the Comal County Rural Recycling Center for more information on their electronics recycling program: (830) 643-3781.
Electronics Recycling Event
NEXT EVENT: JANUARY 2023, date TBD
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
550 Landa St - City Hall parking lot (enter from Laurel Lane)
The following items will be accepted: computers, computer accessories, computer monitors, televisions, telephones, copiers/printers, laptops, and cell phones. Household appliances, such as refrigerators and blenders, yard maintenance equipment, smoke detectors, batteries, light bulbs, or items containing Freon will not be accepted.
Important: The last car in line at noon will be the last assisted.
Trailers are not accepted: items must be in truck bed or inside car/trunk.
Texas Recycling Laws & Information
By state law, computer manufacturers (not retailers) must take back computers (desktops and laptops), monitor, keyboard and mouse for recycling, at no charge to the consumer. To learn more about this state law, and find a list of manufacturers and the links to their programs, visit the Texas Recycles Computers website. For more information about electronics recycling in Texas, visit the TCEQ's website.
Battery Basics
The City of New Braunfels does not provide recycling services for most battery types - batteries are NOT permitted in your recycle cart. Check local retailers, or use your preferred search engine to find options for battery recycling.
Single-Use Batteries
Alkaline Manganese
Mercury has been phased out of these batteries so they can be disposed of in the landfill. However, they do contain metals that can be recovered if recycled properly.
Silver Oxide
These button batteries are often found in watches. These batteries contain mercury and should not be disposed of in the landfill.
Rechargeable Batteries
Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride & Lithium Ion
These batteries can be purchased as a substitute for alkaline manganese batteries but also represent the batteries found in your cell phone, cordless power tools, and other cordless electronic devices.
Lead Acid Batteries
City Recycling Center
The City Recycle Center is available for all community members to bring material for recycling, including apartment dwellers, businesses, and visitors. Please remain in your car and let attendants remove recyclables or bring you Green Waste bags, unless otherwise instructed on-site.
City Recycling Center Rules
- Flatten boxes, rinse containers, and bring items loose in a container, such as an 18-gallon bin or storage tote.
- Bringing items in a black trash bag is NO LONGER permitted. If you must use a bag, put recycling in a clear plastic bag. DO NOT use city-provided green waste paper bags to bring items.
- Secure shredded paper in a small paper bag and staple it shut.
- If you miss your curbside recycling collection, we cannot accept items in your recycling cart. Bring them in an 18-gallon tote or bin.
- Green Waste is NOT accepted.
- Materials may be rejected based on quantity, quality, and/or contamination.
- No trailer loads of materials are allowed.
- Completely white plastic foam, commonly called Styrofoam, is accepted for drop-off, but it must be separate from other recyclables. Click here for more information before bringing items for drop-off.
- Large pieces of cardboard have to fit inside the cardboard baler. Therefore, the preferred size for cardboard is 30" X 60". If your cardboard is not this size upon arrival, you may be required to pull to the side and cut it while other patrons are assisted. This is to keep wait times to a minimum.
What Can I Bring?
Here's what you can (and can NOT bring) to the City Recycle Center.
View a printable PDF of this information.
Single-Stream Recycling
- Plastic containers #1-7, less than 5-gallon, lids on
- Clean, dry paper: cardboard, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, catalogs, cereal boxes, phone books, etc.
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum cans and bottles
- Steel and tin: food and beverage cans
- Shredded paper in a paper bag, stapled shut
- Dairy and juice cartons
Plastic Foam #6
- Completely white, clean and dry; often called Styrofoam
Click here for more information
Cardboard
- Flattened, clean and dry
- Preferably in sizes of 30" X 60"
Scrap Metal
- Items that are mostly metal, such as:
- Hangers
- Chains
- Appliances without Freon
- Lawn mowers without fluids
- Water heaters (emptied)
- BBQ grills (no ashes or coals)
- Bicycles
| Wires Cords Electronic devices | Aluminum foil Foil containers, baking tins Other types of foam, including mattress foam |
| Mirrors Ceramics Vases Drinking glasses | Plastic bags / wrap / film Cups, plates, utensils Plastic hangers Hoses |
| Tissues, paper towels napkins Wax coated paper products Coated paper bags Cups, plates, utensils | Appliances with Freon Helium tanks Propane tanks Items with fuel or liquids still in them |
| Wood, lumber Green Waste: brush, leaves, trimmings Items in Green Waste bags | Trash Diapers Feed bags or pet food bags |