Special collection assistance for trash/recycling pick-up will be provided by Frontier. There is no separate cost for this service. A doctor's note is not required, but you must certify that there is no one living and/or employed in your household who can roll your carts out to the curb on your behalf. As staff receive completed applications, they will notate it on the customer's account, which we will then share with Frontier.
Special collection assistance for trash/recycling pick-up will be provided by Frontier. There is no separate cost for this service. A doctor's note is not required, but you must certify that there is no one living and/or employed in your household who can roll your carts out to the curb on your behalf. As staff receive completed applications, they will notate it on the customer's account, which we will then share with Frontier.
Brush/bulk is a designated pickup for items that would not conveniently fit in your garbage cart. A list of items that are considered "bulk" will be available soon. Brush items include any cuttings or trimmings from trees, shrubs, or lawns, including Green Waste. Limbs cannot exceed 4 ft in length or 4 in in diameter. Limbs greater than 4 in in diameter should be split into smaller pieces, and limbs greater than 4 ft in length should be cut into smaller lengths to limit their weight. Limbs must be tied with string or twine in bundles and placed on the curb next to your garbage and recycling carts. All items that are brought to the curb will be considered as bulk items. If you do not wish for something to be collected, do not place it at the curb. Items must be stacked at the curb in such a manner that workers can reasonably and safely lift the material into the collection vehicle. Appliances containing freon or other refrigerant materials will not be collected unless it has been tagged certifying that all refrigerants have been removed by a certified refrigerant technician.
Brush/bulk pick-up will no longer need to be scheduled. Residents will now be able to conveniently place their tied & bundled brush and bulk items at the curb every other week.
Residents who have accumulated more than the allowed 3 cubic yards of brush or bulk waste have two options: they may wait until their next assigned brush/bulk collection week, or they can choose to have the excess material picked up sooner by completing the Unusual Accumulation Waste Collection Form. This option allows for additional service outside the normal schedule, but fees will apply based on the amount and time required for collection.
Use this interactive map to enter your address and determine which recycling and brush/bulk collection week you’re on. Remember, recycling and brush/bulk are collected every other week on your regular trash day. View the 2025-26 annual pick-up calendar to see Week A and Week B pick-up schedules.
No, all garbage and recycling items should be placed in the cart.
Acceptable Recycling Material: Recyclables that are eligible for collection must be dry, loose (not bagged), un-shredded, and empty, and shall include only the following:
- Aluminum cans
- Newspaper
- PET bottles with the symbol #1 – with screw tops only
- HDPE plastic bottles with the symbol #2 (milk, water bottles, detergent, shampoo bottles, etc.)
- Uncoated paperboard (ex., cereal boxes; food and snack boxes)
- PP plastic bottles and tubs with symbol # 5 – empty
- Uncoated printing, writing, and office paper
- Steel and tin cans
- Old corrugated containers/cardboard (uncoated)
- Glass food and beverage containers – brown, clear, or green
- Magazines, glossy inserts, and pamphlets
- Plastics not listed above, including but not limited to those with symbols #3, #4, #7
- Cartons, Aseptic Containers
Waste that is not eligible for recycling and shall not be treated and collected as Acceptable Recycling Materials (“Non-Recyclables”) include, but are not limited, to the following:
- Plastic bags and bagged materials (even if containing Recyclables)
- Microwavable trays
- Styrofoam
- Porcelain and ceramics
- Light bulbs
- Mirrors, windows, or auto glass
- Coated cardboard
- Soiled paper, including paper plates, cups, and pizza boxes
- Expanded polystyrene and #6 plastics
- Glass and metal cookware/bakeware
- Coat hangers
- Household appliances and electronics
- Hoses, cords, wires
- Flexible plastic or film packaging and multi-laminated materials
- Yard waste, construction debris, and wood
- Needles, syringes, IV bags, or other medical supplies
- Food waste and liquids, containers containing such items
- Textiles, cloth, or any fabric (bedding, pillows, sheets, etc.)
- Excluded Materials or containers that contained Excluded Materials
- Napkins, paper towels, tissue, paper plates, paper cups, and plastic utensils
- Any paper, Recyclable materials, or pieces of paper, Recyclables less than 4” in size in any dimension
- Propane tanks, batteries
Yes, additional cart requests can be submitted and delivered within 24 - 72 hours. The cost for an extra garbage cart is $9.25 per month. The cost for an extra recycling cart is $5.00 per month.
Additional items can be set out during your brush/bulk pick-up week or additional carts can be added to your service. Cost for an extra garbage cart is $9.25 per month. Cost for an extra recycling cart is $5.00 per month.
Residents can conveniently place bundled bulk and brush items including yard waste at the curb every other week for pick-up or it can be bagged and placed in your garbage cart.
Household Hazardous Waste means items that have been segregated from residential garbage and are designated as hazardous by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the State of Texas and shall include, but not be limited to, outdoor insecticides and fertilizers, automotive products, household insecticides and maintenance chemicals, paint products and other items including electronics, small batteries, vehicle batteries, and lamps.
The city does not have any ordinances designating where garbage or recycling carts should be stored. Residents should check with their Homeowners Associations, if applicable, to ensure they follow any rules enforced by them.
Carts should be placed in front of the curb facing the roadway by 7 a.m. on your scheduled pick-up day and should be away from any vehicles parked on the roadway. Place the cart at least three feet from any other objects, such as mailboxes or other carts. Place the cart facing the street with the handle facing towards your home.
To ensure timely and efficient garbage and recycling collection, residents should move vehicles off the roadway on scheduled pick-up days. If a vehicle is parked in the roadway, place your cart away from the vehicle to allow the garbage truck proper access to the cart.
To provide feedback about your service, please contact Frontier Waste Solutions at (210) 807-8555.
Frontier will not service on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. If your service day falls on one of these holidays, service will be shifted by one day.
In 2015, the City awarded Bexar Waste a 10-year franchise agreement for solid waste needs. In 2017, Bexar Waste was acquired by Republic Services who held up the original terms of the contract which will expire on June 30, 2025. Knowing the contract was expiring in June, the city released a Request for Proposal (RFP) in February of 2025. The RFP process gives vendors the ability to propose their services at their best price. A total of 4 companies submitted proposals. Regardless of the company, every proposal came with cost increases. Each proposal was scored on a variety of criteria, and in the end, Frontier Waste was selected as they had the highest score with the lowest cost increase.
There were multiple factors that were considered when determining service levels for the new agreement, including equalizing service citywide, considering financial impacts for residents and businesses, and incorporating usage data and resident feedback. Ultimately, rates were going to increase no matter which company or service level was selected, even with the current provider. The city chose the most cost-effective option for residents and businesses and took into account many factors when making the decision.
A franchise agreement is a legal contract between the city and a private waste collection company. This agreement allows that company to be the exclusive provider of garbage and recycling services within city limits. In our city, the franchise agreement outlines:
- The scope of services (e.g., garbage, recycling, bulk/brush pick-up)
- Rates and fees for residents and businesses
- The duration of the contract and how it's reviewed or renewed
This system helps ensure consistent, citywide service and allows us to negotiate rates and hold the provider accountable for performance.
This transition ensures all residents will receive the same level of service. Garbage will be picked up once a week, and recycling and brush/bulk will be picked up every other week. Household hazardous waste pickup will be available upon request.
Frontier has exclusive rights to serve commercial customers for solid waste. However, commercial customers may choose a different recycling provider. Businesses should contact Frontier directly to set up commercial services at (210) 807-8555.
Frontier will begin swapping out commercial dumpsters and roll-off dumpsters on June 16. Commercial cart customers will have their carts swapped out beginning June 23. Republic Services will service Frontier containers until the new service starts on June 30.
The new service with Frontier Waste will begin on June 30, 2025.
|
New Services - Frontier Waste Solutions (Contract Starts July 1, 2025) |
Cost |
|
Garbage one-time per week |
$12.73 |
|
Recycling every other week |
$4.37 |
|
Brush/bulk every other week |
$1.00 |
|
Household Hazardous Waste (Pickup from home on Request) |
$1.10 |
|
Total Cost |
$19.20 |
The current franchise agreement dictates that annual rate adjustments may happen in one of two ways. Each annual rate adjustment will be the lesser of either option below:
- The percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the twelve-month period ending on the May 31st immediately prior to the effective date of the Annual Adjustment; or
- Five Percent (5%) of the then current Base Rates.
Residents will be provided with two new 96-gallon carts, one for recycling and one for garbage. Frontier Waste Solutions will begin delivering your new 96-gallon trash cart and recycling cart starting the week of June 9, 2025, and Republic Services will be collecting their trash carts in phases around the same time. Here’s how the process will work.
Do you currently have once-a-week trash?
Here’s how your trash cart distribution will work.
- Trash Cart collection will occur on June 10, 11, and 13, whichever your regular service day is.
- You may use your Republic cart that day, but after they empty your cart, they will be removing it from your household.
- Moving forward, you will use your new Frontier Waste trash cart that was delivered that week.
- Republic will continue service, using the new Frontier carts, until the full switch to Frontier Waste the week of June 30.
Do you currently have twice-a-week trash?
Here’s how your trash cart distribution will work.
- Your hand-collect service with Republic will continue until the week of June 30.
- You will receive both Frontier carts prior to the service start date, but they will NOT be serviced until the week of June 30. If you use Frontier’s carts prior to the June 30 start date, they will NOT be serviced.
- If you would like to dispose of your own purchased carts, you may set them out on your assigned Brush/Bulk week on your regular service day starting the week of June 30.
Recycling Bin Removal
While you will start receiving your Frontier Recycling carts the week of June 9, Republic will NOT service the Frontier recycling carts. Here is how that process will work.
- Use your Republic recycle bin until your last pickup day during the week of June 23.
- Republic will collect your bin after that final pickup.
- ONLY use your Republic recycle bin until the official start of Frontier service. Frontier recycling carts will NOT be serviced until the week of June 30 on the Week A schedule.
If you were out of town or forgot to set out your Republic trash cart or recycling bin for pickup, please place your cart or bin at the curb on your next scheduled service day. Alternatively, you can call the Utility Billing Office at (210) 619-1100 for assistance.
Frontier Waste and Republic Services will coordinate cart pick-up and drop off in mid-June prior to the new service start. If you have a cart that you purchased, you can keep it, or you can dispose of it as a bulk pick-up. Simply turn the cart upside down on your scheduled brush/bulk pick-up day.
No, your recycling and brush/bulk pick-up day will occur on your garbage pick-up day, every other week.
No, the new service includes trucks that use an automated pick-up system.
Annual Fall and Spring Clean-ups will no longer be offered; however, residents will be able to conveniently place brush and bulk items on the curb every other week. Household hazardous waste can be picked up monthly, upon request.