Regional Compliance Hub: Household Hazardous Waste + Household Electronics + Bulky Waste — Culebra Collection Center — Environmental Fee Documentation Required — San Antonio, TX
The Culebra Road campus provides a combined disposal pathway for eligible residential customers who need to manage
household hazardous waste (HHW), qualifying household electronics, mattresses,
furniture and other accepted bulky materials.
[1][2]
Materials must be separated and delivered to the appropriate bulky-waste or HHW operation. Each program has its own
material limits, quantity restrictions and customer-eligibility rules.
Eligibility warning: Customers must present a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the City’s
Environmental Fee and a valid photo ID. A San Antonio mailing address by itself does not establish eligibility.
[1][2]
Primary facility:
Culebra Bulky Waste Collection Center — 7030 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238
.
[1]
Culebra operating hours:
Tuesday–Friday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Closed: Sunday, Monday and applicable City holidays.
[1][2]
San Antonio Multifamily Recycling Ordinance: Properties With Three or More Units
San Antonio’s multifamily recycling requirements apply to properties containing
three or more residential dwelling units inside the City of San Antonio.
Covered property types include apartments, townhomes, condominiums, high-rise condominiums and qualifying
housing-authority properties.
[3][7]
Mandate Type: Mandatory multifamily recycling ordinance.
Applicability Threshold: Three or more residential dwelling units within San Antonio city limits.
Small-property service option: Owners or managers of qualifying multifamily properties with
eight or fewer units may apply for and pay for City curbside garbage and recycling service. The eight-unit provision
is a service option and is not the ordinance’s applicability threshold.
[3]
- Mandate Type: Mandatory multifamily recycling.
- Applicability Threshold: Three or more residential dwelling units within San Antonio city limits. [3][7]
- Required Program: Owners or managers must provide and maintain an approved recycling plan, recycling collection service, adequate containers, labels and resident education consistent with applicable City requirements. [3][4]
- Valet-Service Recycling Standard: San Antonio expressly addresses door-to-door valet garbage collection. When door-to-door valet garbage collection is offered, the ordinance states that recycling service should be of a similar nature. This valet-specific provision should be read together with the mandatory requirements that recycling be reasonably convenient and that recycling containers be located as close as possible to garbage containers. [3]
- Culebra Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Saturday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. [1][2]
Valet recycling compliance note: The ordinance’s valet-specific wording uses “should” when describing recycling service of a similar nature. This page therefore does not characterize identical door-to-door recycling as an independent absolute requirement in every configuration. Property owners and managers must nevertheless satisfy the City’s mandatory recycling-plan, access, convenience, container, education and collection requirements. [3]
Owner and Property Manager Recycling Duties
The owner or manager of a covered multifamily property must operate the recycling program consistently with the approved recycling plan and applicable San Antonio Code Chapter 14 requirements. [3][7]
- Provide recycling collection frequently enough to prevent containers from overflowing.
- Provide an appropriate number and size of recycling containers for the property.
- Make recycling service convenient and provide access comparable to garbage collection.
- Place recycling containers as close as reasonably possible to garbage containers.
- Clearly label recycling containers and identify the materials accepted in the program.
- Educate existing residents, educate new residents at move-in and notify residents when the recycling program materially changes.
- When the community offers door-to-door valet garbage collection, account for the ordinance’s direction that recycling service should be of a similar nature.
- Update the recycling plan when ownership or management changes, the recycling collector changes or the collection method changes, when required by applicable City rules.
- Maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate implementation of the recycling program and support communications with the City, recycling collector and residents.
Tenant-participation limitation: The ordinance does not make an owner or manager automatically responsible for whether every resident participates in recycling or for every isolated instance of resident contamination. Management remains responsible for establishing, maintaining and documenting the required recycling program. [3]
Recycling Collector and March 1 Reporting Requirements
San Antonio’s multifamily recycling framework also regulates the recycling collectors that serve covered
properties. Applicable recycling collectors are subject to City registration and reporting requirements.
Property owners and managers should verify that the downstream recycling collector serving the property satisfies
applicable municipal requirements.
[3][9]
Annual reporting deadline: Applicable multifamily recycling reports are due
by March 1 for the preceding reporting period. Owners or managers that elect to
self-haul recyclables should review the City’s separate reporting obligations applicable
to self-hauling operations.
[9]
Property-manager action item: Keep the recycling collector’s current contact information and service agreement in the compliance file and confirm whether the collector, property owner or property manager has responsibility for each City filing. Properties that self-haul recyclables should not assume that using their own personnel removes applicable reporting obligations. [9]
Culebra Bulky-Waste and HHW Customer Eligibility
The Culebra programs are residential customer programs. They should not be treated as general disposal facilities
for apartment management companies, maintenance departments, contractors, commercial waste haulers or consolidated
property-generated waste.
[1][2]
Customers should bring:
(1) a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee and
(2) a valid photo ID.
[1][2]
Apartment resident eligibility limitation: Some apartment residents do not personally receive a CPS Energy bill containing the required Environmental Fee. Residents should review their bill and contact 311 or 210-207-6000 to confirm eligibility before loading or transporting materials. Do not assume that a lease, utility allocation statement or San Antonio address will satisfy the facility’s documentation requirement.
Bulky-Waste Drop-Off Limits and Prohibited Materials
Eligible residential customers may bring accepted bulky materials, including qualifying furniture and mattresses, subject to the City’s current limits and exclusions. [1]
- Bulky-waste limit: Up to four cubic yards per visit, subject to current City rules. [1]
- Construction-material limit: Up to one cubic yard of accepted construction material. [1]
- Household trash: Ordinary household garbage is not accepted through the bulky-waste center. [1]
- Commercial loads: Materials delivered by commercial waste haulers are not accepted through the residential program. [1]
- Contaminated mattresses: Mattresses or cushions contaminated with blood or bed bugs are prohibited. [1]
Household Hazardous Waste and Household Electronics
The HHW operation accepts qualifying household-generated e-waste, paint, batteries, household chemicals and other
materials listed by the City. Electronics accepted through the HHW program should be delivered to the appropriate
HHW operation rather than treated as ordinary bulky waste.
[2]
Commercial-waste limitation:
The City states that commercial waste is not accepted through its residential HHW program. Property-management,
contractor, maintenance and unit-turn materials generated through business operations should therefore be handled
through an appropriate commercial recycling, waste or hazardous-material provider rather than consolidated for
delivery through the residential HHW program.
[2]
- Total material limit: Up to 220 pounds of qualifying household hazardous waste. [2]
- Paint and liquid limit: No more than five five-gallon containers or twenty-five one-gallon containers, subject to current City rules. [2]
- Commercial waste: Commercial waste is not accepted through the residential HHW program. [2]
- Property-operation materials: Maintenance chemicals, unit-turn materials, property-owned electronics and other materials generated through apartment-management business operations should be directed to an appropriately authorized commercial provider.
- Other prohibited materials: Medical waste, medication, ammunition, fireworks, ordinary trash and other materials excluded by the City. [2]
- Data-bearing electronics: Residents and property managers should address appropriate data removal, device sanitization and data-security precautions before releasing computers, phones, drives or similar equipment.
Alternatives When a Resident Does Not Qualify for Culebra
Residents who cannot document payment of the Environmental Fee should not leave electronics, chemicals, mattresses or furniture beside an apartment dumpster or compactor. They should coordinate with property management or use a verified private collection, recycling or disposal option.
- Small household electronics: Manufacturer or retailer take-back programs may accept certain devices. Confirm the product type, fees, quantity limits and current participation directly with the program before traveling.
- Private electronics recycling option — verify before use: SA3 Community Recycling currently advertises electronics drop-off services at 210 Probandt Street. SA3 is a private recycling business and is not presented here as a City-operated facility. Call in advance to confirm accepted equipment, residential or commercial eligibility, quantity restrictions, fees, hours and available data-security services. [5]
- Bulk furniture and mattresses: Residents who do not qualify for the City program should coordinate with property management, a private junk-removal provider, a donation organization or an appropriate disposal facility. Confirm acceptance, public access, fees and operating hours before transporting the item.
- Property-owned materials: Property management should use an appropriately authorized commercial vendor for maintenance waste, unit-turn debris, furniture, electronics, chemicals and other business-generated materials.
Latex Paint: City Solidification Guidance
City of San Antonio stormwater BMP guidance states that qualifying latex paint may be completely dried and
solidified using paint hardener or an absorbent material such as cat litter. Fully dried and solidified latex paint
may then be handled as regular trash consistent with applicable waste-provider requirements.
[6]
Apartment limitation: Residents should follow property-management and waste-hauler instructions
before placing a dried paint container in a community waste system. Do not place paint beside a dumpster or
compactor unless management has expressly designated and approved that location.
Liquid latex paint, oil-based paint, solvents, thinners and similar products should not be placed in ordinary
trash or recycling unless specifically permitted by the applicable municipal or waste-provider instructions.
Enforcement and Penalty Information
Violations of San Antonio’s multifamily recycling requirements may constitute separate daily offenses.
Upon conviction, the maximum fine is $2,000 per offense. A fine exceeding $500 requires the
applicable fact finder to determine the required culpable mental state under the ordinance.
Maximum ordinance penalties are not automatic fines.
[3]
Owner and management-company employee protections:
Employee citation, service and personal-liability issues should be evaluated under both applicable San Antonio
provisions and Texas Local Government Code §§250.003–250.004. Texas law provides statutory
protections for qualifying employees of a property owner or management company when required owner information
is timely supplied, while also addressing circumstances in which an employee may receive process or a citation
as the owner’s agent. Property personnel should not assume that receiving paperwork automatically creates
personal liability.
[3][8]
Recommended compliance file: Maintain the approved recycling plan, collector agreement, collector contact information, container map, service schedule, photographs, resident education materials, move-in instructions, program-change notices, contamination records, missed-service reports, applicable annual reports and corrective-action documentation.
Resident Questions and Compliance Reporting
A resident of a property containing three or more residential units inside San Antonio may contact the City when
the property does not provide required recycling service, convenient containers, labels, resident education or
implementation of an applicable recycling plan.
Contact San Antonio 311, use the City’s official contact system or call the City’s multifamily
recycling program at 210-207-6427. Residents should provide the property address and a factual
description of the concern without removing, damaging or interfering with property equipment.
[4]
How National Doorstep Pickup Supports San Antonio Properties
Compliance is operational. National Doorstep Pickup can help San Antonio property managers
provide a structured doorstep trash and recycling program, resident education, contamination controls,
container-routing procedures and documented onsite service activity.
When a property offers doorstep valet garbage collection, National Doorstep Pickup can structure an onsite
recycling service of a similar nature to help management align its operating model with San Antonio’s
multifamily recycling requirements. The final configuration must remain consistent with the property’s applicable
recycling plan and downstream recycling arrangement.
Onsite service clarification:
National Doorstep Pickup’s ordinary valet-trash and doorstep-recycling service operates
upstream from the property’s curbside or commercial waste and recycling hauler.
Porters move properly prepared resident-setout materials from apartment doors to property-designated collection
locations on private property. National Doorstep Pickup does not, through its ordinary onsite valet service,
replace the downstream recycling collector or municipal/private hauler that removes materials from the property.
Property ownership and management remain responsible for the applicable recycling plan, required recycling
collection, container capacity and placement, resident education, collector selection, collector coordination,
plan updates, applicable municipal communications, reporting responsibilities and corrective action.
Where San Antonio registration or reporting requirements apply to the downstream recycling collector,
the property should verify that its selected collector satisfies those requirements.
[3][9]
National Doorstep Pickup does not collect household hazardous waste, liquid paint, general e-waste, medical waste
or commercial hazardous materials through an ordinary doorstep collection program.
CTA:
Request a Free Compliance Audit for your San Antonio Property
Operational compliance disclaimer: National Doorstep Pickup can support a property’s implementation of a compliant recycling program, but use of valet trash or doorstep recycling by itself does not transfer the owner’s or manager’s legal responsibilities under San Antonio law. Final program design should account for the property’s approved or applicable recycling plan, downstream collector requirements and current City guidance.
Last verified: August 12, 2026. Facility hours, accepted materials, limits, customer-eligibility requirements, contact information, reporting requirements and municipal rules can change. Confirm current information with the City of San Antonio, the receiving facility, the property’s authorized waste or recycling provider and qualified legal or compliance professionals before implementing a program. “Regional Compliance Hub” is National Doorstep Pickup’s editorial description and is not the City’s official facility name. This page provides general operational information and is not legal advice.
Official Sources and Verification Links: [1] City of San Antonio — Bulky Waste Collection Centers: address, hours, eligibility, material limits and prohibited loads | [2] City of San Antonio — Household Hazardous Waste: hours, eligibility, e-waste, quantity limits and prohibited materials | [3] City of San Antonio Ordinance — Chapter 14 Multifamily Recycling Requirements, Plan Duties, Valet-Service Language and Penalties | [4] City of San Antonio — Multifamily Recycling Program Information and Contact | [5] SA3 Community Recycling — Private Electronics Drop-Off Contact and Location | [6] City of San Antonio Public Works — Stormwater BMP Guidance Including Latex Paint Solidification | [7] City of San Antonio Code of Ordinances — Current Codified Municipal Code | [8] Texas Legislature — Local Government Code Chapter 250, Including §§250.003–250.004 | [9] San Antonio Recycling Program — Multifamily Recycling Collector and Annual Reporting Requirements
San Antonio, Bexar County and Regional Multifamily Recycling Compliance
San Antonio apartment owners, asset managers and onsite property managers: the City of San Antonio has a mandatory multifamily recycling ordinance under City Code Chapter 14, including § 14-43, “Multi-Family Recycling.” The requirement applies to properties inside San Antonio city limits containing three or more residential dwelling units.
Covered owners and managers must develop and maintain an approved Multi-Family Recycling Plan, provide recycling collection, maintain adequate and clearly labeled containers, make recycling access comparable to garbage service and educate residents about the program.
When a community offers door-to-door valet garbage collection, § 14-43 states that recycling service should be of a similar nature. This valet-specific provision is directly relevant to communities using doorstep garbage collection. It should be read together with the ordinance’s mandatory requirements governing recycling convenience, access, container capacity and container placement.
Recycling collectors serving multifamily properties must comply with applicable City registration and reporting requirements. Owners or managers that elect to self-haul recyclables must use an appropriate recycling facility and submit the applicable annual report by March 1.
- Mandatory Recycling: Multifamily properties with three or more residential dwelling units inside San Antonio are covered by the ordinance.
- Plan, Service, Containers and Education: Property management must operate the program consistently with the approved recycling plan and provide clear resident instructions.
- Comparable Access: Recycling must be convenient and accessible, with recycling containers located as close as reasonably possible to garbage collection points.
- Valet-Recycling Alignment: When doorstep valet garbage collection is offered, the ordinance states that recycling service should be of a similar nature.
- Plan Updates: Update the recycling plan when ownership or management changes, the collector changes or the collection method changes, including an applicable container-type change.
- Operational Compliance Support: National Doorstep Pickup can support resident education, doorstep collection, contamination control and service documentation, while ownership and management retain their applicable Chapter 14 responsibilities.
At a Glance: City of San Antonio vs. Bexar County
City of San Antonio — Inside City Limits
- Mandate Type: Mandatory multifamily recycling.
- Applicability Threshold: Properties containing three or more residential dwelling units.
- Covered Property Types: Apartments, townhomes, condominiums, high-rise condominiums and other qualifying multifamily housing structures covered by § 14-43.
- Small Multifamily Properties: Owners or managers of qualifying properties with eight or fewer units may request and pay for City curbside garbage and recycling service. The eight-unit provision is a service option—not the ordinance threshold.
- Property Manager Duties: Maintain an approved plan; provide adequate service and capacity; keep recycling close to garbage; label containers; educate residents; prevent overflow; and update the plan when required.
- New Properties: Submit the applicable recycling plan within 30 days after receiving the certificate of occupancy and comply with City approval and service-start requirements.
- Collector or Self-Haul: Use an appropriately registered recycling collector or maintain a compliant self-haul program to an appropriate recycling facility.
- Annual Reporting: Applicable recycling collectors and owners/managers that self-haul must submit required annual information by March 1.
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Current City Links:
San Antonio Multi-Family Recycling · Owner and Manager Responsibilities · Container, Self-Haul and Reporting Requirements
Bexar County — Outside San Antonio City Limits
- Mandate Type: No single countywide, unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the Bexar County solid-waste materials reviewed for this update.
- Jurisdiction Warning: A San Antonio mailing address does not necessarily place a property inside San Antonio city limits. Verify the parcel jurisdiction before applying § 14-43.
- County Solid-Waste Program: Bexar County has solid-waste programs that apply to specified service areas. Do not generalize a County program to every unincorporated property.
- Property Manager Duties: Verify municipal boundaries, County service areas, city franchise arrangements, subdivision or development restrictions, private-hauler agreements and special-district requirements.
- Apartment Operations: Maintain adequate commercial collection, prevent overflow and illegal dumping, establish bulk-item procedures and keep HHW, electronics and other prohibited materials out of ordinary dumpsters or compactors.
- Regional Planning: AACOG provides regional solid-waste planning and technical support, but the regional plan does not replace local municipal requirements.
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County and Regional Links:
Bexar County Solid Waste Program · Bexar County Municipalities · AACOG Environmental Programs
San Antonio Multifamily Recycling Timeline and Stakeholder History
San Antonio’s multifamily recycling ordinance developed from the City’s 10-Year Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan, which City Council approved in June 2010. The plan sought to expand convenient recycling access, including access for residents of apartment and other multifamily communities.
The original plan included a historical target of achieving a 60% single-family residential recycling rate. That target should be treated as historical policy background rather than a current multifamily compliance deadline.
During ordinance development, the City worked with apartment-industry representatives, housing stakeholders, residents, recycling collectors, waste haulers and processing facilities. The adopted ordinance states that the City held eight communitywide town hall meetings attended by more than 250 owners, managers, haulers and tenants.
Les Leith’s firsthand stakeholder history: Les Leith participated in the original San Antonio multifamily recycling implementation period while serving with Accelerated Waste Solutions and helping apartment operators implement doorstep recycling. This statement is presented as Les Leith’s firsthand account and company biography.
The City’s archived February 2014 contractor roster separately documents Accelerated Waste Solutions of North America as a valet service provider and identifies Les Leith as its primary contact. The 2014 roster independently documents that later listing; it is not represented as proof of every detail of the earlier ordinance-development period.
Les Leith — CEO, COO and Founder, National Doorstep Pickup · City of San Antonio — February 2014 Multifamily Recycling Contractor List
Authoritative Ordinance and Policy Documents
- 2010-06-24 Council Resolution — 10-Year Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan
- 2010-11-04 Ordinance — Chapter 14 Solid Waste Rewrite
- San Antonio Multi-Family Recycling Ordinance — Ordinance 2010-12-09-1026
- Multi-Family Recycling Guidelines for Property Owners and Managers
- Steps and Guidelines for Multi-Family Residents
- San Antonio Code of Ordinances — Current Codified Code
- Texas Local Government Code Chapter 250 — Including §§ 250.003–250.004
- AACOG Regional Solid Waste Management Plan 2022–2042
- AACOG Environmental Programs and Current Regional Planning Resources
- Bexar County Solid Waste Program
- Bexar County — Municipalities and Government Entities
- Historical 2014 List of Multi-Family Recycling Contractors and Valet Service Providers
Bexar County Cities and Regional Property Manager Information
The following information is designed for multifamily owners and managers operating across Bexar County and nearby markets. A municipality’s residential recycling service does not automatically establish that the same cart, bulk, HHW or recycling service is available to an apartment, condominium or commercial account.
Statements that no separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified mean that no such mandate was located in the official materials reviewed for this update. They are not guarantees that no zoning, development, franchise, MUD, special-district, contractual or later-adopted requirement applies to a particular parcel.
| City / Market | Recycling and Commercial-Service Status | Property Manager Priorities and Official Links |
|---|---|---|
|
San Antonio Primary Bexar County multifamily regulatory market. |
Mandatory multifamily recycling applies to covered properties containing three or more residential dwelling units. Owners/managers must comply with the applicable recycling-plan, service, container, resident-education and related requirements of § 14-43. |
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Alamo Heights Incorporated Bexar County municipality. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City operates garbage and recycling programs and publishes separate residential and commercial solid-waste fees. |
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Balcones Heights Central Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City information identifies Frontier Waste Solutions for solid-waste service and states that commercial waste service can be customized for business needs. |
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Castle Hills North-central Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City currently publishes municipal residential garbage, brush and recycling services through Public Works. Apartment and commercial service terms should be verified separately. |
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China Grove Eastern Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City currently lists Republic Services for trash/garbage collection and states that recycling is available. |
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Converse Northeast Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Converse uses a municipal service arrangement for refuse and recycling. Residential cart guidance distinguishes cart-served customers from dumpster-served accounts. |
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Elmendorf Southeast Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City information identifies Tiger Sanitation for garbage and recycling inside city limits. |
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Fair Oaks Ranch Bexar / Kendall / Comal area. |
No separate citywide unit-based apartment recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City partners with Frontier Waste for trash, recycling, bulk/brush and household hazardous-waste services. |
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Grey Forest Northwest Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City contact information lists weekly garbage and recycling pickup. |
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Helotes Northwest Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Frontier Waste Solutions currently provides City solid-waste service, and the municipal agreement includes commercial, industrial and multifamily waste collection. |
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Hill Country Village North Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City information identifies Waste Management for garbage/recycling, with weekly residential recycling. |
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Hollywood Park North Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The Town currently publishes Tiger Sanitation trash and recycling information for residential service. |
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Kirby East Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Kirby provides municipal garbage and recycling services through its solid-waste arrangement, and City materials distinguish commercial, apartment and other account types. |
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Leon Valley Northwest/central Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Leon Valley Code addresses solid waste and utilities; multifamily properties are separately classified in the City’s stormwater-fee system. |
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Live Oak Northeast Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Live Oak partners with WM for waste services; posted HHW/electronics and special-collection benefits should be treated according to their stated customer eligibility. |
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Olmos Park Enclave municipality near central San Antonio. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City currently publishes municipal garbage and weekly recycling information. |
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Saint Hedwig Eastern Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. City materials identify Frontier Waste Solutions for garbage service within city limits, and the City has adopted a solid-waste collection program covering residents and businesses. |
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Schertz Northeast regional market; portions extend across county lines. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Frontier Waste Solutions has exclusive rights to provide commercial solid-waste service. Commercial customers may use another recycling provider. |
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Selma Northeast Bexar / Guadalupe / Comal area. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City information identifies Frontier Waste Solutions and directs commercial or construction garbage customers to Frontier. |
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Shavano Park North-central Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City information identifies Republic Services for garbage and recycling. |
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Somerset Southwest Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City currently identifies South Texas Refuse Disposal as its solid-waste provider and publishes separate commercial collection service. |
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Terrell Hills Central Bexar County enclave. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. The City publishes municipal trash and recycling rules, while its code separately recognizes commercial garbage and refuse. |
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Universal City Northeast Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. As of August 2026, Frontier Waste Solutions is the City’s waste provider. Commercial trash service is collected and billed directly through Frontier. |
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Windcrest Northeast Bexar County. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Current City information identifies Republic Services for garbage and recycling. |
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Unincorporated Bexar County Outside incorporated municipalities. |
No single countywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the County materials reviewed. County mandatory solid-waste programs may apply in designated service areas and should not be generalized countywide. |
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| Nearby Regional Markets | The following municipalities are outside the core Bexar County city list but are frequently managed as part of the San Antonio multifamily operating region. | Verify local requirements independently. San Antonio § 14-43 does not apply merely because a property is marketed as part of the San Antonio metro area. |
|
New Braunfels Northeast regional market. |
No separate citywide unit-based apartment recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. New Braunfels provides commercial garbage collection. The City states that residents of apartments and condominiums who do not receive curbside recycling may take recyclables to the City Recycle Center, subject to current facility requirements. |
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Seguin East regional market. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Seguin publishes approved commercial garbage providers operating within the City. |
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San Marcos Northeast regional market. |
Mandatory multifamily recycling access applies to properties with five or more units. The City provides onsite multifamily recycling through its contracted recycling program. Multifamily garbage service is arranged through an appropriately permitted commercial solid-waste hauler. |
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Boerne Northwest regional market. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Commercial customers are directed to the City’s contractual waste-service arrangement. |
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Bulverde North regional market. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. Waste Connections provides franchised solid-waste and recycling service within Bulverde city limits. |
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Fredericksburg Northwest regional market. |
No separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified in the official materials reviewed. City garbage collection is residential; commercial garbage collection is provided by private companies. |
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Regional Portfolio Compliance Warning
A San Antonio multifamily recycling plan should not automatically be used as the legal compliance plan for another Bexar County municipality merely because a property has a San Antonio mailing address or is marketed in the San Antonio submarket.
Conversely, a suburban voluntary-recycling or commercial-hauler model should not be substituted for San Antonio’s mandatory multifamily program when a property is legally inside San Antonio city limits.
San Marcos also has a distinct multifamily recycling framework for qualifying properties with five or more units and should be evaluated separately.
Verify the exact parcel jurisdiction, applicable unit threshold, municipal franchise, authorized hauler, account type, development conditions, special district and resident-service eligibility before implementing or changing a property program.
San Antonio Chapter 14 Enforcement and Penalty Snapshot
- Separate Daily Offenses: Each day that a violation continues may constitute a separate offense.
- Maximum Penalty: Upon conviction, an applicable violation may carry a fine of up to $2,000 per offense.
- Penalty Above $500: A fine exceeding $500 requires the applicable fact finder to determine the culpable mental state required by the ordinance.
- Not an Automatic Fine: The $2,000 amount is a maximum statutory/ordinance penalty and is not an automatic charge for every service problem.
- Program Responsibility: Applicable program duties rest with the property owner/manager and the applicable recycling collector as assigned by law and the approved program.
- Tenant Participation: § 14-43 does not make owners or managers responsible for whether every tenant participates or for every isolated instance of resident contamination.
- Onsite Employees / Management Personnel: San Antonio § 14-43 and Texas Local Government Code §§ 250.003–250.004 should be read together when evaluating enforcement against qualifying nonowner personnel. Property staff should provide accurate current owner information when required and should not assume that receipt of a citation or notice necessarily creates personal liability.
- Risk Management: Keep the approved plan, collector information, invoices, service logs, container maps, photographs, resident education, move-in materials, contamination notices and corrective-action records.
San Antonio Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement — Property Manager Focus | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction and Property Type | Verify that the parcel is legally inside San Antonio city limits and contains at least three qualifying residential dwelling units. Do not rely only on the postal city, marketing submarket, utility provider or ZIP code. |
City Multifamily Program
Current City Code |
| ☑ Submit and Maintain the Recycling Plan | Submit the applicable City recycling plan and obtain the required approval before initiating a covered recycling collection program. New qualifying properties must comply with the ordinance’s plan-submission timing, including the applicable 30-day certificate-of-occupancy requirement. Keep the approved plan in the property compliance file. | Owner / Manager Responsibilities |
| ☑ Update the Plan When Required | Update the recycling plan when ownership or management changes, the recycling collector changes or the collection method changes when required by § 14-43, including an applicable material container-type change. | Multifamily Ordinance |
| ☑ Use an Appropriate Collector or Self-Haul Program | Retain an appropriately registered recycling collector, or establish a compliant self-haul program to an appropriate recycling facility. A doorstep valet provider that moves materials only from resident doors to property-designated onsite containers does not replace the downstream collector transporting recyclables from the property. | Service Options |
| ☑ Provide Convenient and Comparable Access | Provide adequate recycling capacity and convenient resident access. Position recycling containers as close as reasonably possible to garbage collection points as required by the applicable City standards and prevent overflow or blocked access. | Recycling Requirements |
| ☑ Address Valet Trash and Recycling Alignment | When door-to-door valet garbage collection is offered, account for § 14-43’s statement that recycling service should be of a similar nature. Document how the property provides convenient and comparable recycling access. Do not convert the valet-specific “should” language into an unconditional standalone “shall” requirement. | § 14-43 Ordinance Text |
| ☑ Label Every Recycling Container | Clearly identify recycling containers and communicate the materials accepted by the property’s actual recycling program. Do not use generic signs that conflict with the downstream collector’s current acceptance list. | Recycling Program Tips |
| ☑ Educate Residents and Onsite Teams | Provide applicable program information when recycling service begins, at new-resident move-in and when the recycling program changes. Include accepted materials, container locations, preparation rules and the appropriate management contact. | City Program Guidance |
| ☑ Submit Annual Reports When Applicable | Applicable recycling collectors and owners/managers that elect to self-haul must submit the required annual information by March 1. Owners/managers using a collector should verify which filings are the collector’s responsibility and retain appropriate documentation. |
Annual Reporting
Self-Haul Reporting |
| ☑ Control Bulk and Special Waste | Maintain written procedures for furniture, mattresses, electronics, paint, batteries, chemicals, medical waste and other excluded materials. Do not collect prohibited or regulated materials through an ordinary doorstep program unless a specific compliant service has been established for that material. |
San Antonio HHW
Bulky-Waste Centers |
| ☑ Document Service and Corrective Action | Maintain the approved plan, collector information, contracts, invoices, container maps, service logs, Proof of Pickup® records, photographs, education materials, contamination records, annual-report documentation where applicable and City correspondence. | Proof of Pickup® |
How National Doorstep Pickup Supports Property Managers
National Doorstep Pickup can provide structured doorstep trash and recycling collection, resident education, contamination controls, service documentation and escalation procedures.
For San Antonio communities offering valet garbage collection, National Doorstep Pickup can structure an onsite recycling workflow of a similar nature while moving properly prepared materials from resident doors to the property’s designated onsite recycling collection points.
Upstream service clarification: National Doorstep Pickup’s ordinary valet-trash and doorstep-recycling service operates upstream from curbside or commercial hauling. Porters move materials on private property to property-designated containers. National Doorstep Pickup does not, through ordinary onsite valet service, replace the downstream recycling collector or waste hauler that removes material from the property.
National Doorstep Pickup does not approve the City recycling plan, make the final legal applicability determination, certify legal compliance or replace the downstream recycling collector responsible for transporting recyclables from the property to an appropriate facility.
Property ownership and management retain responsibility for applicable plans, required collection, container capacity and placement, resident education, collector selection, reporting where applicable, plan updates, municipal communications and corrective action.
Reduce San Antonio and regional multifamily recycling compliance risk.
Request a
Free Multifamily Recycling Compliance Review for your San Antonio, Bexar County or regional property
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We can review jurisdiction, unit thresholds, current service, container access,
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Review limitation:
National Doorstep Pickup’s review is an operational compliance-support service.
It is not a municipal inspection, legal opinion or certification that a property
satisfies every applicable law.
Official Sources, Historical Attribution and Verification Notice
Last verified: August 12, 2026. Municipal ordinances, service providers, franchise arrangements, accepted materials, customer eligibility, fees, reporting forms and enforcement procedures can change.
Bexar County maintains official listings of municipalities and local governmental entities. This page adds property-manager operational information for principal incorporated Bexar County cities for which current municipal waste information was located, together with nearby regional markets commonly managed from the San Antonio area.
The account of Les Leith’s participation during San Antonio’s original multifamily recycling implementation period is presented as firsthand company and biographical history. The archived 2014 City roster independently documents the later City listing of Accelerated Waste Solutions and Les Leith.
Statements that no separate citywide unit-based multifamily recycling mandate was identified mean that no such mandate was located in the official municipal materials reviewed on the verification date. They are not guarantees that no zoning, development-plan, franchise, special-district, MUD, subdivision, contractual or later-adopted requirement applies to a specific property.
Residential municipal services should not automatically be represented as apartment, condominium or commercial services. Property managers should verify account eligibility, franchise requirements, container type, recycling service, bulk collection, household hazardous-waste eligibility and special-event access before publishing resident instructions.
Confirm current requirements with the governing city, Bexar County where applicable, authorized collector, receiving facility and qualified legal or compliance professionals before changing a property program. This content provides general operational information and is not legal advice.
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