Austin Resource Recovery customers receive two curbside large brush collections per year. Download the Austin Recycles mobile app or use the My Schedule tool online to check when your next large brush collection is scheduled. Here are other options for storm debris removal and guidelines to help you get it set out correctly and collected.

Storm debris drop off

Austin and Travis County residents can drop off storm debris  (large tree limbs, small and large branches, shrubs and leaves) for free at Austin Water's Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant. Visit austintexas.gov/BrushDropOff for drop-off details.


Storm debris collection

Small branches for collection

If your branches are no longer than 5 feet and no thicker than 3 inches in diameter, they are small branches and can be set out with your weekly composting collection.

Set out process and guidelines

  • Place small branches and yard trimmings into the green composting cart and make sure the lid fully closes.
  • Excess material can be placed in lawn and leaf bags or a reusable container and set out beside the cart on the next scheduled collection day.
  • Small branches (no longer than five feet and no thicker than three inches in diameter) that do not fit into the green cart with the lid closed should be stacked into manageable bundles no heavier than 30 pounds and placed beside the cart.
  • ARR will collect the contents of your green cart and up to 15 extra items placed beside the cart. Composting material must fit into your green cart with the lid closed – each bundle, bag, and container counts as a separate item toward the limit. 
Large branches and tree limbs for collection

If your branches are longer than 5 feet, they are large branches and can be collected during your twice-annual large brush collection.

The Austin Recycles App is the easiest and fastest way to get important alerts and reminders about your City of Austin trash, recycling and compost services. 


Winter Storm Mara

More than 170,000 tons of storm debris were collected from Winter Storm Mara in 2023. That's enough to fill Q2 stadium four times! Austin Resource Recovery's Winter Storm Mara After Action Report describes the events related to Austin Resource Recovery’s emergency response to Winter Storm Mara and identifies the unique issues and challenges faced throughout the overall response to help plan for the future. View the City of Austin's full report.