Plan Your Bitters Drop-Off: Brush, Bulky Waste, Mulch & Special-Event Rules
The Bitters site at 1800 Wurzbach Parkway in San Antonio serves several different waste programs. The Brush Recycling Center and Bulky Waste Collection Center share the same general location, but their hours, accepted materials, fees and eligibility rules are not identical.
This guide separates those services so you can choose the correct lane, bring the right proof, respect load limits, avoid the tarp penalty, handle construction debris and tires correctly, and understand when Bitters is being used for a scheduled household hazardous waste event.
Quick Answer: Which Bitters Service Do You Need?
Use Bitters Brush Recycling Center for approved brush, paper-bagged leaves, shrubs, tree branches and woody vines. Current City hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Sunday and holidays.
Use Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center for qualifying residential bulky items such as furniture, mattresses, large appliances, flattened cardboard, limited construction material and up to six passenger-car tires with the rims removed. Bulky hours are Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM to noon.
Household hazardous waste is not a normal daily Bitters service. The City uses Bitters for scheduled HHW events, while its permanent HHW drop-off service is handled separately.
Brush, bulky waste and HHW events use different schedules. Saturday is especially important: bulky service ends at noon while the brush center continues until 5:00 PM under the current normal schedule.
On this page
Bitters Recycling Center Address and Entrance
The current City-listed address for both Bitters Brush Recycling Center and Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center is:
1800 Wurzbach Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78216
The City notes that the entrance is off Wurzbach Parkway and customers should access the facility from the Jones Maltsberger and Wurzbach Parkway area.
For current item questions, closures or service eligibility, call San Antonio Customer Service at 3-1-1 inside the local service area or 210-207-6000.
Bitters Recycling Center Hours by Service
| Service | Current normal hours | Closed / restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Bitters Brush Recycling Center | Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM | Closed Sundays and holidays. |
| Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center | Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Saturday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM | Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays. |
| Household Hazardous Waste event | Only on scheduled City event dates | Do not treat Bitters as a daily HHW facility. |
If your vehicle contains both brush and bulky material, separate the load. Bulky drop-off currently closes at noon Saturday while brush service continues until 5 PM.
What Proof Do San Antonio Residents Need?
For residential use, City guidance requires a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the City’s Environmental Fee plus a photo ID.
Bring every visit
- Recent CPS Energy bill
- Environmental Fee shown on account
- Photo identification
Do not assume address alone is enough
The bulky program is specifically for qualifying residential customers. Without the requested proof, your free bulky-drop-off eligibility may not be established.
What Bitters Brush Recycling Center Accepts
Current City guidance lists the following brush materials for recycling into mulch:
- Paper-bagged leaves with no plastic tape
- Shrubs
- Tree branches
- Woody vines
The material is processed into mulch instead of being treated as ordinary household garbage.
What the Brush Center Does Not Accept
| Rejected at brush area | Why / better route |
|---|---|
| Bulky household items | Use the bulky program if the item qualifies. |
| Car tires | Use bulky drop-off rules for six or fewer passenger tires without rims. |
| Construction, roofing or demolition material | Qualifying small construction loads belong under bulky rules. |
| Grass clippings | Do not assume all yard material is accepted at the brush gate. |
| Household hazardous waste | Use an authorized HHW service or scheduled event. |
| Plastic-bagged leaves | Use paper bags without plastic tape where required. |
| Soil and rocks | Use an appropriate disposal facility. |
| Trash | Bitters brush service is not a household garbage dump. |
Current Bitters Brush Drop-Off Fees
The City’s current Brush Collection Center page lists residential fees by weight:
| Residential brush load | Current City-listed fee |
|---|---|
| 20 pounds or less | $0.25 |
| Over 20 pounds | $0.25 for each 20-pound increment |
Eligible bulky-waste visits can be free for residential customers who pay the Environmental Fee and provide the required CPS bill and ID. Brush uses its own weight-based fee schedule.
San Antonio Tarp Law at Bitters
Loads taken to City disposal or processing centers must be properly covered. The City’s current brush guidance says a $5 penalty can be assessed when a customer arrives without a tarp as required by the City tarp rule.
Cover loose brush
Branches, leaves and other loose material can blow into traffic. Use a secure tarp rather than relying only on the truck bed.
Secure bulky loads too
Furniture, cardboard and construction material should also be tied down or covered so material cannot escape during transport.
Mulch at Bitters Brush Recycling Center
The Bitters brush operation turns accepted woody material into mulch. Current City guidance lists two regular mulch options.
Fine ground mulch
Current price: $0.03 per pound, sold in 20-pound increments. The City says bulk loading into a truck or trailer is included with this purchase.
Coarse ground mulch
Currently listed as free year-round. City guidance says bulk loading is not provided for coarse mulch.
Seasonal Christmas-tree mulch may also be available free for a limited time after the City’s January tree-recycling program, while supplies last.
What Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center Accepts
The bulky side of Bitters is for residential customers and has a different accepted-material list from curbside bulky collection.
| Accepted bulky item | Important condition |
|---|---|
| Auto parts | Residential bulky rules apply. |
| Barbecue grills | Remove prohibited fuels or hazardous contents. |
| Cardboard boxes | Flatten before drop-off. |
| Passenger car tires | Six or fewer and no rims. |
| Carpeting | Keep separate from regular garbage. |
| Construction material and lumber | Maximum one cubic yard; boards longer than 10 feet are rejected. |
| Furniture | Contaminated furniture may be rejected. |
| Glass and mirrors | Handle safely during transport and unloading. |
| Large appliances | Bulky residential service. |
| Mattresses | No blood stains or bed-bug contamination. |
| Sinks, tubs and countertops | Stay within bulky volume limits. |
| Water heaters and AC units | Accepted under current bulky guidance. |
Bitters Bulky Load Limits
Bulky items
Maximum 4 cubic yards per qualifying visit under current City guidance.
Construction debris
Maximum 1 cubic yard, even though the overall bulky limit is higher.
Truck-bed height
City guidance says material loaded in trucks must not be above the fender wheel of the truck bed.
The City states that materials from commercial waste haulers are not accepted at bulky waste collection centers.
What Bitters Bulky Waste Center Does Not Accept
- Bagged garbage
- Bed linens
- Boards longer than 10 feet
- Brush, leaves and yard waste
- Clothes
- Hazardous material
- Mattresses with blood stains or bed bugs
- Railroad ties
- Soil, rocks and concrete
- Soiled couch cushions with blood or bed bugs
- Styrofoam
- Trash
- Unbagged insulation
- 275-gallon rebottled IBC tote tanks
Regular household garbage is specifically excluded. Bitters should not be treated as a general public dump for mixed trash.
Tire Drop-Off Rules at Bitters
The bulky center accepts six or fewer passenger-vehicle tires per qualifying load, and the tires must have their rims removed.
If you have more than six tires, tires still mounted on rims, unusually large tires or commercial quantities, contact the City before driving to Bitters.
Construction Material and Lumber Rules
Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center currently accepts a limited amount of construction material and lumber: one cubic yard or less.
Boards longer than 10 feet are listed as unaccepted. Soil, rocks, concrete, railroad ties and unbagged insulation are also excluded.
The one-cubic-yard construction limit is much lower than the four-cubic-yard bulky-item limit. A renovation load can exceed the construction allowance even if it appears to fit comfortably in a pickup.
Household Hazardous Waste at Bitters: Event Service, Not Daily Drop-Off
The City uses the Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center as a location for scheduled Household Hazardous Waste events. These events are separate from normal brush and bulky operations.
The City describes its monthly HHW events as free for qualifying Solid Waste Management customers. A valid photo ID and recent CPS Energy bill are required for participating customers.
Materials commonly handled at scheduled Bitters HHW events
- Paint
- Oil
- Chemicals
- Pesticides
- Batteries
- Electronics
Items the City has listed as not accepted at HHW events
- Household garbage
- Ammunition
- Fireworks
- Medications
- Biohazardous waste
Check the City’s current HHW event calendar first. The permanent HHW drop-off location is separate from the normal Bitters program.
How to Transport Household Hazardous Waste Safely
For Bitters HHW events, City guidance has instructed residents to keep materials in original containers when possible, prevent leaking, avoid mixing different products, place items in boxes, and transport them in the trunk or truck bed for technician unloading.
The City has also used limits for liquid waste at these events, including paint and other liquid products. Because event-specific limits can change, verify the current event instructions before loading multiple buckets or cans.
Christmas Tree Recycling at Bitters
Bitters is also used in San Antonio’s seasonal live Christmas tree recycling program. For the 2026 season, the City accepted live trees at Bitters during its January collection period.
Seasonal rules include removing lights, ornaments and stands, leaving trees unbagged, and cutting trees over six feet in half. Wreaths, garlands and other plants are not included in the live-tree drop-off program.
Mulch generated from collected trees may later be offered free at Bitters while supplies last.
Do not assume January tree-recycling dates repeat unchanged each year. Check the City’s current holiday-tree notice when the season approaches.
How to Prepare for a Bitters Recycling Center Visit
Which Bitters Lane Should You Use?
| Your load | Correct route | Critical check |
|---|---|---|
| Tree branches or shrubs | Brush Recycling Center | Tarp + brush fee + correct hours. |
| Paper-bagged leaves | Brush Recycling Center | No plastic tape. |
| Furniture | Bulky Waste Collection Center | Residential eligibility + four-cubic-yard limit. |
| Mattress | Bulky Waste Collection Center | No blood stains or bed bugs. |
| Up to six passenger tires | Bulky Waste Collection Center | Rims removed. |
| Small construction load | Bulky Waste Collection Center | Maximum one cubic yard. |
| Paint, chemicals, batteries | HHW service/event | Do not use normal Bitters drop-off hours. |
| Bagged household trash | Not accepted at Bitters bulky center | Use the correct garbage/disposal service. |
Bitters Recycling Center Map and Directions
Use 1800 Wurzbach Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78216 for navigation. The City specifically notes that the entrance is accessed from the newer Wurzbach Parkway area near Jones Maltsberger.
The address can get you to the Bitters property, but a map listing cannot tell you whether your load belongs to brush, bulky waste or a scheduled HHW event. Confirm the program before driving.
Official San Antonio Sources
Open official brush page
Open official bulky page
Open HHW event calendar
Open Solid Waste Management
Bitters address, current brush hours, bulky hours, proof requirements, brush fees, tarp penalty, mulch rules, accepted and rejected materials, bulky volume limits, tire rules and HHW event use were checked against current City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management information during this refresh. Temporary closures, holidays, event dates and program rules can change.
Related Recycling Guides
Open HHW guide
Open tire recycling guide
Open general recycling guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Bitters Recycling Center
Where is Bitters Recycling Center?
Bitters Brush Recycling Center and Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center are at 1800 Wurzbach Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78216.
What are Bitters Brush Recycling Center hours?
Current City guidance lists Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The brush center is closed Sundays and holidays.
What are Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center hours?
The bulky center is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to noon.
What documents do I need at Bitters?
For qualifying residential services, bring a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee and a photo ID.
What brush does Bitters accept?
Current accepted brush materials include paper-bagged leaves without plastic tape, shrubs, tree branches and woody vines.
Does Bitters accept grass clippings?
The current Bitters Brush Recycling Center page lists grass clippings among the unaccepted materials.
How much does brush drop-off cost?
The current residential fee is 25 cents for 20 pounds or less and 25 cents for each 20-pound increment above that amount.
Does Bitters sell mulch?
Yes. The City currently lists fine ground mulch at 3 cents per pound in 20-pound increments. Coarse ground mulch is listed as free year-round.
Do I need a tarp at Bitters?
Yes. City guidance requires loads going to disposal or processing centers to be covered, and a $5 penalty can be assessed for non-compliance with the tarp rule.
Does Bitters accept furniture?
Yes, qualifying residential furniture is accepted at the bulky center, subject to the overall four-cubic-yard bulky-item limit and contamination restrictions.
Does Bitters accept mattresses?
Yes, mattresses are listed as accepted bulky items, but mattresses with blood stains or bed bugs are not accepted.
Does Bitters accept tires?
The bulky center accepts six or fewer passenger-car tires with the rims removed under current City guidance.
How much construction debris can I bring?
The bulky center currently limits construction material and lumber to one cubic yard or less.
Does Bitters accept household trash?
No. Bagged garbage and regular household trash are specifically listed as not accepted at the bulky center.
Can I take paint or chemicals to Bitters every day?
No. Bitters is used for scheduled Household Hazardous Waste events, but HHW is not a normal daily Bitters service. Check the City’s current event calendar.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official City of San Antonio website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. Current Bitters rules, hours, event dates and eligibility should be verified through the City of San Antonio.
Final Bitters Before-You-Go Checklist
- Choose brush, bulky or HHW service
- Check the correct day’s hours
- Bring recent CPS Energy bill
- Bring photo ID
- Separate brush from bulky waste
- Use paper bags for eligible leaves
- Remove tire rims
- Stay at six or fewer passenger tires
- Keep construction debris at one cubic yard or less
- Keep bulky load at four cubic yards or less
- Keep truck load below fender-wheel level
- Cover load with a tarp
- Remove household trash
- Verify HHW event date before bringing chemicals