Pick the Right Lubbock Drop-Off Before You Load Your Vehicle
Lubbock operates four permanent City recycling and Citizen Convenience Station locations plus several satellite recycling drop-offs. The permanent sites accept the widest range of standard recyclables and also handle selected special items through attended services.
For normal recycling, focus on clean cardboard, #1 and #2 plastic containers, aluminum, tin, newspaper and qualifying paper. Bulky waste, used fluids, batteries and household hazardous waste follow separate rules.
Four permanent City sites
Southside · Northside · South Milwaukee · North Quaker
Quick answer: Lubbock’s four permanent City recycling locations are Southside at 1631 84th Street, Northside at 208 Municipal Drive, South Milwaukee at 7308 Milwaukee Avenue and North Quaker at 4307 Adrian Street. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with City-holiday closures.
Do not treat every recycling address the same. Permanent locations accept cardboard and offer attended special services. Satellite locations have a smaller recycling list. Household hazardous waste is appointment-only at Southside, while bulky household items are handled through Citizen Convenience Station rules.
On this page
Lubbock Recycling Center Hours
The City publishes the same regular schedule for the four permanent locations and Citizen Convenience Stations. City-holiday closures override the normal weekly schedule.
After-hours recycling: the City’s satellite recycling locations are listed as operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but they accept a smaller material list than the four permanent facilities.
Four Permanent City of Lubbock Recycling Locations
These four sites combine standard recycling bins with Citizen Convenience Station services. They are the best starting point when you have cardboard or need attended disposal for selected special materials.
| Location | Address | Main services |
|---|---|---|
| Southside | 1631 84th Street | Recycling, bulky items, yard waste, oil/antifreeze, HHW by appointment, cooking grease, reuse supplies and other Southside-specific services. |
| Northside | 208 Municipal Drive | Standard recycling, bulky items, yard debris and selected attended special recycling. |
| South Milwaukee | 7308 Milwaukee Avenue | Standard recycling, bulky items, yard debris and selected attended special recycling. |
| North Quaker | 4307 Adrian Street | Standard recycling, bulky items, yard debris and selected attended special recycling. |
All four permanent locations are listed Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM and closed during City of Lubbock holidays.
Lubbock 24/7 Satellite Recycling Locations
The City’s current Recycling Locations page describes its satellite sites as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These locations are intended for basic recyclables and should not be used as substitutes for attended Convenience Station services.
Official count mismatch: the current City page says there are six satellite locations but presently lists seven addresses. Because the published text and visible list conflict, this guide uses the addresses currently shown rather than claiming an exact verified total.
| Satellite site | Published location | Material note |
|---|---|---|
| United Supermarkets | 2630 Parkway Drive | #1/#2 plastics, tin, aluminum, newspaper and computer paper. |
| United Market Street | 4425 19th Street | Basic satellite recycling list. |
| United Market Street | 3405 50th Street | Basic satellite recycling list. |
| United Supermarkets | 8010 Frankford Avenue | Basic satellite recycling list. |
| LP&L McCullough Substation | 2901 Elgin Avenue | Basic satellite recycling list. |
| Northridge Elementary | 6302 11th Place area | City listing specifically notes cardboard here. |
| Texas Tech | North of the Physical Plant at 3122 Main Street | Basic satellite recycling list. |
Satellite rule: if the site does not provide a bin for your material, do not put the item into a similar-looking container. Use a permanent site or another appropriate disposal program instead.
What Lubbock Recycling Centers Accept
The four permanent City locations accept common dry recyclables. The City’s preparation page provides more specific material rules than the general location list.
#1 and #2 plastics
PETE #1 HDPE #2
Most drink bottles and soap bottles are accepted. Rinse them and leave caps and labels on.
Aluminum cans
Soda, beer and similar beverage cans are accepted when rinsed and dry.
Not included: aluminum foil and pie pans.
Tin cans
Most food cans are accepted when rinsed and dry. The City recommends removing the label.
Plastic-lined and mixed-material cans are not accepted as ordinary tin.
Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard, boxes, cereal-type boxes and paper towel or toilet-paper tubes are listed.
Keep them dry and unsoiled.
Newspaper
Clean, dry newspaper is accepted.
Wet paper, magazines, advertisements and slick pages are excluded from this category.
Computer paper
White or pastel office-type paper and shredded paper are listed when dry and clean.
Slick-coated and neon-colored papers are excluded.
Material Preparation Rules That Prevent Rejected Loads
| Material | Prepare it this way | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic #1/#2 | Rinse; caps and labels may stay on. | Straws, utensils, yogurt tubs and butter tubs are not included simply because they are plastic. |
| Aluminum cans | Rinse and dry. | Do not mix foil or pie pans into the can stream. |
| Tin cans | Rinse, dry and remove labels. | Plastic-lined or mixed-material cans may not qualify. |
| Cardboard | Keep dry and unsoiled; flatten boxes for easier handling. | Dirty boxes and pizza boxes are excluded by the City’s preparation guidance. |
| Newspaper | Keep dry and clean. | Do not mix in slick ads or magazines. |
| Paper | Dry and unsoiled. | Slick-coated, dirty, wet and neon-colored paper does not belong in this stream. |
No Plastic Bags in Lubbock Recycling Bins
The City specifically warns against plastic bags because they can clog recycling-processing equipment. Recyclables should be placed loose in the appropriate bin.
Best method: carry sorted recyclables in a reusable tote, box or other container. Empty the recyclables into the correct bin and take the carrier home with you.
The City’s rule is simple: if your recyclables arrived inside a plastic bag, empty the recyclable items into their designated bins and dispose of the bag separately.
Used Oil, Filters, Antifreeze, Batteries and Cooking Grease
These are not ordinary self-service recycling-bin items. They require attended Convenience Station handling and, for some materials, location or quantity restrictions.
| Material | City rule |
|---|---|
| Used motor oil | Accepted at Citizen Convenience Stations; keep the quantity under 5 gallons and do not mix with fuel or other fluids. |
| Used oil filters | Take to an attended Convenience Station and place in the designated filter container. |
| Used antifreeze | Accepted at permanent City locations under attended special-recycling rules; keep separate from other fluids. |
| Vehicle batteries | Northside and Southside only; City guidance lists a limit of two per year per address. |
| Household cooking grease | Southside only under the City’s special recycling guidance. |
Never mix fluids. Used oil, antifreeze and fuel mixtures are treated differently. If you cannot positively identify the liquid, call Solid Waste before transporting it.
Bulky Items and Yard Waste Use Citizen Convenience Station Rules
The same four permanent facilities also function as Citizen Convenience Stations for qualifying residential bulky items and yard debris. This service is included with the regular solid-waste fee for eligible City customers.
Examples of bulky household material
- Large furniture
- Mattresses
- Appliances
- Garage-door-type household items
- Other oversized household material that does not fit normal residential disposal
Yard debris
Citizen Convenience Stations also accept qualifying yard waste from eligible residents.
Loads must be from the resident’s own home and should be covered during transport to prevent material spilling onto the roadway.
Use restrictions apply. The City states that these services are for eligible residential household loads, not commercial disposal. Attendants may refuse nonqualifying loads.
Household Hazardous Waste Is Appointment-Only at Southside
The City of Lubbock provides household hazardous waste disposal only through the Southside Citizen Convenience Station at 1631 84th Street. An appointment is required.
How to use the HHW program
- Call 806-775-2495.
- Describe the material you need to dispose of.
- Confirm that the item is currently accepted.
- Schedule a Southside drop-off appointment.
- Keep the material secure and separate from ordinary recycling during transport.
Examples of household hazardous waste listed by the City include corrosive cleaners, fertilizers, fluorescent bulbs, fuels, mercury, certain paints, pesticides, pool chemicals and wood stains or varnishes.
Do not leave chemicals at normal recycling bins. HHW is a controlled disposal service, not a self-service recycling category.
TVs and Computers Need the Texas Electronics Recycling Route
Computers and televisions should not be placed into Lubbock’s ordinary recycling bins unless an official local program specifically identifies that exact device as acceptable.
The City points residents toward Texas electronics recycling programs. Texas manufacturer recycling programs can provide options for qualifying computer equipment and televisions.
Protect personal data first. Before recycling or donating a computer, tablet or storage device, back up files you need, sign out of accounts, remove removable storage and erase personal information where practical.
Residency, ID and Load Rules for Citizen Convenience Stations
The City’s Convenience Station rules are more restrictive than simply finding a recycling bin on a map. These facilities are intended for City of Lubbock Utility Solid Waste customers hauling qualifying household material from their own residence.
Be ready to prove eligibility
Residents should be prepared to show a valid driver’s license with a City of Lubbock address or a current City utility bill with matching identification.
Cover the load
The City requires or advises loads to be covered so material does not spill while being transported to the site.
The Solid Waste page also states that acceptable residential loads generally should fit within the scale of a passenger vehicle, pickup or small trailer, with limits intended to prevent commercial or oversized disposal through these stations.
Commercial loads are not accepted. If you are hauling for a business, contractor job, rental property or another commercial purpose, call Solid Waste for the appropriate disposal route instead of assuming a Citizen Convenience Station will accept the load.
Before You Visit a Lubbock Recycling Center
- Identify the item first. Ordinary recycling, bulky waste, used fluids, batteries, HHW and electronics do not all use the same route.
- Choose permanent or satellite. Use permanent sites for cardboard and the broadest City service options; use satellite locations only for their published materials.
- Keep recyclables loose. Do not leave acceptable materials inside plastic bags.
- Rinse containers. Clean #1/#2 plastics, aluminum cans and tin cans before drop-off.
- Keep paper dry. Wet or heavily soiled cardboard, newspaper and paper can be rejected.
- Match the exact bin. If no container is provided for your item, do not put it into another recycling stream.
- Bring ID for attended services. Convenience Station use and special recycling may require proof of a City of Lubbock address.
- Cover bulky loads. Secure furniture, limbs and other material before driving.
- Schedule HHW first. Household hazardous waste requires a Southside appointment.
- Call for questionable items. Use 806-775-2495 before transporting an unusual, mixed or uncertain load.
Lubbock Recycling Center Map
The map below searches for City of Lubbock recycling locations. Because several permanent and satellite sites exist, confirm the address and accepted material before following the nearest map result.
Permanent locations
- 1631 84th Street
- 208 Municipal Drive
- 7308 Milwaukee Avenue
- 4307 Adrian Street
City contacts
Solid Waste / Southside: 806-775-2495
General City line: 806-775-3000
Recycling education/questions: 806-775-3138
Official Lubbock Recycling Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the four main Lubbock recycling centers?
The four permanent City locations are Southside at 1631 84th Street, Northside at 208 Municipal Drive, South Milwaukee at 7308 Milwaukee Avenue and North Quaker at 4307 Adrian Street.
What are Lubbock recycling center hours?
The four permanent locations are listed Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM and are closed on City of Lubbock holidays.
Are Lubbock recycling centers open Sunday?
The permanent City locations are not open Sunday under the current posted schedule. Satellite recycling locations are listed as 24/7, but they accept a smaller set of materials.
How many satellite recycling locations does Lubbock have?
The current official page is internally inconsistent: it says there are six satellite locations but presently lists seven addresses. Use the City’s live location list and verify the specific destination you plan to use.
Can I recycle cardboard in Lubbock?
Yes. Cardboard is accepted at the four permanent City locations. The current City satellite list also specifically notes cardboard at Northridge Elementary.
Can I put plastic bags in Lubbock recycling?
No. The City says recyclable items should be loose because plastic bags interfere with processing equipment.
Which plastics does Lubbock accept?
The City lists plastic types #1 and #2. Rinse containers and leave caps and labels on. Other plastic items such as straws, utensils, yogurt tubs and butter tubs are not part of the City’s listed #1/#2 bottle-and-container stream.
Where can I take used oil and antifreeze?
Citizen Convenience Stations accept used motor oil, oil filters and used antifreeze under attended special-recycling rules. Keep fluids separate, avoid fuel mixtures and follow the City’s quantity rules.
Where do bulky items go in Lubbock?
Eligible City of Lubbock Solid Waste customers can use Citizen Convenience Stations for qualifying bulky household items and yard debris. Identification and residential-use rules apply.
How do I dispose of household hazardous waste?
Household hazardous waste is handled by appointment at the Southside Citizen Convenience Station, 1631 84th Street. Call 806-775-2495 before transporting the material.
Where can I recycle TVs and computers in Lubbock?
Do not place televisions or computers in ordinary City recycling bins unless the City specifically identifies the device for that service. Use Texas electronics recycling programs and manufacturer-supported recycling routes for qualifying equipment.
Source Verification
This page was refreshed using current City of Lubbock pages for Recycling Locations, Prepare Items for Recycling, Citizen Convenience Stations, Southside Citizen Convenience Station, Solid Waste and Household Hazardous Waste services.
The City currently publishes an inconsistency between the stated satellite-site count and the number of satellite addresses displayed. Hours, City-holiday closures, container availability, material rules and special-program limits can also change. For an unusual item or special trip, verify the live City page or call 806-775-2495 first.