Storm Debris Removal

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 piles no heavier than 30 pounds and placed beside the cart.
• We will collect the contents of your green cart and up to 15 extra items placed beside the cart (including lawn and leaf bags, reusable containers and piles of small branches). Learn more about composting collection.

Large branches and tree limbs for collection

Large brush, branches and tree limbs should between 5 and 15 feet in length can be collected through on-demand brush collection. Each service address can schedule up to three brush collections every calendar year.

Set-out guidelines

• Schedule an appointment.
• Large brush, branches and tree limbs should be between 5 and 15 feet in length. If longer than 15 feet, they must be cut down.
• Place large brush at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on your appointment date.
• Stack the brush loosely in one row along the curb, no more than 15 feet across and no higher than 4 feet, with cut ends facing the street.
• Tree trunks more than 8 inches in diameter should be 3 feet long or less.
• Do not block the sidewalk or extend piles into the street.
• Keep items 5 feet away from your carts, mailbox, fences or walls, water meter, telephone connection box, fire hydrants and parked cars. Do not place any items under low-hanging tree limbs or power lines.
• Items will not be collected if they are in an alley, in front of a vacant lot or in front of a business.

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

May 28, 2025 microburst

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) has collected the final storm debris from the microburst on May 28. 

• More than 2,800 storm debris service requests were received.
• More than 5,600 tons of storm debris have been collected through a joint effort by ARR staff and contracted crews.
• More than 3,650 Austin and Travis County residents have dropped off storm debris at Austin Water's Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant.

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.