Cowboy Site Services hauls nearly everything except wet paint and chemicals, motor oil, asbestos, ammunition and tires. In Collin and Grayson County, paint, chemicals and oil go to city household hazardous waste programs, most by pickup request or event. Tires go to drop-off sites that accept them, and asbestos is handled before any tear-out starts.
What won't we take?
Our excluded list is short. Nearly everything else in a house, garage or yard is fine.
- Wet paint and chemicals
- Motor oil
- Asbestos
- Ammunition
- Tires
Why are these items different?
Most of them are restricted at the places a junk load ends up. TCEQ's special waste page lists whole used or scrap tires as prohibited from disposal in any municipal landfill.
TCEQ also lists lead-acid batteries, do-it-yourself used motor oil and used oil filters as prohibited there. Liquid waste that isn't containerized is on that list too.
The rest need special handling. Chemicals can leak or react in a mixed load, and asbestos and ammunition carry their own safety rules.
What does that mean on the day?
If a cleanout is coming, pull paint cans, pool chemicals, fuel and oil jugs onto one shelf before we arrive. Everything else can go.
Not sure about something? Text a photo and we'll tell you yes or no. Our FAQ covers the same list.
Dried-out paint is a different story. TCEQ's household hazardous waste page covers cans less than a quarter full. Open one in a well-ventilated area to dry, and once dry it can go in the trash.
- Keep chemicals in their original containers with readable labels, as TCEQ advises.
- Never mix products together to save space.
- Store them upright and secured until they go to a program.
Where do paint, chemicals and motor oil go?
Household hazardous waste is handled city by city. Our household hazardous waste guide has full details, and here's the short version from each city's page.
- McKinney: McKinney's HHW page offers curbside pickup on your regular collection day, by request before noon the prior business day. Up to 12 HHW pickups a year are free.
- McKinney limits pickups to 2 boxes of 20 by 20 by 20 inches, up to 5 gallons or 50 lb each. Its Municipal Service Center doesn't take walk-in drop-offs.
- Allen: Allen's household chemical page schedules pickups through the MyAllen app or 214.509.4551. It takes paint, motor oil and filters, gasoline and pool chemicals, up to 50 pounds.
- Plano: Plano's household chemical collection is scheduled at 972-769-4150 or online. Set it out in a box marked 'HCC' by 7 a.m., under 50 pounds.
- Frisco: Frisco's household chemical disposal page takes drop-offs at 6616 Walnut Street, Tuesday through Saturday during posted hours. Bring a matching Frisco water bill and driver's license.
- Prosper: Prosper's trash and recycling page gives each resident one free HHW door pickup a year through Republic Services.
- Melissa: Melissa's HHW page offers CWD door side collection up to once a month, included in the regular trash charge.
- Anna holds an HHW and e-recycling event each spring and fall. Celina residents can join Frisco's voucher program, sold at Celina City Hall.
- Farmersville, Lucas and Van Alstyne each run HHW pickup programs. Farmersville is monthly, Lucas twice a year, and Van Alstyne monthly with a call 2 weeks ahead.
- Sherman: Sherman's solid waste page runs an annual HHW event with registration required. It takes paint, motor oil, gasoline, antifreeze, cleaners and pesticides.
Is there another option for used motor oil?
Yes. TCEQ says used oil can't go in the landfill, but many HHW programs accept it.
NTMWD's solid waste facilities page says its Custer Road Transfer Station accepts used motor oil and oil filters. Allen and Sherman also list motor oil in their HHW programs.
Where do old tires go?
Tires are excluded from most city bulk programs. McKinney, Prosper, Melissa, Princeton, Wylie, Sachse, Van Alstyne, Gunter and Denison all leave them out.
A few drop-offs take them. Check the rules before you load up.
- NTMWD's 121 Regional Disposal Facility in Melissa accepts tires up to 24.5 inches.
- Sherman's drop-off station rates list $3 per tire, or $6 on the rim.
- Anna's bulk guidelines say most tire retailers or specialized recycling facilities take tires for a fee.
- Frisco's Environmental Collection Center and Denison's Residential Collection Station do not accept tires.
What about asbestos?
Asbestos is handled through permits and the state, not junk haulers. TCEQ's asbestos page says abatement in buildings falls under the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Some cities build it into permits. McKinney's asbestos certification is required before a demolition or alteration permit for a public or commercial building.
Wylie and Sachse have similar rules for commercial work, and Murphy requires a survey before a renovation or demolition permit. If you suspect asbestos in a remodel, deal with it before any interior demolition.
What about ammunition?
It's excluded almost everywhere. Frisco, Allen, Prosper, Melissa and Sherman all list ammunition as not accepted in their hazardous waste programs.
Don't put ammunition in a trash cart, a bulk pile or a junk load. Call your city first and ask how they want it handled.
When should you call us?
Once the excluded items are set aside, the rest is ours. That includes furniture, appliances, boxes, yard debris, scrap and old TVs and electronics.
Our junk removal service prices by trailer space, with a Minimum Pickup starting at $189 and a firm quote before we load. Same-day service is available when the schedule allows.
For a packed garage, our garage cleanout service works around the shelf you've set aside. Curious what happens after? Read where your junk goes.