Where to Recycle or Donate Packing Materials in Houston in 2026

Written, Edited and Fact Checked by Taras Kim

Fact Checked by Wellknown Moving Houston

Updated: February 20, 2026

Quick answer: In Houston, you can recycle packing materials at City of Houston recycling centers, store drop-off plastic film locations (Walmart, Target, Kroger), or donate reusable moving boxes and packing supplies to shipping stores, local nonprofits, or neighborhood exchange groups.

Moving usually leaves a mess behind. There are stacks of cardboard boxes, rolls of bubble wrap, air pillows, packing paper, and sometimes packing peanuts. You could throw it all away, but in Houston, most of these materials can be reused or recycled.

This guide will answer the question: where to recycle or donate packing materials in Houston, with instructions for each type of material. We'll show you a simple guide to “what you have — where to take it,” suggest places for recycling, including plastic film, which cannot be placed in regular recycling bins, as well as options for where you can donate boxes and packaging for reuse or order their removal. You will also find quick tips on how to prepare materials for acceptance.

Quick Decision Section

Use this quick guide to see where each material should go:

Clean and dry cardboard boxes and packing paper are easiest to recycle. Take them to a recycling center, or give them to someone who is preparing to move. Local online groups often pick up boxes on the same day.

Plastic materials require more attention. Bubble wrap, stretch wrap, and air cushions cannot be disposed of in a regular recycling bin—they must be taken to special plastic film drop-off locations or reused through shipping stores. Make sure they are clean and bundled together.

Packing peanuts are also not usually accepted for regular recycling. It is better to give them to stores that accept clean packing material or offer them for free to people who are planning a move.

If you have several types of packaging left over, the quickest way to get rid of everything is to offer the entire set of materials to local community groups so they can pick them up and reuse them.

Where to Recycle Packing Materials in Houston

If you want to recycle moving boxes in Houston, the most reliable option is the City of Houston Solid Waste network of city drop-off locations. They accept clean and dry cardboard and paper. When visiting, you must show proof that you live in the city and be aware of monthly visit limits, so it is best to collect all materials and bring them in one trip.

City of Houston Recycling Centers

Westpark Recycling Center

Address: 5900 Westpark, Houston, TX 77057

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The center accepts standard recyclables, including cardboard boxes, so it is suitable if your main task is to get rid of moving boxes.

Clear Lake / Ellington Airport Recycling Center

Address: 246 Loop Rd., Houston, TX 77034

Hours: Daily, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Suitable for those who need evening or weekend access to recycling packaging materials.

Kingwood Recycling Center

Address: 3210 W. Lake Houston Pkwy, Houston, TX 77339

Hours: Saturday–Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

A convenient option for residents of the northeastern part of the city, especially after unpacking over the weekend.

Neighborhood Depositories

If you have other large trash left over after your move, you can use one of the six Neighborhood Depositories, which also accept recyclables, including cardboard.

Addresses:

9003 N Main (77022)

14400 Sommermeyer (77041)

5565 Kirkpatrick (77028)

2240 Central Street (77017)

5100 Sunbeam (77033)

10785 Southwest Freeway (77074)

Hours may vary — check city website.

What to bring

Before your trip, arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time to unload. Be sure to bring photo ID and proof of a City of Houston address (e.g., utility bill or lease), as all locations are for city residents only.

Store Drop-Off Recycling for Plastic Film, Bubble Wrap, and Air Pillows

Not all packaging materials can be disposed of in curbside recycling or municipal recycling centers. Bubble wrap, stretch wrap, plastic envelopes, and air pillows fall under the category of plastic film, which has a separate recycling stream. If these materials are placed in regular recycling bins, they can get tangled in sorting equipment and contaminate recyclable waste, so they should only be taken to special store drop-off points.

In Houston, most large grocery and retail stores have containers for plastic film recycling at their entrances. You can usually recycle the following items in these containers:

• clean and dry plastic bags
• bubble wrap
• deflated air pillows
• stretch wrap

Before recycling, remove any tape, stickers, and paper inserts, and completely deflate the air pillows.

Rules may vary from store to store, so if you have a large amount of plastic, it is best to check in advance whether it is accepted at a particular location. You can find the nearest location by searching for “plastic film recycling in Houston” or through the locators of participating stores. Large chains usually participate in the program (depending on the specific store): Walmart, Target, Kroger, H-E-B, and Publix—many of them have containers right at the entrance.

If the packaging is clean and intact, shipping and mailing stores sometimes accept it for reuse—it’s best to call ahead and check.

Where to Donate Moving Boxes and Packing Supplies in Houston

If you want to donate packing materials in Houston, it's best to contact places where they can be reused immediately. Before visiting, it's a good idea to call and check whether they are currently accepting materials, as their ability to accept donations often depends on available space.

Shipping and Packing Stores

One of the easiest options is packaging and shipping stores, such as UPS Store, FedEx Office, or local packing & shipping stores. Sometimes they accept bubble wrap, packing peanuts, deflated air cushions, and sturdy boxes for reuse. However, these locations only accept materials if they have space available, so call ahead and confirm they are accepting the materials you need to drop off and how they should be brought in. For many, this is the fastest way to get rid of packaging because it is reused immediately.

Before donating materials, it is important to make sure that the boxes are clean, dry, odor-free, and retain their shape, and that plastic packaging materials are clean and bagged. If a charity cannot accept the packaging, a quick backup option is to donate the materials directly to other people through local exchange communities or online classifieds groups.

Local Nonprofit Organizations

Another option is local non-profit organizations. Some charity centers that help families with moving or provide assistance with settling in sometimes accept clean and sturdy boxes and packing paper. For example, donation centers affiliated with organizations such as Northwest Assistance Ministries may accept such materials, but the rules depend on current needs and availability, so it’s necessary to check in advance. It is usually best to offer them as clean reusable moving boxes and packing materials and to check whether the organization actually needs them at the moment.

Often, after moving, the garage remains cluttered. To help you deal with this and save time, donation pickup services in Houston may help. Note that they collect donation items, such as clothing, appliances, or furniture. The best way to use these services is to pack suitable items for donation into boxes and order a pickup. In this case, the boxes serve simply as packaging.

The main options are:

• The Salvation Army — you can arrange a pickup online. They only take items for donation; boxes must be closed and prepared.
• Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore — suitable for large furniture and other large items. Items must usually be placed in an accessible location (garage, first floor, entrance).
• Pickup Please (Vietnam Veterans of America) — “leave signed bags or boxes outside your home, and the driver will pick them up.” They also only accept suitable items, not packing materials.

To avoid having your request canceled, make sure the service covers your area and accepts the categories of items you need to donate. Make sure the items are clean and dry. Seal the boxes and label them if necessary. Place them in a location where the driver can pick them up without entering your home.

Generally speaking, if you need to get rid of empty moving boxes, donation pickup is usually not the best option — exchanging them through local communities or online ads is usually faster.

Community Exchange: How to Give Away Boxes on the Same Day

After moving, packing materials often remain. You can give them away through local exchange communities, which are particularly quick to pick up moving boxes. When people are preparing to move, they are often willing to pick up boxes on the same day.

Buy Nothing and Local Facebook Groups

Buy Nothing groups, usually tied to specific areas on Facebook, allow you to quickly give away boxes without having to go anywhere. Add photos to your ad and specify a pickup time to make your ad more effective.

Nextdoor

Nextdoor is also effective because it shows your ad to people living nearby. This greatly increases the likelihood of quick pickup, especially if you specify the approximate location and a convenient method of transfer.

Craigslist (Free section)

The Free section on Craigslist is suitable if you need to reach more people, for example, when you have a lot of boxes and want to give them away in one go rather than in several small meetings.

How to Increase the Chance of Same-Day Pickup

In the ad, write that you are giving away a “moving kit,” indicate the approximate number and size of boxes, add information about additional materials (e.g., bubble wrap or packing paper), describe the condition of the boxes (clean, dry), specify the area or nearest intersection, and offer a simple transfer option—for example, porch pickup, “first come, first served,” or a limited time for pickup. This will help you find interested parties faster.

Material-by-Material Handling Guide

If you’re figuring out where to recycle packing materials in Houston, use this chart to choose the right route for each item.

Preparation Checklist Before Drop-Off

Here’s how to prepare packing materials before drop-off:

• Flatten cardboard boxes and keep them clean and dry
• Remove excess tape, labels, and plastic sleeves
• Keep wet or greasy cardboard separate from recyclables
• Deflate air pillows and bundle plastic film (bubble wrap, stretch wrap) together
• Bag loose packing peanuts securely
• Make sure donation boxes are sturdy and reusable
• Check facility hours and accepted materials before visiting