Washington Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Set out trash and recycling containers no earlier than 6:30 p.m. the night before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Remove empty containers from public space by 8:00 p.m. on collection day.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Set out trash and recycling containers no earlier than 6:30 p.m. the night before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Remove empty containers from public space by 8:00 p.m. on collection day. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | DPW collects bulky items by appointment from residential households (single-family homes and buildings with three or fewer units). Call 311 or visit 311.dc.gov to schedule an appointment. Up to 7 items permitted per appointment. Set items out where trash is collected between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the day of your appointment. | Up to 7 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Year-round. Yard waste must be placed in brown paper yard bags or tied into bundles with natural fiber twine up to 4 feet in length; plastic bags are strictly prohibited. |
Trash container requirements
- City-issued green DPW trash cart
- Set out containers between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. on collection day
- All household trash must be bagged and fit inside the cart with the lid closed
- Remove containers from the curb or alley public space by 8:00 p.m. on collection day
- Keep the public space around your property clean to prevent sanitation enforcement tickets
Washington recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Paper items (office paper, flattened cardboard, food and drink cartons, newspapers, magazines, books, junk mail)
- Plastics (plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, and clean rigid plastic containers)
- Metal containers (aluminum cans, steel and tin food cans, metal beverage containers)
- Glass containers (clean and empty glass food jars and beverage bottles)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, plastic wraps, and film of any color, size, or shape (strictly prohibited)
- Foam and polystyrene (Styrofoam cups, takeout containers, and packaging peanuts)
- Tissues, napkins, and paper towels
- Plastic straws, utensils, and flexible tubing
- Window glass, ceramic glass, cookware, and mirror glass
Washington bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | DPW collects bulky items by appointment from residential households (single-family homes and buildings with three or fewer units). Call 311 or visit 311.dc.gov to schedule an appointment. Up to 7 items permitted per appointment. Set items out where trash is collected between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the day of your appointment. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 7 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 202-673-6833 |
Mattress bagging rule: Mattresses must be bagged under the listed rules. Confirm the required plastic encasement before pickup.
Washington holiday trash delays
Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.
Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Washington, DC
Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:
| Holiday | Observed Date | Schedule Status | Curbside Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Weekend Holiday | Holiday falls on a weekend. Regular weekday curbside routes are unchanged. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 12, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Wednesday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
DPW & sanitation contact
District of Columbia Department of Public Works · municipal dpw
Phone: 202-673-6833
899 North Capitol Street, NEWashington, DC 20002
These collection rules cover Zone District of Columbia DPW Residential Collection Routes.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Washington, DC?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Set out trash and recycling containers no earlier than 6:30 p.m. the night before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Remove empty containers from public space by 8:00 p.m. on collection day.. These rules apply to Zone District of Columbia DPW Residential Collection Routes.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Washington?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone District of Columbia DPW Residential Collection Routes.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Washington?
DPW collects bulky items by appointment from residential households (single-family homes and buildings with three or fewer units). Call 311 or visit 311.dc.gov to schedule an appointment. Up to 7 items permitted per appointment. Set items out where trash is collected between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the day of your appointment. The listed limit is 7 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 202-673-6833 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone District of Columbia DPW Residential Collection Routes.
What items are accepted for recycling in Washington?
The listed accepted materials are Paper items (office paper, flattened cardboard, food and drink cartons, newspapers, magazines, books, junk mail), Plastics (plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, and clean rigid plastic containers), Metal containers (aluminum cans, steel and tin food cans, metal beverage containers), Glass containers (clean and empty glass food jars and beverage bottles). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic wraps, and film of any color, size, or shape (strictly prohibited), Foam and polystyrene (Styrofoam cups, takeout containers, and packaging peanuts), Tissues, napkins, and paper towels, Plastic straws, utensils, and flexible tubing, Window glass, ceramic glass, cookware, and mirror glass. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone District of Columbia DPW Residential Collection Routes.