Washington Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Washington recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
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
Can you recycle these items in Washington?
Can you recycle cardboard in Washington?
AcceptedFlatten all corrugated cardboard boxes; place loose inside blue recycling cart.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Washington?
Accepted with conditionsClean unsoiled sections free of food and grease are accepted; greasy portions go into trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Washington?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse beverage bottles; plastic lids and caps may remain attached.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Washington?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse milk jugs, detergent containers, and cleaning bottles; reattach caps.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Washington?
Accepted with conditionsClean rigid containers accepted; vinyl siding and PVC pipe are prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Washington?
Not acceptedPlastic shopping bags, shrink film, and plastic stretch wrap are strictly prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Washington?
AcceptedClean yogurt tubs, margarine tubs, and food containers accepted.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Washington?
Not acceptedPolystyrene and Styrofoam packaging peanuts, cups, and takeout clamshells are prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Washington?
Accepted with conditionsBulky rigid plastic items accepted; composite multilayer plastics are prohibited.
Can you recycle glass in Washington?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse glass bottles and food jars; metal lids may remain attached.
Can you recycle aluminum in Washington?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse aluminum beverage cans and steel food tins; place loose in cart.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Washington?
Accepted with conditionsPlace shredded paper in paper bags or bring to DPW shredding events; loose shreds prohibited.
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.