Indianapolis 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 Trash cart must be at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, placed 2 to 3 feet from the curb with arrows pointing to the street or alley, and at least 5 feet from objects and buildings.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Yard-waste events omitted: seasonal start and end dates are required.
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Trash cart must be at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, placed 2 to 3 feet from the curb with arrows pointing to the street or alley, and at least 5 feet from objects and buildings. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | On your monthly heavy trash pickup day, place up to 2 heavy/bulky items at the curb next to your trash cart by 7:00 a.m. No appointment or scheduling required; limited to 2 items per month. | Up to 2 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Seasonal: confirm start to confirm end. During annual fall leaf collection season, up to 40 bags of leaves are collected weekly on regular trash day; outside leaf season, bagged yard waste must fit inside the 96-gallon cart or be hauled to Citizens Transfer Station. |
Trash container requirements
- City-issued 96-gallon black trash cart; all household garbage must be bagged and placed inside cart with lid closed
- Set cart at the curb before 7:00 a.m. with arrows pointing toward the street or alley
- Keep cart at least 5 feet away from all objects, parked vehicles, and buildings; no loose trash outside cart
Indianapolis recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Cardboard (corrugated boxes, paperboard, paper egg cartons; broken down)
- Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1, #2, and #5 empty and rinsed; leave caps attached)
- Glass bottles and jars (all colors rinsed clean)
- Metal cans (aluminum, tin, and steel food and beverage cans)
- Cartons (milk, nondairy milk, and juice perishable cartons)
- Mixed paper (newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, plastic film, and wraps (do not bag recycling)
- Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, plates, and takeout clamshells)
- Plastic #3 (PVC pipes, hoses) and Plastic #6
- Electronics, batteries, and household hazardous waste (take to ToxDrop)
- Food waste, liquids, and heavily soiled paper products
Indianapolis bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | On your monthly heavy trash pickup day, place up to 2 heavy/bulky items at the curb next to your trash cart by 7:00 a.m. No appointment or scheduling required; limited to 2 items per month. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 2 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Not required under the listed rules. |
| Dispatch phone | 317-327-4000 |
Indianapolis 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, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Indianapolis, IN
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 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| 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 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| 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
Indianapolis Department of Public Works · municipal dpw
Phone: 317-327-4000
200 E Washington StIndianapolis, IN 46204
These collection rules cover Zone Residential Solid Waste Collection Districts (Monday through Friday).
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Indianapolis, IN?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Trash cart must be at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, placed 2 to 3 feet from the curb with arrows pointing to the street or alley, and at least 5 feet from objects and buildings.. These rules apply to Zone Residential Solid Waste Collection Districts (Monday through Friday).
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Indianapolis?
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, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Residential Solid Waste Collection Districts (Monday through Friday).
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Indianapolis?
On your monthly heavy trash pickup day, place up to 2 heavy/bulky items at the curb next to your trash cart by 7:00 a.m. No appointment or scheduling required; limited to 2 items per month. The listed limit is 2 items per pickup. Advance notice is not required under the listed rules. Contact sanitation at 317-327-4000 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Residential Solid Waste Collection Districts (Monday through Friday).
What items are accepted for recycling in Indianapolis?
The listed accepted materials are Cardboard (corrugated boxes, paperboard, paper egg cartons; broken down), Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1, #2, and #5 empty and rinsed; leave caps attached), Glass bottles and jars (all colors rinsed clean), Metal cans (aluminum, tin, and steel food and beverage cans), Cartons (milk, nondairy milk, and juice perishable cartons), Mixed paper (newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic film, and wraps (do not bag recycling), Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, plates, and takeout clamshells), Plastic #3 (PVC pipes, hoses) and Plastic #6, Electronics, batteries, and household hazardous waste (take to ToxDrop), Food waste, liquids, and heavily soiled paper products. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Residential Solid Waste Collection Districts (Monday through Friday).