Boston 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 trash out after 5:00 p.m. the night before your collection day, or by 6:00 a.m. on collection morning. Setting trash out earlier than 5:00 p.m. is subject to a $25 municipal fine.
- 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 trash out after 5:00 p.m. the night before your collection day, or by 6:00 a.m. on collection morning. Setting trash out earlier than 5:00 p.m. is subject to a $25 municipal fine. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Household furniture and bicycles can be placed curbside on your regular trash collection day without an appointment. For large appliances and electronics containing Freon or cathode ray tubes (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, televisions, computer monitors), schedule a free special pickup via Boston 311 or online. Mattresses require a separate appointment. | Up to 10 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Seasonal: 2026-04-01 to 2026-12-05. Curbside leaf and yard waste collection occurs on your regular trash day during scheduled collection weeks. Place leaves, grass, and garden waste in brown paper yard bags or barrels labeled with yard waste stickers by 6:00 a.m. Tree branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 3 feet and no thicker than 1 inch. |
Trash container requirements
- Curbside collection is provided to residential buildings with six units or fewer
- Trash must be placed in clean, sturdy barrels with tight lids or securely tied heavy-duty bags
- Set containers out after 5:00 p.m. the evening before or by 6:00 a.m. on collection day
- Keep sidewalks clear and remove empty containers promptly after collection
- Buildings with seven or more units must arrange private waste removal
Boston recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Cardboard (flattened shipping boxes, cereal boxes, egg cartons, paper towel tubes)
- Paper (office paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, paper bags, mail)
- Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and lids (drink bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, yogurt containers)
- Glass bottles and jars (food and beverage containers rinsed clean)
- Metal food and beverage cans (aluminum cans, tin soup cans rinsed clean)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and film wrap (do not bag recyclables or use grocery bags)
- Styrofoam and foam packaging materials
- Black plastic takeout food containers
- Food waste and food-soiled packaging
- Batteries, electronics, textiles, and hazardous chemicals
Boston bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Household furniture and bicycles can be placed curbside on your regular trash collection day without an appointment. For large appliances and electronics containing Freon or cathode ray tubes (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, televisions, computer monitors), schedule a free special pickup via Boston 311 or online. Mattresses require a separate appointment. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 10 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 617-635-4500 |
Mattress bagging rule: Mattresses must be bagged under the listed rules. Confirm the required plastic encasement before pickup.
Boston 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: Boston, MA
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
City of Boston Public Works Department · municipal dpw
Phone: 617-635-4500
1 City Hall Square, Suite 714Boston, MA 02201
These collection rules cover Zone City of Boston Curbside Collection Routes.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Boston, MA?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Set trash out after 5:00 p.m. the night before your collection day, or by 6:00 a.m. on collection morning. Setting trash out earlier than 5:00 p.m. is subject to a $25 municipal fine.. These rules apply to Zone City of Boston Curbside Collection Routes.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Boston?
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 City of Boston Curbside Collection Routes.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Boston?
Household furniture and bicycles can be placed curbside on your regular trash collection day without an appointment. For large appliances and electronics containing Freon or cathode ray tubes (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, televisions, computer monitors), schedule a free special pickup via Boston 311 or online. Mattresses require a separate appointment. The listed limit is 10 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 617-635-4500 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Boston Curbside Collection Routes.
What items are accepted for recycling in Boston?
The listed accepted materials are Cardboard (flattened shipping boxes, cereal boxes, egg cartons, paper towel tubes), Paper (office paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, paper bags, mail), Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and lids (drink bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, yogurt containers), Glass bottles and jars (food and beverage containers rinsed clean), Metal food and beverage cans (aluminum cans, tin soup cans rinsed clean). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and film wrap (do not bag recyclables or use grocery bags), Styrofoam and foam packaging materials, Black plastic takeout food containers, Food waste and food-soiled packaging, Batteries, electronics, textiles, and hazardous chemicals. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Boston Curbside Collection Routes.