Boston 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.
Boston 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
- 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
Can you recycle these items in Boston?
Can you recycle cardboard in Boston?
AcceptedFlatten boxes to save room. Cardboard that does not fit in the blue bin must be flattened, bundled, tied with string, and limited to 3 feet in length.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Boston?
Accepted with conditionsOnly clean, grease-free cardboard portions are accepted; discard food-soiled or greasy box bottoms in the regular trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Boston?
AcceptedRinse beverage bottles and food containers clean; place loose in the blue recycling bin.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Boston?
AcceptedRinse milk jugs, detergent jugs, and shampoo containers clean; leave caps on.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Boston?
Not acceptedRigid PVC and vinyl packaging are not accepted in Boston single-stream bins.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Boston?
Not acceptedPlastic shopping bags and flexible film wrap are strictly prohibited in blue bins; return plastic bags to grocery stores.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Boston?
AcceptedClean yogurt tubs, butter tubs, and food containers are accepted loose; no black plastic containers.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Boston?
Not acceptedPolystyrene and Styrofoam are prohibited because they break apart and contaminate sorting equipment.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Boston?
Not acceptedMixed and multi-layer plastics are not recyclable in the municipal blue cart.
Can you recycle glass in Boston?
AcceptedRinse glass food and beverage jars clean; metal lids can be placed loosely in the blue cart.
Can you recycle aluminum in Boston?
AcceptedRinse aluminum drink cans, food tins, and clean foil loosely into the blue cart.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Boston?
Not acceptedShredded paper is too small for automated sorting machinery; discard in regular trash or home compost.
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.