Seattle 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 carts out by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day with lids opening toward the street or alley, and remove carts as soon as possible after collection.
- 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 carts out by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day with lids opening toward the street or alley, and remove carts as soon as possible after collection. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Special Item Pickup is available on demand for Seattle Public Utilities residential customers. Items are collected on your regular collection day once confirmed through your utility account. Set items at the collection point on a flat, level surface by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. | Up to 6 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Year-round. Food and yard waste (compost) is collected weekly year-round in green carts; extra yard waste can be placed in 32-gallon paper bags or bundled with natural fiber twine up to 4 feet in length and 60 pounds. |
Trash container requirements
- City-issued garbage cart with lid securely closed
- Place carts at curb or alley edge by 7:00 a.m. on scheduled collection day
- Lid openings must face toward street or alley without blocking sidewalks or driveways
- Remove carts as soon as possible after collection has taken place
Seattle recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Paper (office paper, newspaper, magazines, envelopes, catalogs, paper bags)
- Cardboard (paperboard boxes and corrugated shipping boxes flattened)
- Plastic containers (bottles, jugs, jars, dairy tubs, and cups clean and empty)
- Glass containers (bottles and jars empty and rinsed, all colors)
- Metal containers (aluminum cans, steel and tin cans, clean foil and small metal scrap)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and plastic film wrap (keep out of recycling cart, even if bundled)
- Food waste and liquids (put food scraps in green food and yard waste cart)
- Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts (take clean blocks to drop-off or schedule pickup)
- Batteries and electronic items (prohibited from garbage and curbside recycling)
- Hazardous waste, paints, motor oil, and chemicals
Seattle bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Special Item Pickup is available on demand for Seattle Public Utilities residential customers. Items are collected on your regular collection day once confirmed through your utility account. Set items at the collection point on a flat, level surface by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 6 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 206-684-3000 |
Seattle 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: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Seattle, WA
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 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| 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
Seattle Public Utilities · municipal dpw
Phone: 206-684-3000
700 5th Ave, Suite 4900Seattle, WA 98104
These collection rules cover Zone Seattle Curbside Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Seattle, WA?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Set carts out by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day with lids opening toward the street or alley, and remove carts as soon as possible after collection.. These rules apply to Zone Seattle Curbside Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Seattle?
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: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day. These rules apply to Zone Seattle Curbside Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Seattle?
Special Item Pickup is available on demand for Seattle Public Utilities residential customers. Items are collected on your regular collection day once confirmed through your utility account. Set items at the collection point on a flat, level surface by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. The listed limit is 6 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 206-684-3000 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Seattle Curbside Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).
What items are accepted for recycling in Seattle?
The listed accepted materials are Paper (office paper, newspaper, magazines, envelopes, catalogs, paper bags), Cardboard (paperboard boxes and corrugated shipping boxes flattened), Plastic containers (bottles, jugs, jars, dairy tubs, and cups clean and empty), Glass containers (bottles and jars empty and rinsed, all colors), Metal containers (aluminum cans, steel and tin cans, clean foil and small metal scrap). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and plastic film wrap (keep out of recycling cart, even if bundled), Food waste and liquids (put food scraps in green food and yard waste cart), Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts (take clean blocks to drop-off or schedule pickup), Batteries and electronic items (prohibited from garbage and curbside recycling), Hazardous waste, paints, motor oil, and chemicals. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Seattle Curbside Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).