Birmingham, AL trash pickup schedule
Birmingham trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 195,893 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | The city collects City of Birmingham Department of Public Works, Waste Services Division collects household garbage (city-issued 96-gallon carts), opt-in curbside recycling (free 64-gal cart) and bulk trash/brush for about 70,000 households. Recycling carts: single-family residential only (businesses, non-residents and multi-dwelling units with four or fewer units not eligible). Garbage: multi-family dwellings of more than four units and businesses needing more than two carts are not serviced by the city.1 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly (one dedicated day per neighborhood, Monday-Thursday), recycling every other week on the neighborhood's garbage day (week '1' or '2'), yard waste with bulk trash and brush, about every other week by neighborhood28 |
| Set out | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Your pickup day | Published neighborhood list on the schedules page: each neighborhood has one garbage day (Mon-Thu) and recycling schedule '1' or '2'; bulk trash/brush by neighborhood on a monthly calendar (HTML + PDF). New residents can call 311.. Zone map: birminghamal.gov. App: MyBHAM3112 |
| Holiday | Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: Delayed one day. City holiday (Wednesday). Per the city's standing rule, garbage/recycling moves one day back (Wednesday routes Thursday, Thursday routes Friday); no bulk trash Nov 11 ('No City Services'). No 2026-specific notice yet; in 2025 the city confirmed 'garbage routes delayed by one day'.5 |
Bulk items: Set collection days (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).
Birmingham holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | When a City holiday falls Monday-Thursday, garbage and recycling collection moves one day later for all routes for the rest of the week. Garbage routes run Monday-Thursday. When the city closes Thursday AND Friday (Thanksgiving, Christmas), the city has moved Thursday routes to Saturday (Thanksgiving 2025) - check the city news notice. City holidays 2026: Jan 1, Jan 19 (MLK), Apr 3 (Good Friday), May 25, Jun 19, Jul 3, Sep 7, Nov 11 (Veterans Day), Nov 26-27 (Thanksgiving), Dec 24-25 (Christmas). No bulk trash on city holidays ('No City Services').1 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | birminghamal.gov5 |
| Observed notes | Friday holidays (Good Friday Apr 3, Juneteenth Jun 19, Independence Day Jul 3) are not listed: the city's rule covers Monday-Thursday holidays only and there are no Friday garbage routes; the city published no notice for them. |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Moved to Friday | Thursday, Jan 1, 2026: no garbage or recycling; Thursday routes collected Friday, Jan 2.9 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Delayed one day | Monday routes collected Tuesday, Jan 20; rest of week delayed one day.13 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Garbage and recycling pushed back one day for all routes; regular schedule resumed after Friday, May 29.12 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 (observed) | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Delayed one day | Monday routes collected Tuesday, Tuesday routes Wednesday, and so on.14 |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Delayed one day | City holiday (Wednesday). Per the city's standing rule, garbage/recycling moves one day back (Wednesday routes Thursday, Thursday routes Friday); no bulk trash Nov 11 ('No City Services'). No 2026-specific notice yet; in 2025 the city confirmed 'garbage routes delayed by one day'.5 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Changes; see details | City closed Thursday Nov 26 AND Friday Nov 27, 2026. No 2026 notice yet. Precedent: for the same Thu+Fri closure in 2025 the city moved Thursday routes to Saturday and ran all other days as scheduled. No bulk trash Nov 26-27. Recheck city news ~Nov 20.5 |
| Christmas Day | Thu, Dec 24, 2026 | Changes; see details | City closed Thursday Dec 24 AND Friday Dec 25, 2026. No 2026 notice yet. Precedents: Thanksgiving 2025 (Thu+Fri closure) moved Thursday routes to Saturday; Christmas 2025 (Wed+Thu) moved Wednesday routes to Friday and Thursday routes to Saturday. Recheck city news mid-Dec.5 |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Birmingham
| How it works | Set collection days8 |
|---|---|
| How to request | No booking: put bulk trash and limbs out by 6 a.m. on the day your neighborhood is scheduled (monthly Bulk Trash and Brush calendar, about every other week); daily progress posted on the Daily Bulk Trash Updates page.2 |
| Limits | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Not accepted | Not published by the city (official page) |
Recycling in Birmingham
| Pickup | every other week on the neighborhood's garbage day (week '1' or '2')2 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream6 |
| Glass | not accepted6 |
| Plastics | #1 and #2 bottles, jugs and jars (caps on); no #3-#76 |
Accepted
- Paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail)6
- Shredded paper, but it must be placed into a paper bag that should be stapled closed.6
- Cardboard (flattened boxes, tissue boxes, cereal boxes)6
- Plastics #1 and #2 such as bottles, jugs and jars with caps6
- Plastic and cardboard detergent containers6
- Aluminum cans, steel cans and tin cans (must be rinsed)6
Not accepted
- Glass6
- Milk cartons, juice cartons, plastic drink pouches6
- Plastic freezer bags6
- Chip bags6
- Hardback Books6
- Pizza Boxes6
- Garden Hoses6
- Electronics6
- Cables or Cords6
- Plastic Bags6
- Clothing and Other Textiles6
- Plastics #3 through #7 such as Red Solo cups, take-out containers, yogurt and margarine tubs, shrink wrap, rings on a six pack, straws, coffee cups, plastic cutlery, DVDs, CDs, sunglasses, etc.6
- Wire Hangers6
- Yard Waste6
- Foam Products6
- Bulky Plastic Items (e.g., Coolers, Toys)6
- Scrap Metal6
- Household Garbage6
- Food Waste6
- Rope and String6
- Ratchet Straps6
- Vacuum Hoses6
- Vacuum Cleaners6
- Rubber Balls6
- Used HVAC Filters6
Programs
- Opt-in: free 64-gallon recycling cart by online application, one per household, delivered by the city; single-family residential only (businesses, churches, non-residents and multi-dwelling units of four or fewer units not eligible). Contamination: one documented warning, then the cart is removed.6
- Recycling is collected twice a month (every other week); weekly recycling is not offered.6
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | brush/limbs collected with bulk trash on the neighborhood bulk schedule; leaves must be bagged7 |
|---|---|
| Season | Not published by the city (official page) |
| How often | with bulk trash and brush, about every other week by neighborhood8 |
| Rules | Bag leaves; put bulk trash and limbs out on your area's scheduled day1 |
| Food scraps | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Christmas trees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Leaf collection | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Cleanup events |
|
| Hhw info | The city does not accept electronics or household hazardous waste at the curb; use city drop-off events or facilities. Info: (205) 325-8741.6 |
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
Waste District roll-off dumpsters (Ensley, Eastend, North Birmingham, Southside districts)
| Type | Transfer station |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | 1044 Avenue West, 35214 (Ensley); 301 96th Street North, 35206 (Eastend; WSD page lists 307 96th St. North); 2413 27th Street North, 35234 (North Birmingham); 501 6th Avenue South, 35205 (Southside) · Map7 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed weekends7 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Who can use it | residents7 |
| Accepts | mattresses, household garbage/refuse, trash and brush; no hazardous items or commercial construction materials7 |
Eastern Area Landfill - Public Unloading Area
| Type | Landfill |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | 2787 Alton Road, Birmingham, AL 35210 · Map7 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.; closed Sunday; (205) 655-33917 |
| Fees | no fee for residential disposal7 |
| Who can use it | driver's license proving Jefferson County residence7 |
| Accepts | Bagged household garbage and rubbish, plastic appliances, furniture, TVs; one computer per household; scrap metal and metal appliances; bagged/boxed paper; plastic bottles and jugs. NOT accepted: liquids or hazardous waste, compressed air containers, fluorescent bulbs, wooden doors and pallets, paint, tires, batteries, construction and demolition waste, bulk trees and brush.7 |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | birminghamal.gov18 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 311 or (205) 254-6314, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed city holidays); recycling questions: [email protected]2 |
| 311 | 311 (outside city limits or from a cell phone: (205) 254-2489) / MyBHAM311 app or online portal for missed garbage, bulk or recycling1 |
| Official website | birminghamal.gov1 |
| Recycling email | [email protected]6 |
Nearby cities
- Tuscaloosa, AL47 miles · The city collects
- Huntsville, AL81 miles · The city collects
- Columbus, GA132 miles · The city collects
- Chattanooga, TN138 miles · The city collects
- Sandy Springs, GA142 miles · Residents choose a licensed private hauler
All Alabama cities: Alabama trash pickup schedules.
Birmingham trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Birmingham?
Trash is collected weekly (one dedicated day per neighborhood, Monday-Thursday). Published neighborhood list on the schedules page: each neighborhood has one garbage day (Mon-Thu) and recycling schedule '1' or '2'; bulk trash/brush by neighborhood on a monthly calendar (HTML + PDF). New residents can call 311.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Birmingham?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Changes; see details: City closed Thursday Nov 26 AND Friday Nov 27, 2026. No 2026 notice yet. Precedent: for the same Thu+Fri closure in 2025 the city moved Thursday routes to Saturday and ran all other days as scheduled. No bulk trash Nov 26-27. Recheck city news ~Nov 20.
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Birmingham?
Christmas Day falls on Thu, Dec 24, 2026. Changes; see details: City closed Thursday Dec 24 AND Friday Dec 25, 2026. No 2026 notice yet. Precedents: Thanksgiving 2025 (Thu+Fri closure) moved Thursday routes to Saturday; Christmas 2025 (Wed+Thu) moved Wednesday routes to Friday and Thursday routes to Saturday. Recheck city news mid-Dec.
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Birmingham?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Moved to Friday: Thursday, Jan 1, 2026: no garbage or recycling; Thursday routes collected Friday, Jan 2.
How do I get rid of bulky items in Birmingham?
Set collection days. No booking: put bulk trash and limbs out by 6 a.m. on the day your neighborhood is scheduled (monthly Bulk Trash and Brush calendar, about every other week); daily progress posted on the Daily Bulk Trash Updates page.
Does Birmingham recycle glass?
Glass: not accepted.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Birmingham?
Use the city’s online form (birminghamal.gov) or call 311 or (205) 254-6314, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed city holidays); recycling questions: [email protected].
Sources
- 1 Waste Services DivisionCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Garbage, Recycle & Bulk Trash SchedulesCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Bulk Trash and Brush Pick-up Schedule November 2026 (PDF)City · s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 Daily Bulk Trash UpdatesCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 City Of Birmingham HolidaysCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Recycle BirminghamCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 Illegal Dumping (drop-off dumpsters, Eastern Area Landfill)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 8 News: New Neighborhood-based Garbage Pickup Schedule on January 6, 2025 (Dec 17, 2024)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 9 News: Trash pickup schedule will be adjusted due to the holidays (Dec 20, 2025)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 10 Uniform Garbage Carts (incl. FAQ)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 11 A How-To Guide For Using New Uniform Garbage CartsCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 12 News: City of Birmingham offices closed for Memorial Day, trash pickup adjusted (May 19, 2026)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 13 News: Trash pickup schedule will be adjusted due to MLK holiday (Jan 16, 2026)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 14 News: The City of Birmingham offices closed on Labor Day (Sep 2, 2026)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 15 Event: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day (Oct 17, 2026)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 16 News: City offices to close Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving holiday (Nov 24, 2025)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 17 News: City offices closed on Veterans Day, trash pickup resumes on Wednesday (Nov 6, 2025)City · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 18 311 - Birmingham's Customer Service CenterCity · birminghamal.gov · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.