Pasadena, CA trash pickup schedule
Pasadena trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 135,804 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | The city and contracted haulers (by area or service) City of Pasadena Public Works collects all residential refuse (Pay-As-You-Throw for single-family homes and multi-family buildings of four units or less: green-lid trash, blue-lid recycling, black-lid yard/food waste). Larger apartment buildings and businesses use private franchise haulers and must contact their hauler.1 |
|---|---|
| How often | Recycling same day as trash, yard waste same day as trash1 |
| Set out | Collection begins at 7:00 a.m.; trash, recycling and yard waste carts are emptied the same day before 5 p.m. (not at the same time); roll carts back at the end of the day; carts 3 ft apart and 3 ft from cars/objects1 |
| Your pickup day | Zone map: cityofpasadena.net. App: Refuse Days of Service and Map (image PDF); or call City Service Center 626-744-7311 |
| Holiday | Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026: Delayed one day. No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day1 |
Bulk items: By appointment (details). Drop-off sites: 1 listed (hours and fees).
Pasadena holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | No trash/recycling collection on New Year's Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; collection is one day after your normal pickup day on those holiday weeks. All other holidays: regular schedule. Bulky items are never scheduled on holidays.1 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | cityofpasadena.net |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Delayed one day | No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| 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 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| 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 | No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day1 |
| 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 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed one day | No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day1 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day1 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Delayed one day | No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 15, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 18, 2027 (observed) | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Mon, Jul 5, 2027 (observed) | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 6, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 11, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Veterans Day | Thu, Nov 11, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 25, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 24, 2027 (observed) | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Pasadena
| How it works | By appointment1 |
|---|---|
| How to request | City refuse customers call 626-744-7311 (or submit online via the City Service Center) at least two weeks before their regular trash day; list the items; set out on the front parkway by 7 a.m., no more than 24 hours before (citation risk); picked up 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon-Fri; not scheduled on holidays15 |
| Limits | up to 3 cubic yards per pickup (4 ft x 5 ft x 4 ft); each item no bigger/heavier than two people can lift; wood/pipe/branches max 3 ft, bundled; up to 2 tires without rims1 |
| Fees | two free pickups per calendar year; extra pickups and items beyond the service order are charged (call for cost)1 |
| Not accepted |
|
Recycling in Pasadena
| Pickup | same day as trash1 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream1 |
| Glass | accepted in cart (glass containers)1 |
| Plastics | #1 and #2 only1 |
Accepted
- empty aerosol cans; beverage and food cans; flattened cardboard; glass containers; junk mail; cereal boxes; flattened newspaper; paper (any color); plastics #1 and #2; phone books and magazines1
Programs
- Curbside used motor oil/filter pickup by appointment (call 626-744-7311 at least 24 h before trash day; max two 1-gallon city containers per week; at curb by 7 a.m.)4
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | yes, black-lid yard waste cart, same day as trash1 |
|---|---|
| Season | year-round (no seasonal limit published)1 |
| How often | same day as trash1 |
| Rules | grass, leaves, weeds and branches up to 4 ft long and under 3 in diameter; lid closed; no palm fronds, bamboo, cactus, dirt, stumps, ashes, animal waste, lumber, hoses or flowerpots1 |
| Food scraps | required since Jan 1, 2022: food scraps tied in a plastic bag inside the yard-waste cart (meat, bones, bread, dairy, coffee grounds, fruits and vegetables)3 |
| Christmas trees | 2025-26 season: drop-off 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec 26, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026 at Eaton Blanche Park (3100 E. Del Mar Blvd., Millicent Way lot) and Robinson Park (1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Morton St. lot); curbside next to your carts on your trash day Jan 5-16 (2026); outside those dates cut to fit the yard-waste cart; flocked/artificial trees go in trash. 2026-27 dates not yet published.2 |
| Leaf collection | Not published by the city (official page) |
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
S.A.F.E. Collection Centers (City of Los Angeles; open to LA County residents) and LA County Sanitation Districts one-day HHW/e-waste events
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | City of Los Angeles / LA County Sanitation Districts |
| Address | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | free4 |
| Who can use it | Los Angeles County residents4 |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | cityofpasadena.net1 |
|---|---|
| Phone | City Service Center 626-744-73116 |
| 311 | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Official website | cityofpasadena.net |
Nearby cities
- Glendale, CA6 miles · The city and contracted haulers (by area or service)
- El Monte, CA9 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Burbank, CA11 miles · The city collects
- Downey, CA15 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- West Covina, CA15 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Inglewood, CA18 miles · A private hauler under city contract
All California cities: California trash pickup schedules.
Pasadena trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Pasadena?
Pasadena does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s zone map (cityofpasadena.net) or the Refuse Days of Service and Map (image PDF); or call City Service Center 626-744-7311 app.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Pasadena?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Pasadena?
Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Delayed one day: No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2027 in Pasadena?
New Year's Day falls on Fri, Jan 1, 2027. Delayed one day: No trash/recycling collection on the holiday; collection is one day after your normal pickup day
How do I get rid of bulky items in Pasadena?
By appointment. City refuse customers call 626-744-7311 (or submit online via the City Service Center) at least two weeks before their regular trash day; list the items; set out on the front parkway by 7 a.m., no more than 24 hours before (citation risk); picked up 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon-Fri; not scheduled on holidays Fees: two free pickups per calendar year; extra pickups and items beyond the service order are charged (call for cost).
Does Pasadena recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart (glass containers).
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Pasadena?
Use the city’s online form (cityofpasadena.net) or call City Service Center 626-744-7311.
Sources
- 1 Residential Refuse Service & Recycling (schedule, holidays, bulky items, FAQ)City · cityofpasadena.net · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Christmas Tree and Holiday RecyclingCity · cityofpasadena.net · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Curbside Organics RecyclingCity · cityofpasadena.net · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 Household Hazardous WasteCity · cityofpasadena.net · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Recycling and Refuse Service Flyer (PDF)City · cityofpasadena.net · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 2025 Holiday Trash Schedule (Including Christmas Tree Recycling) (PDF)City · cityofpasadena.net · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.