Boston, MA trash pickup schedule

Boston trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 672,973 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked October 30, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	The city collects City of Boston Public Works collects curbside trash and recycling from qualifying residential buildings. Buildings with 6 units or fewer get City recycling carts, yard waste, mattress and food-waste service; large buildings (7+ units) must buy their own carts/receptacles, can request City service, get special-item pickup by appointment if City-serviced, and are advised to add a private hauler if their neighborhood has only once-weekly collection. City pages do not name a collection contractor.⁹
How often	Trash once or twice a week depending on neighborhood (the City zone layer has once-weekly M/T/W/TH/F zones and twice-weekly MTH/TF/MF zones), recycling same collection schedule as trash (serviced together, separate trucks); exact days per address in the Trash Day app, yard waste on scheduled weeks, on your trash day (first trash day of the week if you have two)⁴⁹
Set out	curbside no later than 6 a.m. on collection day; not before 5 p.m. the evening before¹
Your pickup day	Address lookup: boston.gov. App: Trash Day (Boston Trash Schedule & Alerts; ReCollect-powered, not scraped)¹¹
Holiday	Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: Changes; see details. City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - Veterans Day³

Bulk items: Set collection days (details). Drop-off sites: 3 listed (hours and fees).

Boston holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	on City holidays, trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week; residents check the Trash Day app for their address. Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day: normal schedule.³
Official notice	boston.gov³
Status url	boston.gov (homepage 'Trash and recycling' status line; on 2026-10-30 it read 'Pickup is on a normal schedule.')¹⁶

Boston trash pickup on holidays, 2026
Holiday	Date	Pickup	What the city says
New Year's Day	Thu, Jan 1, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Thursday, January 1, 2026 - New Year's Day³
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Monday, January 19, 2026 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day³
Presidents' Day	Mon, Feb 16, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Monday, February 16, 2026 - Presidents Day³
Evacuation Day	Tue, Mar 17, 2026	No change	Tuesday, March 17, 2026 - Evacuation Day (City offices open; listed on the City holidays page)³
Patriots' Day	Mon, Apr 20, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Monday, April 20, 2026 - Patriots Day³
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Monday, May 25, 2026 - Memorial Day³
Bunker Hill Day	Wed, Jun 17, 2026	No change	Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - Bunker Hill Day (City offices open; listed on the City holidays page)³
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Friday, June 19, 2026 - Juneteenth³
Independence Day (Fourth of July)	Fri, Jul 3, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Friday, July 3, 2026 - Independence Day (Observed)³
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Monday, September 7, 2026 - Labor Day³
Indigenous Peoples' Day	Mon, Oct 12, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Monday, October 12, 2026 - Indigenous Peoples Day³
Veterans Day	Wed, Nov 11, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - Veterans Day³
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Thursday, November 26, 2026 - Thanksgiving Day³
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25, 2026	Changes; see details	City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Friday, December 25, 2026 - Christmas Day³

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: City of Boston Holidays, Boston.gov homepage service status Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Boston

How it works	Set collection days¹
How to request	furniture (and bikes) go out with regular curbside trash on the scheduled collection day; Freon items (fridges/freezers, water coolers, ice makers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers) and CRT items (TVs, laptops, computer monitors) and mattresses/box springs need an appointment booked online or via 311; set out by 6 a.m. on the appointment day or after 5 p.m. the night before; cancel before 12 p.m. the day prior; report a missed pickup to 311 within 24 hours⁸
Limits	special items: 10 per calendar year, max 5 per appointment; mattresses: 10 per calendar year; City mattress pickup only for buildings with 6 units or fewer⁸
Fees	free (the Public Works services page describes its services, which include Special Item Collection and Mattress Recycling, as free; no fee is stated on the item pages)¹⁰
Not accepted	construction debris, automotive parts, plumbing fixtures, fences, water heaters, fire debris (private hauler)¹ mattresses without an appointment⁷ commercial grade items⁸ fridges/freezers with doors attached or food inside⁸ clothing and textiles in curbside trash (state ban; use textile bins or free curbside textile pickup)¹⁴ large exercise equipment, dishwashers (donate or hire a private hauler)⁸

Sources: Trash - Boston Public Works, Mattress Recycling, Special Collection Items, Public Works trash and recycling services, Clothing and Textile Recovery Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Boston

Pickup	same collection schedule as trash (serviced together, separate trucks); exact days per address in the Trash Day app⁹
Type	single-stream²
Glass	accepted in cart²
Plastics	bottles, jugs, tubs and lids; no black plastic, no bags, no Styrofoam²

Accepted

cardboard (flattened; extra cardboard bundled and tied next to the bin, max 3 ft)²
paper²
plastic bottles, jugs, tubs and lids (no black plastic)²
metal cans and foil²
glass bottles and jars²

Not accepted

plastic bags²
batteries²
scrap metal (pots and pans, springs, pipes, car parts)²
clothes and textiles²
hangers, ropes, hoses, cords and VHS tapes²
electronics²
Styrofoam²
black plastic containers²
items smaller than 2 x 2 inches²
food waste and liquids²

Programs

free City 64-gallon blue recycling cart for buildings with 6 units or fewer (one new cart per calendar year; the same page's cart-request section says 65-gallon); alternatively a trash can under 32 gallons with a 311 recycling sticker²
free curbside clothing and textile pickup by appointment, plus pink-sticker textile drop-off bins citywide (textiles are banned from trash)¹⁴

Sources: Recycling - Boston Public Works, Large Residential Buildings: Trash and Recycling, Clothing and Textile Recovery Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	Yes⁴
Season	April to December, certain weeks only (2026 Yard Waste Calendar PDF)⁴
How often	on scheduled weeks, on your trash day (first trash day of the week if you have two)⁴
Rules	large paper bags or open barrels labeled YARD WASTE with City sticker; branches max 3 ft long, 1 in thick, tied with string; no plastic bags, dirt, mulch or invasive plants; not collected from buildings with more than 6 units; set out by 6 a.m.; bamboo accepted if under 3 ft and tied; no contractor barrels, collapsible containers or City recycling bins⁴
Food scraps	free curbside food waste collection for buildings with 6 units or fewer, run with Garbage to Garden (617-977-4547); every other week in two zones since October 5, 2026 (weekly option $5.50 from Garbage to Garden); enrollment via waitlist, reopening Fall 2026; Project Oscar 24/7 community food waste bins for all residents¹³
Christmas trees	curbside on your normal trash day during the two weeks following Christmas (no lights, ornaments or plastic bags; out by 6 a.m.; exact dates in the Trash Day app); no yard waste collected during that period. 2026-27 dates not yet published.⁴
Leaf collection	leaves collected with curbside yard waste on scheduled weeks April-December⁴

Sources: Leaf and Yard Waste Composting, Curbside Food Waste Collection Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

Zero Waste Day Drop-Off (rescheduled from Sept 26)

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The city
Address	Millennium Park, 315 Gardner Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 · Map⁶
Hours	Saturday 2026-11-21, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.⁶
Fees	free⁶
Who can use it	Boston residents only; photo ID, utility bill or lease required; no business waste; 20-gallon limit on paint, motor oil, gasoline and chemicals (containers max 5 gallons)⁶

Zero Waste Days (City drop-off events: hazardous chemicals, electronics, mercury items, tires, car batteries, propane, paper shredding)

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The city
Address	varies by event⁵
Hours	events accept waste 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; 2026 remaining event: Nov 21 (rescheduled from Sept 26)⁵
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)
Who can use it	Boston residents only (photo ID, utility bill, or lease)⁵

Project Oscar community food waste bins

Type	Compost / yard waste site
Run by	The city
Address	locations throughout the City (see boston.gov)¹²
Hours	24/7¹²
Fees	free¹²
Who can use it	all residents¹²

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: Zero Waste Days, Zero Waste Day Drop-Off (Rescheduled) - Nov 21, 2026, Food Waste Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	311.boston.gov¹
Phone	617-635-4500¹
311	311 (617-635-4500, [email protected], 311.boston.gov)¹
Official website	boston.gov

Sources: Trash - Boston Public Works Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

All Massachusetts cities: Massachusetts trash pickup schedules.

Boston trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Boston?

Trash is collected once or twice a week depending on neighborhood (the City zone layer has once-weekly M/T/W/TH/F zones and twice-weekly MTH/TF/MF zones). Boston does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (boston.gov) or the Trash Day (Boston Trash Schedule & Alerts; ReCollect-powered, not scraped) app.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Boston?

Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Changes; see details: City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Thursday, November 26, 2026 - Thanksgiving Day

Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Boston?

Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Changes; see details: City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Friday, December 25, 2026 - Christmas Day

Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Boston?

New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Changes; see details: City says pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week (no neighborhood list or day count published); residents check the Trash Day app. Listed on the City holidays page as: Thursday, January 1, 2026 - New Year's Day

How do I get rid of bulky items in Boston?

Set collection days. furniture (and bikes) go out with regular curbside trash on the scheduled collection day; Freon items (fridges/freezers, water coolers, ice makers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers) and CRT items (TVs, laptops, computer monitors) and mattresses/box springs need an appointment booked online or via 311; set out by 6 a.m. on the appointment day or after 5 p.m. the night before; cancel before 12 p.m. the day prior; report a missed pickup to 311 within 24 hours Fees: free (the Public Works services page describes its services, which include Special Item Collection and Mattress Recycling, as free; no fee is stated on the item pages).

Does Boston recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart.

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Boston?

Use the city’s online form (311.boston.gov) or call 617-635-4500.

Sources

1
Trash - Boston Public WorksCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
2
Recycling - Boston Public WorksCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
3
City of Boston HolidaysCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
4
Leaf and Yard Waste CompostingCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
5
Zero Waste DaysCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
6
Zero Waste Day Drop-Off (Rescheduled) - Nov 21, 2026City · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
7
Mattress RecyclingCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
8
Special Collection ItemsCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
9
Large Residential Buildings: Trash and RecyclingCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
10
Public Works trash and recycling servicesCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
11
Waste Collection Schedule and SearchCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
12
Food WasteCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
13
Curbside Food Waste CollectionCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
14
Clothing and Textile RecoveryCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
15
Trash Collection Days (City GIS layer / Analyze Boston)City · gisportal.boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026
16
Boston.gov homepage service statusCity · boston.gov · checked October 30, 2026

Something changed? Report a change

Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.