Cambridge, MA trash pickup schedule

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

Population 122,588 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked October 30, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	The city collects Cambridge Department of Public Works collects trash, recycling, food waste and yard waste from most residential buildings, weekly, in five districts Monday-Friday. Private haulers handle construction and other waste (city publishes a licensed haulers list).¹¹⁰
How often	Trash weekly, recycling weekly, yard waste weekly²³⁴
Set out	Carts at the curb after 6 p.m. the night before or by 7 a.m. on collection day; one extra contractor bag only on the morning of collection (5-7 a.m.); remove carts by 6 p.m. on collection day.²
Your pickup day	Address lookup: cambridgema.gov. App: Zero Waste Cambridge app (iOS/Android); Get Rid of It Right tool¹⁰
Holidays	The city publishes a rule, not a dated list: see the holiday rule.

Bulk items: Scheduled pickup: request it ahead (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).

Cambridge holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	Collection runs one day behind schedule following a holiday (five districts, Monday-Friday). The city's address lookup shows the shifted days.¹¹⁰
Official notice	cambridgema.gov

No dated list of holidays is published for Cambridge; the holiday delay checker shows the rule above for each upcoming holiday.

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

Sources: Curbside Collections, Waste Collection Schedule, Route, and Holiday List [PDF] Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Cambridge

How it works	Scheduled pickup: request it ahead⁵
How to request	Apply for an Appliance/Large Item Disposal Permit online (cambridgema.portal.opengov.com) or in person at DPW, 147 Hampshire St.; items scheduled mostly Wednesdays or Thursdays. One piece of furniture per week can go out on trash day without a permit. Mattresses scheduled separately with UTEC.⁵
Limits	One piece of bulky waste (e.g., couch, table, non-metal chair) per household per week on trash day; carpet/lumber up to 3 tied bundles (3' x 3' x 1'); one toilet or sink per household on collection day.²
Fees	Paid permit for air conditioners, washers/dryers, copiers/printers over 40 lb, dehumidifiers, refrigerators/freezers, stoves, TVs/monitors over 20", trash compactors, water coolers/heaters, motorized exercise equipment (fee amount not stated on the page); free permit for small exercise equipment, bicycles, lawnmowers, radiators, snow blowers, metal filing cabinets/desks. Mattresses/box springs: the Mattress Recycling page says $45 each via UTEC ($5 hardship discount), while the bulk page calls the mattress collection free - conflicting city pages.⁵⁹
Not accepted	Commercial or industrial items⁵ Mattresses and box springs in trash (banned in Massachusetts; schedule with UTEC)⁹

Sources: Trash Collection, Furniture, Appliance, Large Item Disposal, Mattress Recycling Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Cambridge

Pickup	weekly³
Type	single-stream³
Glass	accepted in cart³
Plastics	Plastic containers (no bags/film)³

Accepted

Metal cans and foil³
Glass bottles and jars³
Plastic containers³
Paper and cardboard (flatten; extra cardboard nested in a box next to the cart)³

Not accepted

Electronics³
Clothing & textiles (rugs, towels, curtains)³
Plastic bags & plastic film³
Clothes hangers³
Straps, cables & hoses³
Pots, pans, scrap metal³
Paper takeout containers, paper towels, napkins, paper plates³
Food or liquids (lightly rinse containers)³

Programs

Curbside food waste pickup: weekly, green locking food waste carts; free kitchen bin from DPW; all food scraps plus tea bags, coffee grounds/filters, napkins, paper towels, cut flowers, compostable bags; no packaging.⁸
Food waste banned from trash starting February 3, 2027 (Refuse & Litter Ordinance)²
Mattress and box spring pickup by city contractor UTEC, scheduled at utecinc.org/mattress-recycling; $45 per mattress/box spring⁹

Sources: Trash Collection, Recycling, Curbside Food Waste Pickup, Mattress Recycling Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	yes⁴
Season	April 1 - December 31⁴
How often	weekly⁴
Rules	Barrels (max 32 gal, 50 lb) with 'Yard Waste Only' stickers facing the street, or paper lawn bags; no plastic bags; twigs under 1 in. diameter and 3 ft; limbs over 1 in. bundled with string next to trash (3 bundles per week); no soil, rocks, stumps, invasive plants.⁴
Food scraps	Weekly curbside food waste pickup in green carts (separate program)⁸
Christmas trees	Collected curbside on the regular collection day during the first two weeks of January; bare trees, no bags (general rule; no 2027 dates published yet).⁴
Leaf collection	Leaves go out as yard waste (weekly through December 31); owners must collect leaves from sidewalks and curbs; no sweeping/blowing into the street.⁴
Cleanup events	Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day: Sat. November 7, 2026, 9am-1pm, 50 Mooney St. (Cambridge residents, proof of residency)⁶¹²

Sources: Yard Waste Pick Up, Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, Curbside Food Waste Pickup, Public Works News Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

Cambridge Recycling Center

Type	Recycling center
Run by	The city
Address	147 Hampshire St. (back right corner of the Public Works yard), Cambridge, MA 02139 · Map⁷
Hours	Tuesdays 4PM-7:30PM, Thursdays 4PM-7:30PM, Saturdays 9AM-4PM⁷
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)
Who can use it	Cambridge residents; small businesses/non-profits with 50 employees or fewer⁷
Accepts	Fluorescent bulbs, mercury items, batteries, small electronics, plastic bags, books, scrap metal, bulky plastics, printer cartridges, blue-cart recyclables⁷

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The city
Address	50 Mooney St., Cambridge · Map⁶
Hours	2026: Apr 11, Jun 9, Aug 29, Nov 7 (Sat 9am-1pm; Jun 9 2:30-6:30pm)⁶
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)
Who can use it	Cambridge residents only, proof of residency required⁶

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

Sources: Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, Recycling Center Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	cambridgema.gov - report after 4 p.m. on collection day or before 9 a.m. the day after¹
Phone	Public Works 617-349-4800 (147 Hampshire St.; Mon 8:30AM-8PM, Tue-Thu 8:30AM-5PM, Fri 8:30AM-12PM)¹
311	CambridgeMA.Gov/311 (SeeClickFix) - preferred for missed pickups²
Official website	cambridgema.gov

Sources: Curbside Collections, Trash Collection Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

All Massachusetts cities: Massachusetts trash pickup schedules.

Cambridge trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Cambridge?

Trash is collected weekly. Cambridge does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (cambridgema.gov) or the Zero Waste Cambridge app (iOS/Android); Get Rid of It Right tool app.

How do I get rid of bulky items in Cambridge?

Scheduled pickup: request it ahead. Apply for an Appliance/Large Item Disposal Permit online (cambridgema.portal.opengov.com) or in person at DPW, 147 Hampshire St.; items scheduled mostly Wednesdays or Thursdays. One piece of furniture per week can go out on trash day without a permit. Mattresses scheduled separately with UTEC. Fees: Paid permit for air conditioners, washers/dryers, copiers/printers over 40 lb, dehumidifiers, refrigerators/freezers, stoves, TVs/monitors over 20", trash compactors, water coolers/heaters, motorized exercise equipment (fee amount not stated on the page); free permit for small exercise equipment, bicycles, lawnmowers, radiators, snow blowers, metal filing cabinets/desks. Mattresses/box springs: the Mattress Recycling page says $45 each via UTEC ($5 hardship discount), while the bulk page calls the mattress collection free - conflicting city pages.

Does Cambridge recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart.

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Cambridge?

Use the city’s online form (cambridgema.gov) or call Public Works 617-349-4800 (147 Hampshire St.; Mon 8:30AM-8PM, Tue-Thu 8:30AM-5PM, Fri 8:30AM-12PM).

Sources

1
Curbside CollectionsCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
2
Trash CollectionCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
3
RecyclingCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
4
Yard Waste Pick UpCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
5
Furniture, Appliance, Large Item DisposalCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
6
Household Hazardous Waste DisposalCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
7
Recycling CenterCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
8
Curbside Food Waste PickupCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
9
Mattress RecyclingCity · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
10
Waste Collection Schedule, Route, and Holiday List [PDF]City · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
11
Your Guide to Trash, Recycle, Compost, and More! [PDF]City · cambridgema.gov · checked October 30, 2026
12
Public Works NewsCity · cambridgema.gov · 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.