Lowell, MA trash pickup schedule
Lowell trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 119,971 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | A private hauler under city contract: WM (Waste Management) City contract with WM for curbside trash, recycling, yard waste and bulk pickup for eligible enrolled residential properties; the city issues and owns the red trash and green recycling carts and runs the Solid Waste & Recycling Office (DPW, 1365 Middlesex St).2 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly, recycling every other week, yard waste weekly in spring and fall, every other week in summer (opposite your recycling week)134 |
| Set out | out the night before your service day, but not earlier than the day before; at the curb edge, lid closed, an arm's length from vehicles (WM: by 7 a.m.)1 |
| Your pickup day | Address lookup: lowellma.gov. App: Lowell Recycle12 |
| Holidays | The city publishes a rule, not a dated list: see the holiday rule. |
Bulk items: On-call pickup: call or book online (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).
Lowell holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | When a holiday falls on a regular collection day, collection is postponed one day for the rest of the week (WM's Lowell page); the city publishes holiday dates only in its address-specific calendar and Lowell Recycle app14 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | lowellma.gov12 |
No dated list of holidays is published for Lowell; 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.
Bulk trash pickup in Lowell
| How it works | On-call pickup: call or book online2 |
|---|---|
| How to request | Schedule with WM by phone 1-800-972-4545 or on WM's support page (enter your address for guidelines, pricing and availability)7 |
| Limits | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Not accepted |
Recycling in Lowell
| Pickup | every other week4 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream5 |
| Glass | accepted in cart5 |
| Plastics | Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs only; resin numbers #1, #2 and #5 yes; #3, #4, #6 and #7 no4 |
Accepted
Not accepted
- Plastic bags, wraps, bubble wrap; recyclables in bags; Styrofoam4
- Kitchen items (glasses, plates, utensils, pots & pans, ceramics), tissues/napkins/paper towels, big plastic items (storage bins, buckets), wood items, mirrors, electronics, hangers, dirty/wet cardboard (pizza boxes), textiles, inflatables, blinds, curtain rods, mops/brooms, rubber and hoses, tarps, food or drinks, wiper blades, air filters, shower curtains, toys4
- Milk/juice cartons and Tetra Pak, canisters (e.g. Pringles), coffee cups, glittery wrapping paper/cards, items under 2 inches (loose caps, shredded paper)6
Programs
- Recycling drop-off compactor at DPW, 1365 Middlesex St: Tue, Wed, Thu 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (landing and Recycling pages; a Sept 2026 notice listed temporary 10 a.m.-4 p.m. hours 'through August'); compactor is locked, call 978-674-4309 on arrival1
- Mattresses/box springs must be recycled (MA waste ban): schedule pickup with UTEC7
- Textiles are banned from trash and recycling carts: use a collection bin or free textile-recycler pickup7
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | Yes2 |
|---|---|
| Season | 2026: March 16-May 22 weekly; May 25-Oct 9 every other week; Oct 12-Dec 18 weekly12 |
| How often | weekly in spring and fall, every other week in summer (opposite your recycling week)1 |
| Rules | Paper lawn/leaf bags or barrels with handles and a yard waste label (free, 4 per person, at DPW, City Hall, Senior Center, Health Dept.); no plastic bags or boxes; containers and twine-tied bundles under 35 lb, items no longer than 3 ft and no thicker than 3 in; no logs, rocks, soil/sod; suggested max 20 bags per week9 |
| Food scraps | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Christmas trees | 2025-26 season (latest published): free drop-off Dec 25, 2025-Jan 14, 2026 at neighborhood sites (Sheehy Park, Oliveria Park, Cawley Stadium, Saint Louis Playground, Dutton St Lot, Callery Park, Campbell Field, Ventura Field); remove all decorations; Lowell Ward Youth offered curbside help Dec 27, Jan 3, Jan 10 (donations). 2026-27 dates not yet published.10 |
| Leaf collection | Leaves go out with yard waste (weekly Oct 12-Dec 18, 2026) in paper bags or labeled barrels12 |
| Cleanup events |
|
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
Lowell Household Hazardous Waste Day (DPW)
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | DPW, 1365 Middlesex St, Lowell, MA · Map11 |
| Hours | 2026 events: Sat April 4 and Sat Nov 7, 9 a.m.-noon11 |
| Fees | Unsorted HHW: load (25 lb/25 gal) $95; half-load (10 lb/10 gal) $60; small load (3 lb/3 gal) $4311 |
| Who can use it | Lowell residents (also reciprocal regional events)11 |
DPW Recycling Compactor (extra recycling)
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | 1365 Middlesex St, Lowell, MA · Map12 |
| Hours | Tue, Wed, Thu 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (landing and Recycling pages; temporary 10 a.m.-4 p.m. schedule in the Sept 2026 notice ran 'through August'); call 978-674-4309 on arrival to unlock12 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | lowellma.gov (city form; don't report if carts broke the set-out rules or got rejection stickers)1 |
|---|---|
| Phone | Solid Waste & Recycling Office 978-674-4309 (office open Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-4 p.m. under adjusted hours)1 |
| 311 | Lowell 311: call 978-674-4311 or www.lowellma.gov/31113 |
| Official website | lowellma.gov1 |
Nearby cities
- Cambridge, MA21 miles · The city collects
- Lynn, MA22 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Boston, MA26 miles · The city collects
- Worcester, MA36 miles · The city collects
- Brockton, MA41 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Providence, RI57 miles · A private hauler under city contract
Other cities served by WM (formerly Waste Management)
- Fort Worth, TXWaste Management (WM)
- Seattle, WAWaste Management of Washington (northwest and south Seattle); Recology King County (northeast and central Seattle)
- Oklahoma City, OKWM (Waste Management)
- Detroit, MIWaste Management (west side north of I-94); Priority Waste (east side and southwest Detroit south of I-94)
- Portland, ORNine City-franchised private haulers, each with its own exclusive area: Arrow Sanitary, Portland Disposal & Recycling, Waste Management of Oregon, Heiberg Garbage Service, City Sanitary, Wacker Sanitary, Walker Garbage Service, Republic Services of Lake Oswego and Recology Clackamas (per the City hauler-area layer)
- Long Beach, CACity of Long Beach Energy and Environmental Services (trash and organics); Waste Management (recycling, under city contract)
- Oakland, CAWaste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (trash, compost, bulky); California Waste Solutions (recycling, household batteries, used motor oil)
- Stockton, CARepublic Services or WM (Waste Management) - two franchised haulers, each serving part of the city
- Irvine, CAWM (Waste Management of Orange County)
- Reno, NVWaste Management (WM)
- Moreno Valley, CAWaste Management of the Inland Empire (WM)
- Little Rock, ARWM (curbside recycling only)
- Providence, RIWM (Waste Management)
- Fort Lauderdale, FLWM (Waste Management)
- Oceanside, CAWM (Waste Management of North County)
- Lancaster, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Palmdale, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Corona, CAWM (Waste Management / USA Waste of California) under a franchise agreement with the City of Corona
- Kansas City, KSWM (Waste Management of Kansas City, Inc.)
- Hayward, CAWaste Management of Alameda County (WM); curbside recycling by Tri-CED Community Recycling
- Joliet, ILWM (Waste Management)
- Simi Valley, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Menifee, CAWaste Management (WM) of the Inland Empire
- Rio Rancho, NMWM (Waste Management of New Mexico)
- Murrieta, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Sparks, NVWM (Waste Management)
- Gresham, ORFive City-franchised haulers by area: Arrow Sanitary, Gresham Sanitary Service, Hoodview Disposal, Rockwood Solid Waste, Waste Management (WM)
- Hillsboro, ORSeveral City-franchised haulers by area, incl. Hillsboro Garbage Disposal, WM, Garbarino Disposal, Evergreen Disposal, Pride Disposal & Recycling (list from Metro's official address lookup and hauler pages)
- Spokane Valley, WAWM (formerly Waste Management)
- Chico, CAWaste Management (North Valley Waste Management)
- Federal Way, WAWM (Waste Management)
All Massachusetts cities: Massachusetts trash pickup schedules.
Lowell trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Lowell?
Trash is collected weekly. Lowell does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (lowellma.gov) or the Lowell Recycle app.
How do I get rid of bulky items in Lowell?
On-call pickup: call or book online. Schedule with WM by phone 1-800-972-4545 or on WM's support page (enter your address for guidelines, pricing and availability)
Does Lowell recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Lowell?
Use the city’s online form (lowellma.gov) or call Solid Waste & Recycling Office 978-674-4309 (office open Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-4 p.m. under adjusted hours).
Sources
- 1 Solid Waste & Recycling Office, DPWCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Curbside CollectionCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 TrashCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 RecyclingCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Deeper Dive into RecyclingCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Recycling Rules of ThumbCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 Most Common Questions AnsweredCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 8 Get Rid of Extra Trash?City · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 9 Yard Waste SeasonCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 10 Christmas Tree DisposalCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 11 Hazardous Waste DayCity · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 12 News Flash: Trash & Recycling (updated Sept 15, 2026)City · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 13 Lowell 311City · lowellma.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 14 WM - Trash & Recycling Collection Lowell, MAContracted hauler · wm.com · checked October 30, 2026
Something changed? Report a change
Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.