Boston trash & recycling schedule
Trash is picked up weekly; your day depends on your ZIP.
At a glance
| Trash | Weekly curbside for eligible residential buildings (city service typically buildings with fewer than 7 units; 7+ units follow Large Building rules). Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov |
|---|---|
| Curbside | After 5:00 p.m. evening before collection day; curbside by 6:00 a.m. collection day. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov |
| Recycling | Boston recycling on your collection day — follow city accepted-materials rules. Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov |
| Bulk | Schedule bulk pickup through Boston 311 before set-out. Bulk page Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov |
| Hauler | City of Boston Public Works. |
| Contacts | Boston 311; Public Works. Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov |
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
After 5:00 p.m. evening before collection day; curbside by 6:00 a.m. collection day.
Where
Curbside (or public alley / dumpster area for special items as directed). Special items must be publicly accessible, not blocked, nothing on top.
Limits
Special item collection: 10 items/year, max 5/appointment. Trash containers: resident-provided; >32 gal need grab bar; ≤50 lbs per barrel/bag/item for curbside trash (2025 mailer).
Not allowed
Construction debris; asphalt/brick/concrete; treated/untreated wood waste; clean gypsum wallboard; commercial food material; ferrous/non-ferrous metals (private hauler); mattresses in regular trash (schedule); automotive parts; plastic bags/Styrofoam/black plastic in recycling.
Bags
Trash in lidded black/gray barrel; if bags used, 2-ply or ≥0.9 mm; no kitchen/grocery bags or cardboard boxes as trash bags.
Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your pickup day
Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Shift |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day 2026 | 2026-01-01 | — |
| Mlk 2026 | 2026-01-19 | — |
| Presidents 2026 | 2026-02-16 | — |
| Patriots 2026 | 2026-04-20 | — |
| Memorial 2026 | 2026-05-25 | — |
| Juneteenth 2026 | 2026-06-19 | — |
| Independence Observed 2026 | 2026-07-03 | — |
| Labor 2026 | 2026-09-07 | — |
| Indigenous Peoples 2026 | 2026-10-12 | — |
| Veterans 2026 | 2026-11-11 | — |
| Thanksgiving 2026 | 2026-11-26 | — |
| Christmas 2026 | 2026-12-25 | — |
City of Boston Holidays page: on most City holidays; residents must check the Trash Day App for their address.
Verified 2026-10-15 · boston.gov
Private junk pickup
Same-week haul for furniture or a cleanout in Boston. Not affiliated with Town Rulebook or your city — you book directly.
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Full details for Boston: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- Weekly curbside for eligible residential buildings (city service typically buildings with fewer than 7 units; 7+ units follow Large Building rules). Day varies by address — use Trash Day App / Waste Collection Schedule Search. Set out after 5 p.m. the evening before collection; curbside no later than 6 a.m. collection day. Resident-owned black or gray trash barrel with secure lid required; barrels >32 gallons need a grab bar. All trash must fit inside barrels with lid closed (overflow can trigger code violation). If bags are used, they should be 2-ply or ≥0.9 mm plastic; kitchen/grocery bags and cardboard boxes can't be used as trash bags. Furniture accepted with regular curbside trash. Barrels/bags/items for curbside trash may not weigh more than 50 lbs (2025 Leaf and Yard Waste calendar mailer). City doesn't collect construction debris, automotive parts, plumbing fixtures, fences, water heaters, or fire debris — private hauler.
- Recycling
- Weekly single-stream (metal, glass, plastic, paper/cardboard) same collection day as trash for eligible residents. City supplies large blue recycling cart (pages cite 64-gallon / 65-gallon) to buildings with six units or fewer; limit one new cart per calendar year. Recyclables loose in blue bin (not in plastic grocery bags). Optional: convert a wheeled trash can <32 gallons with lid + lift bar using a 311 recycling sticker. Cardboard that won’t fit: flatten, bundle/tie with string next to blue bin; ≤3 ft length; no Styrofoam/plastic inside. Heavy-duty clear plastic bags for recycling only allowed in listed dense neighborhoods if space is Not accepted in blue bin: plastic bags/film, Styrofoam, black plastic, scrap metal, textiles, electronics, tanglers (hoses/cords/hangers), food/liquids, items <2"×2".
- Bulk pickup
- Furniture with regular trash day. Special collection (appointment via 311 / boston.gov special-item form): Freon items (fridges/freezers — doors removed, no food; water coolers; ice makers; ACs; dehumidifiers) and CRT/electronics (TVs, laptops, computer monitors). Limit 10 special items per calendar year; max 5 per appointment. Mattresses: separate scheduled mattress recycling (not regular trash). Textiles: schedule collection. City won't collect commercial-grade special items or special items without appointment. Place special items where trash is normally collected by 6 a.m. appointment day or after 5 p.m. night before; publicly accessible only.
- Curbside: when
- After 5:00 p.m. evening before collection day; curbside by 6:00 a.m. collection day.
- Curbside: where
- Curbside (or public alley / dumpster area for special items as directed). Special items must be publicly accessible, not blocked, nothing on top. Don't use City recycling barrels for trash/yard waste.
- Curbside: limits
- Special item collection: 10 items/year, max 5/appointment. Recycling: one new City cart per calendar year (6 units or fewer). Trash containers: resident-provided; >32 gal need grab bar; ≤50 lbs per barrel/bag/item for curbside trash (2025 mailer).
- Curbside: brush
- Leaf/yard waste: curbside on trash day during scheduled leaf & yard waste weeks (April–December schedule via boston.gov/yard-waste and Trash Day App); also Zero Waste Pop-up / drop-off events. Exact bundling dimensions for brush not fully itemized on main trash page — follow yard-waste page / app for current week rules. No yard waste in recycling barrels.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Construction debris; asphalt/brick/concrete; treated/untreated wood waste; clean gypsum wallboard; commercial food material; ferrous/non-ferrous metals (private hauler); Freon appliances & CRTs in regular trash (special collection); mattresses in regular trash (schedule); medical sharps in trash; automotive parts; plumbing fixtures; fences; water heaters; fire debris; lead-acid batteries & whole tires (Zero Waste Days); plastic bags/Styrofoam/black plastic in recycling.
- Curbside: bags
- Trash in lidded black/gray barrel; if bags used, 2-ply or ≥0.9 mm; no kitchen/grocery bags or cardboard boxes as trash bags. City recommends not placing trash bags directly on curb (use containers). Recyclables loose in blue bin (clear heavy-duty bags only in listed neighborhoods).
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Early set-out $25; broken container $25; improper storage $25; overfill of barrel/dumpster $100; illegal dumping $100–$10,000 (boston.gov Trash and Recycling code violations section).
- Holidays
- New Year's Day 2026 (2026-01-01): shift not yet confirmed
- Mlk 2026 (2026-01-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Presidents 2026 (2026-02-16): shift not yet confirmed
- Patriots 2026 (2026-04-20): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial 2026 (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Juneteenth 2026 (2026-06-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Independence Observed 2026 (2026-07-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Indigenous Peoples 2026 (2026-10-12): shift not yet confirmed
- Veterans 2026 (2026-11-11): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
City of Boston Holidays page: on most City holidays, trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week — residents must check the Trash Day App for their address. Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day: normal trash/recycling schedule.
- Hauler
- City of Boston Public Works (municipal collection)
- Contacts
- Boston 311 — 617-635-4500; [email protected]
- Find your day
- Waste Collection Schedule Search / Trash Day App
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: boston.gov
Bulk: boston.gov
Holidays: boston.gov
Curbside: boston.gov - Verified
- 2026-10-15
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