Cambridge trash & recycling schedule
Trash is picked up weekly; your day depends on your ZIP.
At a glance
| Trash | Free weekly curbside for most residential buildings (City Public Works; Refuse & Litter Ordinance). Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov |
|---|---|
| Curbside | After 6:00 p.m. night before or by 7:00 a.m. collection day; remove carts by 6:00 p.m. collection day. Overflow trash bag: 5:00–7:00 a.m. collection day only. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov |
| Recycling | Free weekly blue-cart single-stream (metal cans/foil, glass bottles/jars, plastic containers, paper/cardboard). Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov |
| Bulk | One non-metal furniture piece (e.g. Couch, table, chair) per household per week on trash day without permit. Bulk page Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov |
| Hauler | City of Cambridge Department of Public Works. |
| Contacts | Public Works 617-349-4800; [email protected]; 147 Hampshire St; [email protected]; City Hall 617-349-4000. Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov |
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
After 6:00 p.m. night before or by 7:00 a.m. collection day; remove carts by 6:00 p.m. collection day. Overflow trash bag: 5:00–7:00 a.m. collection day only.
Where
Curbside; don't block sidewalk. Yard-waste stickers face street. Address on carts.
Limits
Trash cart ≤50 lbs; one contractor overflow bag/week (≤50 gal / ≤50 lbs / ≥3 mil). Appliance fee items $25 ($20 age 62+).
Not allowed
Recyclables in trash; food waste (ban starts Feb 3, 2027 per trash page); leaves/yard waste in trash; textiles; large appliances; plastic bags in recycling; soil/rocks/stumps in yard waste.
Bags
Trash in City cart; one heavy-duty contractor bag overflow rules above. Recyclables loose (no plastic bags). Yard waste: paper bags or stickered barrels only.
Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your pickup day
Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov
Holidays
City publishes holiday service notices: curbside trash, recycling, food waste, and yard waste suspended on the holiday and one day behind for the rest of that week.
Verified 2026-10-15 · cambridgema.gov
Private junk pickup
Same-week haul for furniture or a cleanout in Cambridge. Not affiliated with Town Rulebook or your city — you book directly.
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Full details for Cambridge: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- Free weekly curbside for most residential buildings (City Public Works; Refuse & Litter Ordinance). City-issued trash carts only; lid fully closed; cart ≤50 lbs. Standard allotment tied to households in building (cart sizes 35 / 45 / 65 gallon; 45-gal common per household under 2026 ordinance update). One heavy-duty contractor overflow bag per week if needed: ≥3 mil thick, ≤50 gallons, ≤50 lbs; no thin kitchen/grocery bags; no food waste in overflow bag; place bag next to cart between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. collection day only (not the night before). Carts curbside after 6:00 p.m. night before or by 7:00 a.m. collection day; remove by 6:00 p.m. after collection. Label carts with address. Day by address — CambridgeMA.gov/recycle / Zero Waste Cambridge app.
- Recycling
- Free weekly blue-cart single-stream (metal cans/foil, glass bottles/jars, plastic containers, paper/cardboard). Mandatory; recyclables banned from trash. Place items loose — don't bag. Lightly rinse; flatten cardboard; overflow cardboard may be nested in a larger box next to cart or paper bag/cardboard box beside cart. Not in recycle cart: electronics, textiles, plastic bags/film, hangers, straps/cables/hoses, pots/pans/scrap metal, paper takeout containers/towels/napkins/plates. Rejected loads may get rejection sticker. Casella Recycling (Charlestown) noted as MRF.
- Bulk pickup
- One non-metal furniture piece (e.g. Couch, table, chair) per household per week on trash day without permit (metal furniture not in this free allowance — use Get Rid of It Right). Carpet/lumber (residential): up to 3 tied bundles, 3'×3'×1'. Toilet or sink: one per household on collection day. Small TVs/monitors ≤20" diagonal: curbside by 7 a.m. regular day, no permit. Permit + fee ($25/item; $20 if resident age 62+) for many appliances/large electronics (ACs, washers/dryers, dehumidifiers, fridge/freezer doors removed, stoves, TVs/monitors >20", trash compactors, water coolers/heaters, larger motorized exercise equipment, heavy copiers/printers >40 lbs) — schedule via Viewpoint Cloud / Public Works 147 Hampshire St. Free permit (no fee) examples: small exercise equipment & bikes, lawnmowers, radiators, snow blowers, metal filing cabinets & desks. Mattresses/box springs: free permit but schedule separately (cambridgema.gov/mattress / UTEC). Most scheduled appliance pickups Wed/Thu; set out by 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m. night before. No commercial/industrial items.
- Curbside: when
- After 6:00 p.m. night before or by 7:00 a.m. collection day; remove carts by 6:00 p.m. collection day. Overflow trash bag: 5:00–7:00 a.m. collection day only.
- Curbside: where
- Curbside; don't block sidewalk. Yard-waste stickers face street. Address on carts.
- Curbside: limits
- Trash cart ≤50 lbs; one contractor overflow bag/week (≤50 gal / ≤50 lbs / ≥3 mil). One furniture piece/week (non-metal). Yard waste barrels ≤32 gal / ≤50 lbs. Thick limbs: 3 tied bundles/week. Appliance fee items $25 ($20 age 62+). Fine up to $300 per violation per day for Refuse & Litter Ordinance violations.
- Curbside: brush
- Yard waste Apr 1–Dec 31 weekly for residents with City recycling. Paper lawn bags or ≤32-gal barrels with “Yard Waste Only” stickers. Twigs ≤1" diameter and ≤3 ft; thick limbs >1" diameter: tied with string, ≤3 ft length/diameter, max 3 bundles/week next to trash. No plastic bags, dirt/soil/rocks/stumps, or listed invasive plants in yard waste.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Recyclables in trash; food waste (ban starts Feb 3, 2027 per trash page); leaves/yard waste in trash; textiles; large appliances; metal items (filing cabinets, metal furniture); lead-acid & other non-alkaline batteries; mattresses; mercury equipment/lamps; plastic bags in recycling; soil/rocks/stumps in yard waste.
- Curbside: bags
- Trash in City cart; one heavy-duty contractor bag overflow rules above. Recyclables loose (no plastic bags). Yard waste: paper bags or stickered barrels only.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Up to $300 per violation per day (Refuse & Litter Ordinance — trash collection page). Early set-out of recycling carts before 6 p.m. night before subject to fine.
- Holidays
City publishes holiday service notices: curbside trash, recycling, food waste, and yard waste suspended on the holiday and one day behind for the rest of that week. No single annual holidays.* make-up calendar page found.
- Hauler
- City of Cambridge Department of Public Works
- Contacts
- Public Works 617-349-4800; [email protected]; 147 Hampshire St; [email protected]; City Hall 617-349-4000
- Find your day
- Cambridge curbside collections / Zero Waste Cambridge app (CambridgeMA.gov/recycle)
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: cambridgema.gov
Bulk: cambridgema.gov
Holidays: cambridgema.gov
Curbside: cambridgema.gov - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer