Trash pickup in Boston, MA

Who collects trash in Boston, how trash day works, and which holidays move pickup. Checked against official city and hauler pages on Oct 15, 2026.

Next holiday change: Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026See noteSee every holiday

At a glance

Who collects
Citywide hauler contract
Haulers
3: Capitol Waste Services, City of Boston Public Works, Garbage to Garden
Recycling
Not published
Holiday schedule
2026 posted, 2027 not posted yet
Last checked
Oct 15, 2026

The City of Boston Public Works Department runs curbside trash and recycling for buildings with 6 units or fewer. Waste Dive reported in Nov 2024 that one contractor, Capitol Waste Services, collects trash and recyclables in all city districts under a contract that started July 2024; boston.gov doesn't name the contractor. Pickup day is set by address (look it up in the Trash Day app), and some areas get two trash days a week. For most holidays the city says only that pickups are 'delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week', so check your address in the app.

Who picks up trash in Boston

Citywide hauler contract.

Capitol Waste Services

Private haulerTrashRecycling
Area
Whole city: all of the city's collection districts, according to Waste Dive.
Phone
617-635-4500 (Boston 311); Public Works 617-635-4900
Website
boston.gov

Waste Dive names Capitol Waste Services as the city's trash and recycling contractor; boston.gov doesn't name it. Waste Dive reported on Nov 13, 2024 that Capitol collects residential trash and recyclables in all districts under a 3-year City of Boston Public Works contract that took effect July 2024, with two 1-year extension options, so the base term ends around June 2027. Casella processes the recyclables. Downtown neighborhoods without carts use bags.

City of Boston Public Works

City serviceYard waste
Area
Whole city, buildings of 6 units or fewer only. Leaf and yard waste is collected on certain weeks from April to December, on your trash day (the first one if you have two).
Phone
617-635-4500 (311)
Website
boston.gov

The city page says the City collects leaf and yard waste; Waste Dive reports that Republic Services holds the yard waste contract (started 2022, initial term ends June 2027). See the city's 2026 yard waste calendar (PDF) for collection weeks.

Garbage to Garden

Private haulerOrganics
Area
Residents in buildings of 6 units or fewer who sign up (there's a waitlist). Since Oct 5, 2026, the service runs in two zones, every other week.
Phone
617-977-4547

Runs Boston's curbside food waste program by subscription, so not every household has it. The city page doesn't describe the two zones' boundaries.

Not covered

Large residential buildings (more than 6 units) have their own rules on the city's Large Residential Buildings page, and any building with receptacles over 2 cubic yards must use a private hauler. Commercial properties use permitted private haulers. Curbside food waste and yard waste are only for buildings of 6 units or fewer.

How trash day works in Boston

By address. Search the Trash Schedule and Search lookup on boston.gov or use the Trash Day app. Some addresses have two trash days a week.

Find a trash day on boston.gov

Recycling: The city refers to a 'weekly collection schedule' but doesn't say whether recycling is every week or on the same day as trash, so check your address in the Trash Day app. Recycling must be at the curb before 6 a.m. Food waste (Garbage to Garden) has been picked up every other week since Oct 5, 2026.

Carts out: No earlier than 5 p.m. the night before collection day, and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day. The fine for early set-out is $25. No take-in time is published. Source

Trash goes in a black or gray barrel with a secure lid that the resident buys. Carts aren't used in several downtown neighborhoods.

Boston trash pickup holiday schedule

Upcoming holidays in Boston and what each does to pickup. The 2026 holiday schedule is posted; 2027’s isn’t out yet.

The City of Boston Holidays page lists holidays through Dec 25, 2026. For most holidays it says only 'Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week', without saying how many days or which neighborhoods, and points residents to the Trash Day app. Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day were listed as normal schedule. The city hasn't posted a 2027 list yet.

2026

  1. Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026

    See note

    Trash and recycling, city curbside routes

    The city's holiday page says: 'Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week. To check your schedule, use the Trash Day app.' It doesn't say how many days or which neighborhoods.

    Source: boston.gov

  2. Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026

    See note

    Trash and recycling, city curbside routes

    The city's holiday page says: 'Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week.' Check your address in the Trash Day app.

    Source: boston.gov

  3. Christmas Day, Fri, Dec 25, 2026

    See note

    Trash and recycling, city curbside routes

    The city's holiday page says: 'Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week.' Check your address in the Trash Day app.

    Source: boston.gov
See note
A different change, such as only some routes moving. The note says what changes.
Cleaning bins in Boston?

Bins get cleaned right after pickup, so when a holiday moves trash day, your route moves with it. In Clean Bin System you give each zone its hauler and add the hauler’s holidays once: that week’s cleanings move with the pickup, and each customer gets a text. See how it works

Boston neighborhoods

24 names from City of Boston Neighborhoods. Each hauler’s area is listed under Who collects.

  • Allston
  • Back Bay
  • Bay Village
  • Beacon Hill
  • Brighton
  • Charlestown
  • Chinatown-Leather District
  • Dorchester
  • Downtown
  • East Boston
  • Fenway-Kenmore
  • Hyde Park
  • Jamaica Plain
  • Mattapan
  • Mid-Dorchester
  • Mission Hill
  • North End
  • Roslindale
  • Roxbury
  • South Boston
  • South End
  • West End
  • West Roxbury
  • Wharf District

Source: boston.gov

Questions about trash pickup in Boston

Who picks up trash in Boston?

The City of Boston Public Works Department runs curbside trash and recycling for buildings with 6 units or fewer. Waste Dive reported in Nov 2024 that one contractor, Capitol Waste Services, collects trash and recyclables in all city districts under a contract that started July 2024; boston.gov doesn't name the contractor. Pickup day is set by address (look it up in the Trash Day app), and some areas get two trash days a week. For most holidays the city says only that pickups are 'delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week', so check your address in the app.

How do I find my trash day in Boston?

By address. Search the Trash Schedule and Search lookup on boston.gov or use the Trash Day app. Some addresses have two trash days a week.

When do trash carts go out in Boston?

No earlier than 5 p.m. the night before collection day, and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day. The fine for early set-out is $25. No take-in time is published.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Boston?

Thanksgiving is Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The city's holiday page says: 'Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week.' Check your address in the Trash Day app.

Is trash picked up on Christmas in Boston?

Christmas is Fri, Dec 25, 2026. The city's holiday page says: 'Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week.' Check your address in the Trash Day app.

Sources

Official city and hauler pages, checked Oct 15, 2026. News and other sites used for details the official pages don’t give are listed separately. Schedules change, especially around holidays: check the city’s page before you plan routes. Something out of date? Email taylor@bincleanmarketing.com.

Other sources (2)
  • wastedive.com: Citywide trash, recycling, yard waste and processing contracts
  • wastedive.com: Earlier Capitol contract, downtown areas without carts, and the open market for larger buildings

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