How Holidays Affect Trash and Recycling Collection in Boston

Trash and recycling collection in Boston, MA is provided by the Department of Public Works. Holidays impact the regular collection schedule each year. This article explains how holidays affect trash and recycling pickup in Boston, and provides resources to check your revised collection day.

Overview of Trash and Recycling Collection in Boston

• Curbside trash and recycling pickup once per week
• Collection day depends on neighborhood location
• Separate carts provided for trash and recycling
• Yard waste collected seasonally on designated weeks
  -BULK

2024 Holidays Observed in Boston

The City of Boston observes 12 official holidays each calendar year. On these holidays, city offices, libraries, and other facilities are closed.

The 2024 holiday schedule for Boston includes:

• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – January 15
• Presidents’ Day – February 19
• Evacuation Day – March 17
• Patriots’ Day – April 15
• Memorial Day – May 27
• Bunker Hill Day – June 17
• Juneteenth – June 19
• Independence Day – July 4
• Labor Day – September 2
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day – October 14
• Veterans Day – November 11
• Thanksgiving Day – November 28
• Christmas Day – December 25

How Holidays Affect Trash Pickup

Most holidays in Boston result in a one-day delay for trash and recycling collection that week. For example, if your normal collection day is Thursday, it will shift to Friday the week of a holiday.

Exceptions are Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day – collection is on a normal schedule on these holidays.

After a holiday:

• Set carts out before 7AM on your revised collection day
• If pickup is missed, leave carts out and notify Boston 311 to arrange pickup
• No trash or recycling pickup on the holiday itself

Checking Revised Collection Schedule

Boston provides several ways to check your revised collection day when holidays impact the normal trash schedule:

• Trash Day App – download the app or visit the online tool to lookup schedule by address
• Text Alerts – sign up through the Trash Day App to receive text notifications when your pickup day changes
• Printable Calendars – annual calendars showing impacts of holidays on collection days available on the Trash & Recycling page
• Contact Boston 311 – call 311 or submit an online request for help checking your collection day

Use these resources each holiday to ensure your trash and recycling is set out on the proper revised collection day.

Holiday Schedule for Other City Services

In addition to trash pickup, some other city services are affected by holidays:

• Parking Meters – Free parking at meters on holidays
• Street Cleaning – No daytime street cleaning, but overnight cleaning as usual
• City Offices – Closed on holidays except Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day
• Libraries – Closed on holidays
• Community Centers – Closed on holidays

Parking, street cleaning, and other city services resume as normal the day after a holiday unless falling on a weekend.

Handling Excess Trash and Recycling After Holidays

Boston residents often have extra trash and recycling after holidays. Options for handling excess include:

• Hold onto extra recycling until your next collection day
• Bring extra trash bags to public litter baskets
• Use city large item pickup for certain bulky items
• Rent temporary dumpsters or bins from private companies

Large piles of trash bags or overflowing bins may be subject to fines for improper storage and disposal. Plan ahead to properly manage increased trash after holidays.

Observing Holiday Trash Rules and Etiquette

Boston aims to efficiently collect trash from 210,000 households each week. Adhering to holiday collection schedules and following proper etiquette helps make routes run smoothly:

• Clear snow around trash carts so they are accessible
• Avoid overstuffing carts which can cause spillage
• Refrain from putting out extra bags that could attract pests
• Ensure lids on carts are closed
• Don’t place carts in streets blocking plows
• Keep cart 3 feet from other objects for access
• Hold noise from early morning disposal to respect neighbors

Contact Boston 311 With Any Issues

For missed collections, damaged carts, or any other issues with your trash service, reach out to Boston 311 by:

• Calling 311
• Using the 311 app
• Submitting an online request

Boston 311 can also provide further information on holiday impacts to trash and recycling schedules, pickup for bulky items, reporting dumping, and more. Contact them with any questions!