Indianapolis Trash Pickup Schedule, Heavy Trash & Recycling 2026

Find your Indianapolis trash pickup day, heavy trash day, subscription recycling options, holiday slide schedule, and drop-off locations.

City of Indianapolis · Department of Public Works (DPW) · Updated March 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Indianapolis Collection Day

Select your trash day to see your weekly trash service, heavy trash timing, recycling setup, and 2026 holiday slide impact.

👈 Select your day above to see your complete Indianapolis collection schedule.

⚠ Need your exact address-based day? Use the official Indianapolis trash lookup tool.  See official options ↓

At a Glance

Indianapolis Waste Collection — Quick Facts

Indianapolis provides weekly trash collection and heavy trash pickup on the same day as your regular trash service. Curbside recycling is a subscription service handled by LRS for most city-served homes, while free recycling drop-off locations are available across Indianapolis and Marion County.

🗑
Trash
Weekly
Five days a week by route
📦
Heavy Trash
Same day
Up to 2 bulky items
♻
Recycling
Subscription
Curbside through LRS
🍂
Leaves
Seasonal
Bagged only
⚠
HHW / ToxDrop
Drop-Off
Marion County residents
⚠ Recycling is not universal curbside yet. In 2026, Indianapolis residents in eligible areas must sign up separately for subscription recycling if they want curbside service.
🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how trash collection works across the US? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)
Collection Basics

Trash, Heavy Trash & Recycling — How Indianapolis Collection Works

Indianapolis trash is collected weekly Monday through Friday by route. On your collection day, you can also place up to two heavy/bulky items at the curb next to your trash cart. Recycling is not automatically included everywhere and usually requires subscription sign-up.

🗑

Trash Cart

Regular household trash goes in the city trash cart. Collectors have until 6:00 p.m. to complete pickup.

Collected weekly.

Weekly • Cart-based service
📦

Heavy Trash & Recycling

Heavy trash is picked up on your regular trash day. Recycling is a paid subscription curbside option or free via drop-off centers.

Heavy trash weekly • recycling subscription.

2 bulky items • LRS recycling

⏰ Core Rules

  • Trash is collected five days a week depending on your address.
  • Collectors have until 6 p.m. to finish service.
  • Heavy trash is collected the same day as your regular trash pickup.
  • You may place up to two bulky items at the curb on that day.
  • Extra trash beyond your cart should go to the Citizens’ Transfer Station.
🔗 Related Guide See how the US trash and recycling system compares city to city: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)
Set-Out Rules

Indianapolis Set-Out Rules

Indianapolis uses route-based collection and holiday slide schedules. The safest approach is to have your cart and any allowed heavy trash out before collection begins and leave it at the curb until pickup has passed.

📍 Trash Cart

Set the cart at the curb on your collection day and leave it there until service is complete.

The City notes that missed-pickup reports usually cannot be submitted until the next business day because crews have until 6 p.m.

📦 Heavy Trash

Place no more than two heavy/bulky items on the curb next to the cart.

Items outside normal or accepted limits should go to the Citizens’ Transfer Station instead.

💡 New in 2026: areas previously served by Republic or WM transition to LRS for trash service starting January 1, 2026, while keeping current routes and schedules.
Holiday Slide Schedule

Indianapolis Holiday Trash Schedule 2026

Indianapolis uses a slide schedule: during listed holidays, your trash, heavy trash, and recycling pickup is delayed by one day for the rest of that week.

Holiday2026 DateCollection ImpactExample
New Year’s DayThu, Jan 11-Day SlideThu moves to Fri
Martin Luther King Jr. DayMon, Jan 191-Day SlideMon moves to Tue
Presidents’ DayMon, Feb 161-Day SlideMon moves to Tue
Memorial DayMon, May 251-Day SlideFri moves to Sat
Independence DaySat, Jul 4Check official route updateObserved schedule may apply
Labor DayMon, Sep 71-Day SlideMon moves to Tue
Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 261-Day SlideThu moves to Fri
Christmas DayFri, Dec 251-Day SlideFri moves to Sat
💡 Indianapolis slide rule: when a listed holiday occurs, service shifts one day later for the remainder of that week.
🔗 Related Guide Holiday delays compared across all major US cities: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)
Recycling

Recycling in Indianapolis

Indianapolis offers curbside recycling as a subscription service. If DPW or LRS collects your weekly trash, you can sign up with LRS for curbside recycling. Residents can also use free recycling drop-off locations across the city.

✅ Curbside Recycling Basics

  • Subscription curbside recycling through LRS
  • Sign up by calling 317-245-4444
  • Also available through the LRS online customer portal
  • 2026 subscription price listed by the City: $9.00/month
  • Drop-off recycling remains free at several sites

🚫 Important Limits

  • Not all homes receive curbside recycling automatically
  • Commercial waste is not accepted at household recycling / HHW sites
  • Most electronics and hazardous waste should use ToxDrop, not curbside recycling
  • Extra household trash bags should go to the Citizens’ Transfer Station, not recycling sites
⚠ 2026 change: LRS becomes the city’s trash collector in former Republic and WM areas starting January 1, 2026, and the City says routes and schedules stay the same.
🔗 Related Guide Learn the most common US recycling mistakes and how to avoid them: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)
Heavy Trash

Indianapolis Heavy Trash Rules

Heavy trash is collected on the same day as your regular trash pickup, but there are strict limits. Indianapolis allows up to two heavy/bulky items per pickup day.

📅 Heavy Trash Rules

  1. Place heavy trash on the curb on your normal trash day.
  2. Limit set-out to two bulky items.
  3. Keep items accessible and separate from the trash cart.
  4. Extra household trash, more bulky items, or large cleanouts should go to the Citizens’ Transfer Station.

✅ Typical Accepted Bulky Items

  • Furniture
  • Bulky household items
  • Large items that fit the city heavy trash rules

🚫 Use Other Options For

  • Extra household trash bags beyond normal service
  • More than two bulky items
  • Hazardous waste
  • Most electronics and specialty disposal items
Leaves

Leaves & Seasonal Cleanup in Indianapolis

Indianapolis treats leaves differently from regular trash and heavy trash. The City says leaves should be bagged and never placed loose inside the cart.

🍂 Leaf Rules

  • You can place bagged leaves inside your trash cart.
  • Bags outside the cart will not be picked up through normal trash service.
  • Leaves should never be placed loose inside the cart.
  • Extra bags of leaves can be taken to the Citizens’ Transfer Station for a small fee.
💡 Seasonal leaf collection: Indianapolis also runs a separate leaf collection season in fall, with its own rules and calendar by district.
Drop-Off Options

Citizens’ Transfer Station & Recycling Drop-Off

Indianapolis residents can use the Marion County Citizens’ Transfer Station for extra household trash, heavy trash, and bags of leaves. The City also maintains free recycling drop-off locations across Indianapolis and Marion County.

📍 Citizens’ Transfer Station

  • 2324 S. Belmont Avenue
  • Extra household trash, heavy trash, and bags of leaves accepted
  • Fee: $2 per carload

♻ Recycling Drop-Off

Indianapolis provides several free recycling drop-off locations. These are useful for residents without curbside recycling or for overflow recyclables.

ToxDrop

Household Hazardous Waste (ToxDrop) Drop-Off Sites

ToxDrop services are for Marion County residents only and do not accept commercial waste. These sites are the correct option for household hazardous waste and many electronics.

✅ Use ToxDrop For

  • Household hazardous waste
  • Most electronics
  • Batteries and specialty materials
  • Items not accepted in regular trash or heavy trash

🚫 ToxDrop Limits

  • Marion County residents only
  • No commercial waste
  • Regular household trash should not be taken there
Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Indianapolis

  1. Wait until 6 p.m. on your scheduled collection day before assuming it was missed.
  2. Check for a holiday slide schedule. Trash, heavy trash, and recycling are delayed one day during listed holiday weeks.
  3. Verify your address schedule using the City’s official lookup tool.
  4. Confirm heavy trash limits: no more than two bulky items.
  5. Report the missed pickup to DPW or through the City request system if the set-out was correct.
Indianapolis reminder: missed-pickup reports for regular trash usually cannot be entered until the next business day because crews have until 6 p.m. to collect.
Local Tips

Indianapolis Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Indianapolis?

Start with the City’s trash lookup. It confirms your weekly trash day and helps avoid confusion during holiday slide weeks.

♻ Know the Recycling Setup

Indianapolis is different from many cities because curbside recycling is still a subscription service in 2026. If you do not sign up, use a free recycling drop-off site instead.

🚫 5 Common Indianapolis Mistakes

  • Putting out more than two heavy trash items
  • Assuming recycling is included automatically
  • Reporting a missed pickup before 6 p.m.
  • Putting leaf bags outside the cart for regular trash pickup
  • Forgetting the holiday slide schedule
Contact

Contact Indianapolis DPW

ContactDetails
Department of Public Works317-327-4000 · 200 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
Trash LookupFind Your Trash Pickup Day
Recycling SignupLRS: 317-245-4444 · subscription curbside recycling
Citizens’ Transfer Station2324 S. Belmont Avenue · extra trash, heavy trash, leaves
ToxDropHousehold Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Sites
Request IndyRequest Indy · report missed service and other city issues
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Indianapolis Trash Pickup

Your Indianapolis trash day depends on your address. Use the City’s official Find Your Trash Pickup Day tool to confirm your exact weekly collection day.
Heavy trash is collected on the same day as your regular trash pickup, but you are limited to two bulky items per pickup day.
No. In 2026, curbside recycling is generally a subscription service through LRS for eligible city-served homes. Free recycling drop-off locations are also available.
If DPW or LRS collects your weekly trash, call LRS at 317-245-4444 to sign up for curbside recycling pickup.
Yes. Indianapolis uses a slide schedule. During listed holidays, trash, heavy trash, and recycling pickup are delayed one day for the rest of that week.
Wait until 6 p.m. on your pickup day. The City says collectors have until 6 p.m. to complete service, so missed-pickup reports usually cannot be entered until the next business day.
Extra household trash bags should be taken to the Citizens’ Transfer Station rather than left out for normal curbside collection.
Bag the leaves and place the bags inside your trash cart. Bags left outside the cart are not picked up through normal trash service.
Use one of the City’s ToxDrop locations. These services are for Marion County residents only and do not accept commercial waste.
Use the Marion County Citizens’ Transfer Station at 2324 S. Belmont Avenue. The City lists a $2 per carload fee.
Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

If the Collection Day Finder above hasn’t resolved your question, use Indianapolis’ official lookup and service pages. They can confirm your exact trash day, holiday slide week, recycling setup, and drop-off options.

🔍 Official Indianapolis Lookup & Contact Options

All of the following are free and help confirm your exact service details:

🔍 Look Up My Schedule 📞 Call 317-327-4000
Trash Pickup DayFind Your Trash Pickup Day — address-based schedule and holiday slides
Trash 101Trash 101 — curbside rules, heavy trash, and leaves
RecyclingFind Your Recycling Pickup Day · Recycling 101
Transfer StationCitizens’ Transfer Station — extra trash, bulky items, leaves
ToxDropHousehold Hazardous Waste (ToxDrop) Sites

You will leave this website when using any of the links above.

Outside Indianapolis / Marion County? Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Noblesville, and other nearby communities have different collection providers and schedules.
Nearby Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Indianapolis

Looking for waste collection information in another nearby city? Here are five city pages we’ve already covered:

🏭Chicago 🏢Columbus 🏢Cleveland 🏭Detroit 🏭Milwaukee