Worcester Trash Pickup Schedule, Yellow Bag System & Recycling 2026
Find your collection day, yellow bag rules, zero-sort recycling, holiday delays, and the Residential Drop-Off Center for Worcester residents.
City of Worcester · Department of Public Works & Parks · Trash & Recycling Division · Updated 2026
Find Your Worcester Collection Day
Select your collection day to see your trash and recycling schedule. Worcester collects trash and recycling on the same day, once per week. Your day depends on your street.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Worcester collection schedule.
⚠ Not sure of your street’s day? Use the official interactive map at worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling/schedule or call 311 (or 508-929-1300). See all contact options ↓
Worcester Waste Collection — Quick Facts
Worcester uses a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) yellow bag system for household trash, with weekly zero-sort recycling on the same day. Bulk items are handled through the Residential Drop-Off Center at 1065 Millbury Street — not curbside. Service is for buildings with six or fewer units.
Worcester’s Yellow Bag (Pay-As-You-Throw) System
Worcester is a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) city. All household trash collected curbside must be in official City of Worcester yellow trash bags. These bags are the user fee — loose trash, black bags, and white bags will not be collected.
Yellow Bag — Household Trash
Small: $1.00/bag (sold in sleeves of 10) • 15 lb limit
Large: $1.75/bag (sold in sleeves of 5) • 30 lb limit
Available at local retailers and the Worcester 311 Customer Service Center. Set out between 6 AM and 7:30 AM.
Weekly • Official bags onlyGreen Bin — Zero-Sort Recycling
All accepted recyclables go in the green bin — no sorting needed. Must be loose, never bagged. Set out with trash on the same day.
Extra bins: $12 at 20 East Worcester Street. No yellow bag charge for recycling.
Weekly • Free • Same day as trash⏰ Set-Out Rules
- Place trash (yellow bags) and recycling (green bin) at the curb between 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM on your collection day. Do not put bags out the night before.
- Yellow bags that exceed weight limits (15 lb small / 30 lb large) may be left behind.
- Recycling must be loose in the green bin — recycling in plastic bags will not be collected.
- Place heavier items on top of the recycling bin to prevent material from blowing out.
- Large items on the curb are a violation of municipal ordinance — use the Drop-Off Center.
Worcester Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Worcester observes 11 holidays in 2026 that cause a one-day delay. When a collection day falls on a holiday, that day’s collection and all remaining collections for the week shift one day later. Independence Day (observed July 3) is the only scheduled holiday in 2026 that does not result in a delay.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | Affected Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri; Fri → Sat • Mon–Wed: normal |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue • All remaining days that week shift one later |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue • All remaining days shift one later |
| Patriots’ Day | Mon, Apr 20 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue • All remaining days shift one later |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue • All remaining days shift one later |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat • Mon–Thu: normal |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 3 (observed) | No Delay | Regular service — only holiday that does not result in a delay |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue • All remaining days shift one later |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue • All remaining days shift one later |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | 1-Day Delay | Wed → Thu; Thu → Fri; Fri → Sat • Mon–Tue: normal |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri; Fri → Sat • Mon–Wed: normal |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat • Mon–Thu: normal |
Worcester Zero-Sort Recycling — Green Bin
Worcester uses zero-sort recycling — all accepted materials go in the same green bin with no sorting required. Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as trash. Recycling containing contaminated material (including plastic bags) will not be collected as of October 2022.
✅ Accepted in the Green Bin
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, mixed paper
- Cardboard: clean, flattened
- Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
- Metal cans: aluminum and tin, clean
- Plastic bottles, jugs, containers — rinsed
🚫 Never in the Green Bin
- Plastic bags or film (causes machinery tangles)
- Wax-coated paper items
- Disposable items: plastic cutlery, paper towels, Styrofoam
- Food or liquid — all containers must be empty
- Clothing, linens, or textiles
- Tanglers: hoses, electrical wires, chains
- Batteries, scrap metal, aerosol cans, pans
- Electronics or hazardous materials
- Ceramics or baking glass
- Medical waste including gloves and masks
- Yard waste, wood, tires
Bulk Item Disposal — No Curbside Bulk Pickup
Worcester does not collect bulk items curbside as part of regular service. Large items left on the curb are a violation of municipal ordinance and may result in a fine. Bulk waste is handled through two options:
🚚 Option 1: Residential Drop-Off Center (1065 Millbury Street)
Residents can drop off an unlimited number of bulk waste items at the Residential Drop-Off Center. Appointment required; appointments scheduled for 30-minute windows up to 48 hours in advance. A flat fee of $5 per item applies for most items (mattresses and box springs have separate pricing). Open April through November. Proof of residency required.
📞 Schedule: Call 311 or schedule online at worcesterma.gov.
🚚 Option 2: Curbside Bulk Pickup by Casella Waste (Fee Applies)
If you cannot transport items to the Drop-Off Center, the city’s recycling contractor Casella Waste Management of Massachusetts, Inc. offers curbside bulk waste pickup for a per-item fee. Contact Casella directly or call Worcester 311 for current rates and scheduling.
✅ Accepted at Drop-Off Center
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
- Mattresses and box springs
- Appliances and electronics
- Yard waste and brush
- Cooking oil and grease (free, no appointment)
- Mercury thermometers and thermostats (free)
🚫 Not Accepted Curbside
- Any large item too big for a yellow bag
- Construction or renovation debris
- Hazardous materials → HHW Day events
- Motor oil (not accepted at Drop-Off Center either)
Residential Drop-Off Center — 1065 Millbury Street
Worcester’s Residential Drop-Off Center at 1065 Millbury Street is the primary location for bulk waste, yard waste, recycling drop-off, and several free specialty services. Proof of residency required for all services.
📅 Bulk Waste (By Appointment)
Open April through November. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9 AM–2:45 PM; Wed: 9 AM–7 PM.
$5/item flat fee (most items). Call 311 to schedule up to 48 hrs in advance.
🌿 Yard Waste Drop-Off
Seasonal yard waste drop-off. Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM–3 PM. Sat & Sun: 9 AM–4 PM.
⚖ Household Hazardous Waste Days
Free drop-off events held typically four times per year. Appointment required. Check worcesterma.gov for 2026 event dates.
🍲 Cooking Oil & Grease (Free)
Drop off cooking grease/oil in a sealed container. No appointment needed. Recycled into biodiesel.
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:30 AM–3 PM; Wed: 8:30 AM–7 PM; Sat & Sun: 9 AM–5 PM.
Yard Waste & Fall Leaf Collection
🍂 Fall Curbside Leaf Collection
Worcester offers seasonal curbside fall leaf collection. Streets are posted in advance notifying residents they can rake leaves into the gutter for collection, along with a No Parking Ban notice during collection. Check worcesterma.gov for the fall 2026 leaf collection schedule for your street.
🌿 Christmas Tree Collection
Place your Christmas tree curbside for collection. Remove all decorations, lights, and stands before set-out. Check worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling for the 2026–2027 Christmas tree pickup dates and any collection notes.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Worcester
- Confirm your day using the official ArcGIS map at worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling/schedule or by calling 311.
- Check the holiday calendar. With 11 delay holidays in 2026, a one-day shift is the most common cause of confusion. Confirm your rescheduled day using the holiday table above.
- Verify set-out time and bags: trash must be in official yellow bags, set out between 6:00 and 7:30 AM. Bags placed too early or too late may have been left.
- Check for recycling contamination. Recycling with plastic bags or prohibited items is not collected. Remove contaminants and place the bin out the following week or take materials to the Drop-Off Center.
- Report the missed pickup by calling 311 (or 508-929-1300) or using the Worcester 311 online portal.
Worcester Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Worcester?
Use the official ArcGIS map to find your street’s collection day. Get your free first green recycling bin at DPW Customer Services at 20 East Worcester Street (Mon–Fri, 9 AM–4 PM). Buy yellow bags at local grocery and hardware stores. Service is for 6-unit buildings or fewer — if your building has 7+ units, check with your property manager.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Worcester Residents Make
- Using black or white bags instead of official yellow bags — only yellow city bags are collected
- Missing the set-out window — bags must be out between 6:00 and 7:30 AM
- Putting plastic bags in the green recycling bin — this causes the entire bin to be skipped
- Leaving bulk items on the curb — this is a municipal ordinance violation; use the Drop-Off Center
- Missing holiday delay days — Worcester has 11 holidays with delays in 2026
📷 Clothing Recycling — Free Home Pickup
Worcester has partnered with Helpsy to offer free at-home clothing recycling collection. Check worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling for how to schedule a clothing pickup.
Contact Worcester DPW Trash & Recycling
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Worcester 311 | 📞 311 (within Worcester) or 508-929-1300 — Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM • General city services, missed pickup reports, bulk item scheduling |
| DPW Trash & Recycling Office | 20 East Worcester Street, Worcester, MA 01604 • Phone: 508-929-1300 • Fax: 508-799-1448 • Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM |
| Schedule Map | worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling/schedule — interactive ArcGIS map and 2026 holiday calendar PDF |
| Residential Drop-Off Center | 1065 Millbury Street, Worcester • Bulk waste (appointment): April–November • Yard waste: seasonal hours • Call 311 to book |
| 311 Online Portal | worcesterma.gov/311 — service requests, missed pickups, bulk item appointments |
| Casella (Curbside Bulk) | Casella Waste Management of Massachusetts, Inc. — curbside bulk pickup for fee when Drop-Off Center is not accessible • Contact via 311 for scheduling |
Frequently Asked Questions — Worcester Trash Pickup
Official Worcester Schedule Map & Resources
The most reliable way to find your street’s collection day is the city’s interactive ArcGIS map. Enter your address to see your exact weekday and the 2026 holiday calendar PDF for all delay dates.
🔍 Official Worcester DPW Schedule & Contacts
All links below are official City of Worcester resources for trash, recycling, and bulk waste:
🔍 Find Your Day (Map) 📞 Call 508-929-1300| Schedule Map & Calendar | worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling/schedule — interactive ArcGIS map + 2026 holiday calendar PDF download |
| DPW Main Page | worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling — yellow bag info, recycling, bulk items, yard waste, HHW events |
| 311 Portal | worcesterma.gov/311 — report issues, missed pickups, bulk item appointment scheduling |
| DPW Office | 20 East Worcester Street, Worcester, MA 01604 • Phone: 508-929-1300 • Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM |
| Drop-Off Center | 1065 Millbury Street • Bulk waste April–November by appointment • Yard waste & cooking oil drop-off seasonal hours |
You will leave this website when using the links above. The City of Worcester ArcGIS map is the authoritative source for address-specific collection schedule information.
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