Last updated: June 2026 | Reviewed by Fran A., Editor-in-Chief
Memorial Day kicks off the unofficial start of summer — and for millions of American households, it also kicks off confusion about when to put the trash bin out. Along with Labor Day and Thanksgiving, Memorial Day is one of the three most universally observed holidays for garbage collection in the United States.
In 2026, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25. Because it is a Monday holiday, every single weekday route that week is pushed back by one day in cities that observe it — not just Monday routes. If your pickup is Wednesday, your trash runs Thursday. If it’s Friday, it runs Saturday.
This guide covers exactly what changes in your city, day by day.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Garbage collection schedules are set locally by your city government or private waste hauler — not at the federal level. The information below reflects general publicly stated policies as of mid-2026.
Always verify your specific pickup day at your city’s official sanitation website or by calling 311 before the holiday.
Memorial Day 2026 – Key Facts
- Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
- Federal holiday: Yes
- Day of week: Monday
- Routes most affected if observed: All weekday routes (Monday through Friday)
Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday of May. Along with Labor Day, it is one of the two Monday holidays with the highest observance rate for sanitation across U.S. cities. Even private haulers that skip Presidents’ Day or Columbus Day almost always observe Memorial Day.
Key insight: Memorial Day is observed by nearly every major city-run sanitation department in the country — including cities like Los Angeles, San Antonio, and San Diego that skip other federal holidays. The main exception remains San Francisco, where Recology only suspends service on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How Memorial Day Affects Your Full Week Trash Schedule
For cities using the full-week one-day delay system, here is exactly what Memorial Day week looks like in 2026:
| Day | Regular Route | Memorial Day Week (if observed) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 25 | Memorial Day | ❌ Suspended (if observed) |
| Tuesday, May 26 | Tuesday pickup | ⚠️ Delayed to Wednesday May 27 |
| Wednesday, May 27 | Wednesday pickup | ⚠️ Delayed to Thursday May 28 |
| Thursday, May 28 | Thursday pickup | ⚠️ Delayed to Friday May 29 |
| Friday, May 29 | Friday pickup | ⚠️ Delayed to Saturday May 30 |
In cities that do NOT observe Memorial Day: Every route runs on its normal schedule. This is rare — San Francisco is the primary example.
Memorial Day Trash Pickup 2026 – City by City
New York City, NY
Provider: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
DSNY observes all 11 federal holidays, including Memorial Day. Monday May 25 routes are fully suspended. All routes that week shift one day forward — Monday to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday. Trash, recycling, and organics collection are all affected.
Where to verify: nyc.gov/sanitation or NYC 311 app
👉 Related: Holiday Week Trash Schedule 2026 – All Changes in One Place
Los Angeles, CA
Provider: LA Sanitation (LASAN) Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
LASAN observes Memorial Day as one of its six core holidays — notably including it even though it skips MLK Day and Presidents’ Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: lacitysan.org or MyLA311 app
Chicago, IL
Provider: City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Chicago observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week — including blue cart recycling and brown cart organics — shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: chicago.gov/streets or CHI311 app
Houston, TX
Provider: City of Houston Solid Waste Management Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Houston observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward. If your area uses a private contractor, verify directly — most major contractors in Houston also observe Memorial Day.
Where to verify: houstonsolidwaste.org
Phoenix, AZ
Provider: City of Phoenix Public Works Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Phoenix observes Memorial Day as one of its seven official sanitation holidays. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: phoenix.gov/publicworks
Philadelphia, PA
Provider: Philadelphia Streets Department Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Philadelphia observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward.
Where to verify: phila.gov/streets
San Antonio, TX
Provider: City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
San Antonio observes Memorial Day — one of the six core holidays it recognizes for sanitation. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: sanantonio.gov/swmd
San Diego, CA
Provider: City of San Diego Environmental Services Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
San Diego observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward. Use the city’s My Route tool to confirm your specific pickup day.
Where to verify: sandiego.gov/environmental-services
Dallas, TX
Provider: City of Dallas Sanitation Services Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Dallas observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: dallascityhall.com/sanitation
Jacksonville, FL
Provider: City of Jacksonville Solid Waste Division Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Jacksonville observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward. Friday routes move to Saturday.
Where to verify: coj.net/solid-waste
Austin, TX
Provider: Austin Resource Recovery Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Austin observes Memorial Day. Routes scheduled for Monday are rescheduled to the following Saturday, May 30. Tuesday through Friday routes run on their normal schedule — Austin uses the holiday-day-only rescheduling system, not a full-week delay.
Where to verify: austintexas.gov/arr
Fort Worth, TX
Provider: City of Fort Worth Environmental Services Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Fort Worth observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: fortworthtexas.gov/environmental
Columbus, OH
Provider: City of Columbus Refuse Collection Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Columbus observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward, including recycling and bulk collection.
Where to verify: columbus.gov/refuse
Charlotte, NC
Provider: City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Charlotte observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: charlottenc.gov/solidwaste
Indianapolis, IN
Provider: Indianapolis Department of Public Works Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Indianapolis observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward.
Where to verify: indy.gov/dpw
San Francisco, CA
Provider: Recology (contracted) Observes Memorial Day: ⬜ No
San Francisco is the standout exception. Recology only observes Thanksgiving and Christmas. Memorial Day causes no schedule change in San Francisco. All routes — trash, recycling, compost, and bulk — run normally the week of May 25. Monday pickup runs as usual.
Where to verify: recology.com/san-francisco
Seattle, WA
Provider: Seattle Public Utilities / contracted haulers by zone Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Seattle observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday. Verify with your specific hauler as policies can vary slightly by zone.
Where to verify: seattle.gov/utilities
Denver, CO
Provider: Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Denver observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: denvergov.org/trash
Nashville, TN
Provider: Nashville Metro Public Works Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Nashville observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward.
Where to verify: nashville.gov/public-works
Washington, DC
Provider: DC Department of Public Works (DPW) Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
DPW observes all 11 federal holidays, including Memorial Day. Monday routes are fully suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday. Trash, recycling, and bulk pickup are all affected.
Where to verify: dpw.dc.gov
Las Vegas, NV
Provider: Republic Services (contracted) Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Republic Services observes Memorial Day in Las Vegas service areas. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. Affected routes are delayed to the next available collection day. Verify at their site with your address.
Where to verify: republicservices.com
Portland, OR
Provider: City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Portland observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday. Recycling and compost follow the same delay.
Where to verify: portland.gov/bes
Memphis, TN
Provider: City of Memphis Division of Public Works Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Memphis observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward.
Where to verify: memphistn.gov/public-works
Louisville, KY
Provider: Louisville Metro Government Waste Management Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Louisville observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: louisvilleky.gov/government/waste-management
Baltimore, MD
Provider: Baltimore City Department of Public Works Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Baltimore observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward, including recycling and bulk trash.
Where to verify: publicworks.baltimorecity.gov
Milwaukee, WI
Provider: City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Milwaukee observes Memorial Day. Monday collection is suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: city.milwaukee.gov/dpw
Albuquerque, NM
Provider: City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Albuquerque observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward.
Where to verify: cabq.gov/solidwaste
Tucson, AZ
Provider: City of Tucson Environmental Services Observes Memorial Day: ✅ Yes
Tucson observes Memorial Day. Monday routes are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.
Where to verify: tucsonaz.gov/es
Memorial Day Garbage Collection 2026 – Quick Reference Chart
✅ = Delay confirmed | ⬜ = Normal schedule | * = Holiday-day-only system
| City | Mon May 25 | Tue May 26 | Wed May 27 | Thu May 28 | Fri May 29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Los Angeles, CA | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Chicago, IL | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Houston, TX | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Phoenix, AZ | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Philadelphia, PA | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| San Antonio, TX | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| San Diego, CA | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Dallas, TX | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Jacksonville, FL | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Austin, TX* | ❌ → Sat | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal |
| Fort Worth, TX | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Columbus, OH | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Charlotte, NC | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Indianapolis, IN | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| San Francisco, CA | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal | ✅ Normal |
| Seattle, WA | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Denver, CO | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Nashville, TN | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Washington, DC | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Las Vegas, NV | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Portland, OR | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Memphis, TN | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Louisville, KY | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Baltimore, MD | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Milwaukee, WI | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Albuquerque, NM | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
| Tucson, AZ | ❌ → Tue | ⚠️ → Wed | ⚠️ → Thu | ⚠️ → Fri | ⚠️ → Sat |
*Austin: only Monday routes move to Saturday May 30. Tuesday–Friday run normally.
Memorial Day Is the Start of Peak Trash Season – What That Means for Your Pickup
Memorial Day weekend is consistently one of the highest-volume waste generation weekends of the year. Backyard cookouts, parties, spring cleaning, and outdoor events all produce significantly more trash than a typical weekend. Here’s what that means for your collection:
Your bin may be fuller than usual. Keep everything in a closed container — most cities will not collect loose bags left beside an overfull bin. If you have overflow, check whether your city sells approved overflow stickers or bags that allow an extra container.
Recycling is higher volume too. Bottles, cans, cardboard boxes, and packaging from Memorial Day gatherings add up quickly. Break cardboard down flat to make room. Check your city’s accepted materials list — not everything generated at a cookout is recyclable.
Bulk item requests spike after Memorial Day. Spring cleaning tied to the long weekend means many cities see a surge in bulk pickup requests the week after Memorial Day. Schedule your bulk pickup request in advance if possible.
Yard waste is in season. Late May is peak lawn maintenance season across most of the country. If your city runs a yard waste or green bin program, confirm whether the Memorial Day delay also shifts your yard waste pickup that week.
Does Memorial Day Affect Recycling, Yard Waste, and Bulk Pickup?
In virtually every city that observes Memorial Day for sanitation, yes — all curbside services follow the same one-day delay.
Recycling: Shifts one day forward in all observing cities. Monday recycling moves to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, through to Saturday.
Yard waste and organics: In most cities, yard waste follows the same delay schedule. Portland and Seattle run composting programs that also shift one day during Memorial Day week.
Bulk item pickup: Bulk collection typically shifts the same way as regular trash. If your bulk pickup was scheduled any day during Memorial Day week, expect it to run one day later.
San Francisco exception: Recology runs all services — trash, recycling, compost, and bulk — on their normal schedule the week of Memorial Day.
👉 Related: When Trash Is Delayed by a Holiday: How to Find Your New Day
What To Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Picked Up After Memorial Day
Memorial Day week is one of the highest-volume periods for missed pickup reports. If your bin was out on the correct rescheduled day and collection still didn’t come:
Wait 24 hours. Holiday routes often run late into the evening or carry into the next morning, especially with higher-than-normal bin volumes.
Report it through your city’s sanitation portal. Look for “Report Missed Collection” — most cities will dispatch a return vehicle within 1–3 business days after a verified report.
Call 311. If you can’t find the online form, 311 handles missed pickup reports for virtually every major U.S. city.
Keep overflow contained. Don’t leave loose bags on the curb while waiting. Most cities require all trash to be in a closed container, and bags left beside a bin may not be collected on the return trip.
Frequently Asked Questions – Memorial Day Trash Pickup 2026
Is garbage collection running on Memorial Day 2026?
In most U.S. cities, no. Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday May 25, and the vast majority of city-run sanitation departments suspend Monday collection. This includes Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, and San Diego — cities that skip other federal holidays but still observe Memorial Day. The main exception is San Francisco, where Recology runs normally.
What day does Memorial Day fall on in 2026?
Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 25 — the last Monday of May. As a Monday holiday, it delays every single weekday route that week by one day in cities that observe it.
My pickup is on Monday — when does my trash run during Memorial Day week?
In cities using the full-week delay system, your Monday pickup shifts to Tuesday, May 26. In Austin, Monday routes are rescheduled to Saturday, May 30. Check your city in the chart above.
My pickup is on Friday — am I affected by Memorial Day 2026?
Yes, in nearly all observing cities. With the full-week one-day delay, your Friday pickup shifts to Saturday, May 30. The exception is Austin, where only Monday routes are rescheduled.
Does Los Angeles delay trash pickup on Memorial Day 2026?
Yes. LA Sanitation observes Memorial Day even though it skips MLK Day and Presidents’ Day. Monday routes in LA are suspended on May 25. All routes that week shift one day forward.
Does San Francisco suspend collection on Memorial Day 2026?
No. Recology only observes Thanksgiving and Christmas. Memorial Day has no impact on San Francisco’s collection schedule — all routes run normally the week of May 25.
Does the Memorial Day delay apply to recycling?
Yes, in all observing cities. Recycling follows the same one-day delay as regular trash. Monday recycling moves to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, and so on through Saturday.
What is the next holiday after Memorial Day that affects trash pickup in 2026?
The next holiday is Juneteenth on Friday June 19 — observed by a growing but still limited number of cities for sanitation purposes. After that, Independence Day on Saturday July 4 (observed on Friday July 3 in most cities). See the full year picture in the 2026 Holiday Garbage Collection Schedule.
My city observes Memorial Day but not Presidents’ Day — is that normal?
Yes, very common. Memorial Day has significantly broader observance than Presidents’ Day across U.S. cities. Cities like Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Diego, Houston, and many others observe Memorial Day as one of their core holidays but run normal schedules on Presidents’ Day. Always check your city’s specific list.
Related Holiday Trash Pickup Guides
- 2026 Holiday Garbage Collection Schedule – All U.S. Cities
- Holiday Week Trash Schedule 2026 – All Changes in One Place
- Fourth of July Trash Pickup 2026 – Is Garbage Collection Running?
- Labor Day Garbage Collection 2026 – Changes by City
- MLK Day Trash Pickup 2026 – Is Garbage Collected?
- When Trash Is Delayed by a Holiday: How to Find Your New Day
This page is reviewed and updated annually as cities confirm their official holiday schedules. Last review: June 2026. If you notice an error for your city, contact us and we’ll update it within 48 hours.
Written and maintained by Fran A., Founder & Editor-in-Chief — trashpickupscheduleday.com
