Last updated: June 2026 | Reviewed by Fran A., Editor-in-Chief
Thanksgiving is the single most universally observed holiday for garbage collection in the United States. More cities suspend sanitation service on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year — including Christmas. And with Thanksgiving generating more food waste, packaging, and recycling volume than almost any other holiday, knowing exactly when your trash runs that week is more important than ever.
In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. That mid-week placement means Thursday and Friday routes are directly disrupted in observing cities, while Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday households are almost always unaffected.
This guide tells you exactly what happens to your garbage collection the week of Thanksgiving 2026, city by city.
⚠️ 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 Thanksgiving week.
Thanksgiving 2026 – Key Facts
- Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Federal holiday: Yes
- Day of week: Thursday
- Routes most affected if observed: Thursday and Friday
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday routes: Unaffected in virtually all cities
Because Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, cities using the full-week one-day delay system push only Thursday and Friday routes forward. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday routes run on their normal schedule that week — even in cities with the broadest holiday observance.
Key insight: Thanksgiving has the highest observance rate of any holiday for sanitation in the U.S. — including San Francisco, which normally only suspends service for Christmas. If your city observes any holiday at all for garbage collection, Thanksgiving is on that list. The only question is whether your specific pickup day is Thursday or Friday, since those are the only routes affected in 2026.
How Thanksgiving Week Affects Your Trash Schedule in 2026
For cities using the full-week one-day delay system, here is exactly what Thanksgiving week looks like:
| Day | Regular Route | Thanksgiving Week 2026 (if observed) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Nov 23 | Monday pickup | ✅ Runs normally |
| Tuesday, Nov 24 | Tuesday pickup | ✅ Runs normally |
| Wednesday, Nov 25 | Wednesday pickup | ✅ Runs normally |
| Thursday, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Day | ❌ Suspended |
| Friday, Nov 27 | Friday pickup | ⚠️ Delayed to Saturday Nov 28 |
The bottom line: If your pickup is Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday — your Thanksgiving week schedule is almost certainly unchanged. If your pickup is Thursday or Friday, read on.
Thanksgiving Garbage Collection 2026 – City by City
New York City, NY
Provider: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
DSNY suspends all collection on Thanksgiving. Thursday November 26 routes are fully suspended. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Monday through Wednesday run normally. Trash, recycling, and organics 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 Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
LASAN observes Thanksgiving as one of its six core holidays. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Monday through Wednesday run normally.
Where to verify: lacitysan.org or MyLA311 app
Chicago, IL
Provider: City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Chicago observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Blue cart recycling and brown cart organics follow the same delay.
Where to verify: chicago.gov/streets or CHI311 app
Houston, TX
Provider: City of Houston Solid Waste Management Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Houston observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Verify with your specific contractor if your area uses private haulers.
Where to verify: houstonsolidwaste.org
Phoenix, AZ
Provider: City of Phoenix Public Works Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Phoenix observes Thanksgiving as one of its seven official sanitation holidays. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: phoenix.gov/publicworks
Philadelphia, PA
Provider: Philadelphia Streets Department Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Philadelphia observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: phila.gov/streets
San Antonio, TX
Provider: City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
San Antonio observes Thanksgiving as one of its six core sanitation holidays. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: sanantonio.gov/swmd
San Diego, CA
Provider: City of San Diego Environmental Services Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
San Diego observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. 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 Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Dallas observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: dallascityhall.com/sanitation
Jacksonville, FL
Provider: City of Jacksonville Solid Waste Division Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Jacksonville observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: coj.net/solid-waste
Austin, TX
Provider: Austin Resource Recovery Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Austin observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are rescheduled to Saturday November 28. Friday routes run on their normal schedule — Austin uses the holiday-day-only system, not a full-week delay.
Where to verify: austintexas.gov/arr
Fort Worth, TX
Provider: City of Fort Worth Environmental Services Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Fort Worth observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: fortworthtexas.gov/environmental
Columbus, OH
Provider: City of Columbus Refuse Collection Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Columbus observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Recycling and bulk collection follow the same delay.
Where to verify: columbus.gov/refuse
Charlotte, NC
Provider: City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Charlotte observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: charlottenc.gov/solidwaste
Indianapolis, IN
Provider: Indianapolis Department of Public Works Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Indianapolis observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: indy.gov/dpw
San Francisco, CA
Provider: Recology (contracted) Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Thanksgiving is one of only two days Recology observes — the other being Christmas. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. The rescheduled pickup moves to Saturday November 28. Friday routes run normally — Recology uses the holiday-day-only system.
Where to verify: recology.com/san-francisco
Seattle, WA
Provider: Seattle Public Utilities / contracted haulers by zone Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Seattle observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. 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 Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Denver observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: denvergov.org/trash
Nashville, TN
Provider: Nashville Metro Public Works Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Nashville observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: nashville.gov/public-works
Washington, DC
Provider: DC Department of Public Works (DPW) Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
DPW observes all 11 federal holidays, including Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are fully suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Trash, recycling, and bulk pickup are all affected.
Where to verify: dpw.dc.gov
Las Vegas, NV
Provider: Republic Services (contracted) Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Republic Services observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. 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 Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Portland observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Recycling and compost follow the same delay.
Where to verify: portland.gov/bes
Memphis, TN
Provider: City of Memphis Division of Public Works Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Memphis observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: memphistn.gov/public-works
Louisville, KY
Provider: Louisville Metro Government Waste Management Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Louisville observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: louisvilleky.gov/government/waste-management
Baltimore, MD
Provider: Baltimore City Department of Public Works Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Baltimore observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28. Recycling and bulk trash follow the same delay.
Where to verify: publicworks.baltimorecity.gov
Milwaukee, WI
Provider: City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Milwaukee observes Thanksgiving. Thursday collection is suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: city.milwaukee.gov/dpw
Albuquerque, NM
Provider: City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Albuquerque observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: cabq.gov/solidwaste
Tucson, AZ
Provider: City of Tucson Environmental Services Observes Thanksgiving: ✅ Yes
Tucson observes Thanksgiving. Thursday routes are suspended on November 26. Friday routes shift to Saturday November 28.
Where to verify: tucsonaz.gov/es
Thanksgiving 2026 – Quick Reference Chart
✅ = Normal | ❌ = Suspended | ⚠️ = Delayed | * = Holiday-day-only system
| City | Mon Nov 23 | Tue Nov 24 | Wed Nov 25 | Thu Nov 26 | Fri Nov 27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Los Angeles, CA | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Chicago, IL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Houston, TX | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Phoenix, AZ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Philadelphia, PA | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| San Antonio, TX | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| San Diego, CA | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Dallas, TX | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Jacksonville, FL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Austin, TX* | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ → Sat Nov 28 | ✅ Normal |
| Fort Worth, TX | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Columbus, OH | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Charlotte, NC | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Indianapolis, IN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| San Francisco, CA* | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ → Sat Nov 28 | ✅ Normal |
| Seattle, WA | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Denver, CO | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Nashville, TN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Washington, DC | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Las Vegas, NV | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Portland, OR | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Memphis, TN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Louisville, KY | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Baltimore, MD | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Milwaukee, WI | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Albuquerque, NM | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
| Tucson, AZ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Suspended | ⚠️ → Sat Nov 28 |
*Austin: Thursday routes move to Saturday Nov 28. Friday runs normally. *San Francisco: Thursday routes move to Saturday Nov 28. Friday runs normally.
Thanksgiving Is the Highest-Volume Trash Week of the Year – What That Means
Thanksgiving week consistently generates more household waste than any other week of the year in the United States. Turkey carcasses, vegetable peelings, packaging from shipped goods, wine and beer bottles, cardboard boxes, and the leftovers nobody finished — it all adds up fast.
Here’s how to manage the volume smartly around the 2026 schedule:
Put your bin out early on the rescheduled day. With higher-than-normal volumes across every route, crews start earlier and move faster. Have your bin at the curb by 6:00 AM on your rescheduled pickup day.
Don’t overfill your bin. Most cities require the lid to close completely. An overfull bin is one of the most common reasons for a missed pickup — crews will leave a bin if the lid is open or if loose bags are stacked on top.
Use composting if your city offers it. Thanksgiving food scraps — vegetable peels, fruit rinds, coffee grounds, bread — are ideal for green bin composting programs. San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and many other cities accept food scraps in curbside organics bins. This is the single most effective way to reduce your landfill contribution that week.
Turkey bones and meat scraps. Cooked meat and bones are accepted in most municipal composting programs but not in home compost bins. Check your city’s green bin guidelines — in many cities, cooked meat goes in the green bin, not the regular trash.
Glass recycling. Wine and beer bottles from Thanksgiving are not accepted in curbside recycling in many U.S. cities. Check your city’s accepted materials list before putting glass in the blue bin. Many cities have glass drop-off locations instead.
Black Friday cardboard. If you’re shopping online over Thanksgiving weekend, expect significant cardboard to arrive in the days that follow. Break all boxes flat before recycling. The first full pickup week after Thanksgiving is one of the highest-volume recycling periods of the year.
Does Thanksgiving Affect Recycling, Yard Waste, and Bulk Pickup?
In virtually every city that observes Thanksgiving, yes — all curbside services follow the same one-day delay for Thursday and Friday routes.
Recycling: Thursday recycling is suspended on November 26 and shifts to Friday November 27 (or Saturday November 28 in Austin and San Francisco). Friday recycling shifts to Saturday November 28 in full-week delay cities.
Yard waste and organics: Most cities delay yard waste and green bin collection the same way. This is peak leaf season in many Northern and Midwestern cities — confirm your yard waste schedule separately if you have a backlog of leaves to clear.
Bulk item pickup: In most cities, bulk collection follows the same holiday delay. Thursday bulk pickup moves to Friday; Friday bulk moves to Saturday. Some cities pause bulk pickup for the entire Thanksgiving week — call your city to confirm.
San Francisco and Austin: Both use the holiday-day-only system. Thursday collection moves to Saturday. Friday runs normally — including recycling, compost, and bulk.
👉 Related: When Trash Is Delayed by a Holiday: How to Find Your New Day
Thanksgiving and the Road to Christmas – What Comes Next
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on November 26, leaving exactly 29 days until Christmas (December 25) and 36 days until New Year’s Day (January 1). That four-week stretch is the most waste-intensive period of the entire year.
After Thanksgiving week, your next disrupted pickup days are:
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25 — Friday routes are suspended and shift to Saturday December 26 in most cities
- New Year’s Day 2027: Friday, January 1 — Thursday and Friday routes disrupted (New Year’s Day 2027 falls on a Friday)
Between Thanksgiving and the new year, Thursday and Friday households face the most disruptions. Plan ahead.
👉 Related: Is Trash Pickup Delayed on Christmas Day 2026? 👉 Related: Christmas Eve Trash Pickup 2026 – Is Garbage Collection Running?
What To Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Picked Up After Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving week is the single busiest period for missed pickup reports of the entire year, due to the combination of route delays, higher-than-normal bin volumes, and crews navigating unfamiliar Saturday routes.
Wait 24 hours first. Saturday holiday routes often run into the early evening. Don’t report a miss until the morning after the rescheduled day.
Report through your city’s sanitation portal. Look for “Report Missed Collection.” Most cities will dispatch a return vehicle within 1–3 business days.
Call 311. Available in virtually every major U.S. city — operators handle missed pickup reports directly and can confirm your rescheduled day.
Keep everything in a closed bin. Loose bags left on the curb for multiple days are a code violation in most cities and may attract pests. Store overflow inside if possible while waiting for the make-up pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions – Thanksgiving Garbage Collection 2026
Is garbage collection running on Thanksgiving 2026?
No — in virtually every U.S. city. Thanksgiving is the most universally observed holiday for sanitation in the country. Thursday November 26 routes are suspended across the board. Even San Francisco’s Recology — which skips most other holidays — suspends service on Thanksgiving.
What day does Thanksgiving fall on in 2026?
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26 — the fourth Thursday of November. That means only Thursday and Friday routes are disrupted. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday pickups run on their normal schedule.
My pickup is on Friday — what happens during Thanksgiving week 2026?
In most cities using the full-week delay, your Thursday pickup shifts to Friday, November 27. In Austin and San Francisco, Thursday routes are rescheduled to Saturday, November 28. Check your city in the chart above.
My pickup is on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday — am I affected?
No. Because Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday in 2026, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday routes are completely unaffected — even in cities with the broadest holiday observance.
Does San Francisco suspend trash collection on Thanksgiving 2026?
Yes — Thanksgiving is one of only two days Recology suspends service (Christmas is the other). Thursday pickup in San Francisco is rescheduled to Saturday November 28. However, Friday routes run normally.
Does Thanksgiving affect recycling pickup in 2026?
Yes, in all observing cities. Thursday recycling is suspended on November 26 and follows the same rescheduled day as trash. Friday recycling shifts to Saturday November 28 in most full-week delay cities. In Austin and San Francisco, Friday recycling runs normally.
Can I put food scraps from Thanksgiving in my green bin?
In most cities with composting programs — including San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and others — yes. Vegetable peels, fruit rinds, bread, and coffee grounds are accepted. Cooked meat and bones are accepted in most municipal programs but not home compost bins. Always check your city’s specific accepted materials list.
When is the next holiday after Thanksgiving that affects trash pickup?
Christmas Day, Friday December 25, 2026 — just 29 days later. Friday routes are suspended and shift to Saturday December 26 in most cities. See the full guide at Is Trash Pickup Delayed on Christmas Day 2026?
Related Thanksgiving and Holiday Trash Pickup Guides
- 2026 Holiday Garbage Collection Schedule – All U.S. Cities
- Holiday Week Trash Schedule 2026 – All Changes in One Place
- Is Trash Pickup Delayed on Christmas Day 2026? – City-by-City Guide
- Christmas Eve Trash Pickup 2026 – Is Garbage Collection Running?
- Labor Day Garbage Collection 2026 – Changes by City
- Memorial Day Trash Pickup 2026 – Is Collection Running?
- 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
