Is Trash Pickup Delayed on Christmas Day 2026?

Last updated: June 2026 | Reviewed by Fran A., Editor-in-Chief

Christmas Day is one of the two most universally observed holidays for garbage collection in the United States — the other being Thanksgiving. In 2026, Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, which makes it unique: it’s a late-week holiday that directly hits Friday routes and leaves the rest of the week completely untouched.

If your pickup day is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday — your Christmas week schedule is almost certainly normal. If your pickup is Friday, this guide tells you exactly when your bin goes out instead.

⚠️ 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 Christmas week.

Christmas Day 2026 – Key Facts

Date: Friday, December 25, 2026
Federal holiday: Yes
Day of week: Friday
Routes most affected: Friday only
Monday through Thursday routes: Unaffected in virtually all cities

Because Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026, the disruption is highly contained. Only Friday routes are directly suspended. In cities using the full-week one-day delay, Friday routes shift to Saturday December 26. Monday through Thursday routes run on their normal schedule all week.

Key insight: Christmas 2026 is one of the most straightforward holiday trash weeks in recent years. The Friday placement means the vast majority of U.S. households — those with Monday through Thursday pickups — are completely unaffected. Only Friday households need to adjust. If your pickup is Friday, your new day is Saturday December 26 in most cities.

How Christmas Day 2026 Affects Your Full Week Schedule

Day	Regular Route	Christmas Week 2026 (if observed)
Monday, Dec 21	Monday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Tuesday, Dec 22	Tuesday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Wednesday, Dec 24	Wednesday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Thursday, Dec 25	Thursday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Friday, Dec 26	Christmas Day	❌ Suspended (if observed)

Wait — let’s be precise. December 25 is a Thursday this year… no. Christmas Day 2026 is Friday, December 25. Here is the corrected full week:

Day	Date	Regular Route	Christmas Week 2026
Monday	Dec 21	Monday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Tuesday	Dec 22	Tuesday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Wednesday	Dec 23	Wednesday pickup	✅ Runs normally
Thursday	Dec 24	Thursday pickup (Christmas Eve)	✅ Runs normally
Friday	Dec 25	Christmas Day	❌ Suspended
Saturday	Dec 26	Make-up day	⚠️ Friday routes collected

Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) is not a federal holiday. Thursday routes run on their normal schedule. Only Friday December 25 is suspended.

Is Trash Pickup Delayed on Christmas Day 2026? – City by City

New York City, NY

Provider: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

DSNY suspends all collection on Christmas Day. Friday December 25 routes are fully suspended and shift to Saturday December 26. Monday through Thursday routes — including Christmas Eve Thursday — run normally. Trash, recycling, and organics are all affected.

Where to verify: nyc.gov/sanitation or NYC 311 app

Los Angeles, CA

Provider: LA Sanitation (LASAN) Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

LASAN observes Christmas Day as one of its six core holidays. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. Monday through Thursday run normally.

Where to verify: lacitysan.org or MyLA311 app

Chicago, IL

Provider: City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Chicago observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. Blue cart recycling and brown cart organics follow the same delay. Monday through Thursday run normally.

Where to verify: chicago.gov/streets or CHI311 app

Houston, TX

Provider: City of Houston Solid Waste Management Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Houston observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. 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 Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Phoenix observes Christmas Day as one of its seven official sanitation holidays. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: phoenix.gov/publicworks

Philadelphia, PA

Provider: Philadelphia Streets Department Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Philadelphia observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. Monday through Thursday run normally.

Where to verify: phila.gov/streets

San Antonio, TX

Provider: City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

San Antonio observes Christmas Day as one of its six core sanitation holidays. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: sanantonio.gov/swmd

San Diego, CA

Provider: City of San Diego Environmental Services Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

San Diego observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. 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 Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Dallas observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: dallascityhall.com/sanitation

Jacksonville, FL

Provider: City of Jacksonville Solid Waste Division Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Jacksonville observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: coj.net/solid-waste

Austin, TX

Provider: Austin Resource Recovery Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Austin observes Christmas Day. Friday December 25 routes are rescheduled to Saturday December 26. Austin uses the holiday-day-only system — only Friday routes are rescheduled. All other routes that week run normally.

Where to verify: austintexas.gov/arr

Fort Worth, TX

Provider: City of Fort Worth Environmental Services Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Fort Worth observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: fortworthtexas.gov/environmental

Columbus, OH

Provider: City of Columbus Refuse Collection Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Columbus observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. Recycling and bulk collection follow the same delay.

Where to verify: columbus.gov/refuse

Charlotte, NC

Provider: City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Charlotte observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: charlottenc.gov/solidwaste

Indianapolis, IN

Provider: Indianapolis Department of Public Works Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Indianapolis observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: indy.gov/dpw

San Francisco, CA

Provider: Recology (contracted) Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Christmas is one of only two days Recology observes — the other being Thanksgiving. Friday December 25 routes are suspended and rescheduled to Saturday December 26. Recology uses the holiday-day-only system — Monday through Thursday routes run normally, and the Friday delay does not cascade into the following week.

Where to verify: recology.com/san-francisco

Seattle, WA

Provider: Seattle Public Utilities / contracted haulers by zone Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Seattle observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. 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 Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Denver observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: denvergov.org/trash

Nashville, TN

Provider: Nashville Metro Public Works Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Nashville observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: nashville.gov/public-works

Washington, DC

Provider: DC Department of Public Works (DPW) Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

DPW observes all 11 federal holidays, including Christmas Day. Friday routes are fully suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. Trash, recycling, and bulk pickup are all affected.

Where to verify: dpw.dc.gov

Las Vegas, NV

Provider: Republic Services (contracted) Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Republic Services observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and delayed to the next available collection day — Saturday December 26 in most zones. Verify at their site with your address.

Where to verify: republicservices.com

Portland, OR

Provider: City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Portland observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. Recycling and compost follow the same delay.

Where to verify: portland.gov/bes

Memphis, TN

Provider: City of Memphis Division of Public Works Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Memphis observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: memphistn.gov/public-works

Louisville, KY

Provider: Louisville Metro Government Waste Management Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Louisville observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: louisvilleky.gov/government/waste-management

Baltimore, MD

Provider: Baltimore City Department of Public Works Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Baltimore observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26. 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 Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Milwaukee observes Christmas Day. Friday collection is suspended on December 25 and shifts to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: city.milwaukee.gov/dpw

Albuquerque, NM

Provider: City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Albuquerque observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: cabq.gov/solidwaste

Tucson, AZ

Provider: City of Tucson Environmental Services Observes Christmas Day: ✅ Yes

Tucson observes Christmas Day. Friday routes are suspended on December 25 and shift to Saturday December 26.

Where to verify: tucsonaz.gov/es

Christmas Day 2026 – Quick Reference Chart

✅ = Normal | ❌ = Suspended | ⚠️ = Delayed to Saturday Dec 26

City	Mon Dec 21	Tue Dec 22	Wed Dec 23	Thu Dec 24	Fri Dec 25	Make-up Day
New York City, NY	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Los Angeles, CA	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Chicago, IL	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Houston, TX	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Phoenix, AZ	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Philadelphia, PA	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
San Antonio, TX	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
San Diego, CA	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Dallas, TX	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Jacksonville, FL	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Austin, TX	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Fort Worth, TX	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Columbus, OH	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Charlotte, NC	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Indianapolis, IN	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
San Francisco, CA	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Seattle, WA	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Denver, CO	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Nashville, TN	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Washington, DC	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Las Vegas, NV	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Portland, OR	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Memphis, TN	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Louisville, KY	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Baltimore, MD	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Milwaukee, WI	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Albuquerque, NM	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26
Tucson, AZ	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	Sat Dec 26

Managing Christmas Week Waste – What You Need to Know

Christmas week generates an enormous volume of trash, recycling, and bulk waste. The Friday suspension — and the resulting Saturday make-up day — creates a crunch that requires some planning.

Put your bin out by 6:00 AM on Saturday December 26. Make-up routes start early. Don’t assume the crew comes at the same time as your normal Friday route.

Cardboard and gift boxes. Break all cardboard flat before placing it in the recycling bin. December 26 is one of the highest-volume cardboard days of the year. Flat cardboard takes up a fraction of the space and dramatically increases the chances it gets collected.

Wrapping paper. Most wrapping paper — especially foil, metallic, or glitter varieties — is not accepted in curbside recycling. Check your city’s guidelines. Standard matte wrapping paper may be recyclable in some programs but goes in the trash in others.

Christmas tree disposal. Live trees are not collected with regular trash in most U.S. cities. Most cities run a dedicated Christmas tree curbside pickup program starting the week after Christmas and running through mid-January. Check your city’s website for exact 2026 tree recycling dates — do not put the tree in your regular bin.

Food waste from Christmas dinner. If your city has a green bin composting program, Christmas food scraps — vegetable peels, fruit rinds, bread — can go in the organics bin. Cooked meat and bones are accepted in most municipal composting programs. Check your city’s accepted materials list.

Glass from holiday gatherings. Wine and champagne bottles are not accepted in curbside recycling in many U.S. cities. Check your city’s recycling program for glass — many offer drop-off locations for glass rather than curbside pickup.

Does Christmas Day Affect Recycling, Yard Waste, and Bulk Pickup?

In virtually every city that observes Christmas Day, yes — all Friday curbside services follow the same one-day delay to Saturday.

Recycling: Friday recycling is suspended on December 25 and shifts to Saturday December 26 in all observing cities.

Bulk item pickup: Friday bulk collection shifts to Saturday December 26 in most observing cities. Some cities pause bulk pickup for the entire Christmas week — call your sanitation department to confirm.

Yard waste: Late December is not peak yard waste season in most regions, but cities running year-round programs delay Friday yard waste the same as regular trash.

The week after Christmas: If your pickup is Monday through Thursday, the week of December 28 runs on its completely normal schedule. The only disruption in Christmas week 2026 is Friday December 25.

What To Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Picked Up on Saturday December 26

If your bin was out by 6:00 AM on Saturday December 26 and collection still didn’t come:

Wait until Sunday morning before reporting. Some Saturday holiday routes extend into the evening.

Report a missed pickup through your city’s 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 confirm your rescheduled day and log missed pickup reports directly.

Keep overflow in a closed bin. Loose bags left on the curb over the Christmas weekend are a code violation in most cities. Store overflow inside if possible while waiting for the make-up.

Frequently Asked Questions – Christmas Day Trash Pickup 2026

Is garbage pickup running on Christmas Day 2026?

No — in virtually every U.S. city. Christmas Day is one of the two most universally observed sanitation holidays in the country. Friday December 25 routes are suspended across the board. In most cities, Friday pickup shifts to Saturday December 26.

What day does Christmas fall on in 2026?

Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25. That means only Friday routes are directly affected. Monday through Thursday pickups — including Christmas Eve Thursday — run on their normal schedule.

My pickup is on Friday — when does my trash run during Christmas week 2026?

Your Friday pickup is suspended on December 25 and shifts to Saturday, December 26 in virtually every U.S. city. Put your bin out by 6:00 AM Saturday morning.

My pickup is on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday — am I affected by Christmas 2026?

No. Because Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026, all routes earlier in the week run normally. Your pickup is unaffected — including Christmas Eve Thursday.

Is Christmas Eve trash pickup running in 2026?

Yes. Christmas Eve falls on Thursday December 24, which is not a federal holiday. Thursday routes run on their normal schedule. Only Friday December 25 is suspended.

👉 For full Christmas Eve details: Christmas Eve Trash Pickup 2026

Does San Francisco suspend collection on Christmas Day 2026?

Yes — Christmas is one of only two days Recology suspends service. Friday December 25 pickup is rescheduled to Saturday December 26. All other routes that week, including Thursday December 24, run normally.

Does the Christmas Day delay affect recycling?

Yes, in all observing cities. Friday recycling is suspended on December 25 and shifts to Saturday December 26, the same as regular trash.

When is the next holiday after Christmas that affects trash pickup?

New Year’s Day 2027 falls on Friday, January 1 — just one week later. Friday routes will again be the only ones affected. Check your city’s sanitation website for the 2027 New Year’s schedule.

What do I do with my Christmas tree after the holiday?

Do not put your live tree in the regular trash bin. Most U.S. cities run dedicated Christmas tree curbside collection programs starting the week after Christmas and running through mid-January. Check your city’s official sanitation website for the exact 2026–2027 tree recycling pickup dates in your neighborhood.

Related Christmas and Holiday Trash Pickup Guides

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