Boise Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026

Find your Curb It collection day, recycling week, compost schedule, glass drop-off, large item pickup, and holiday delays for Boise.

City of Boise · Curb It Program · Operated by Republic Services · Updated 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Boise Collection Day

Select your collection day below to see your full weekly schedule. Boise collects trash and compost weekly and recycling every other week — all on the same day. Your exact day depends on your address.

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

⚠ Don’t know your day yet? Use Republic Services’ online collection day map or call Republic Services at (208) 345-1266.  All contact options ↓

At a Glance

Boise Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Boise’s Curb It program is operated by Republic Services under a city franchise. Residential trash service is mandatory for all properties. Recycling and compost services are optional but strongly encouraged — over 97% of eligible Boiseans participate in the compost program. All three carts are collected on the same weekday. Boise also offers glass drop-off sites, a unique Hefty® ReNew™ orange bag program for hard-to-recycle plastics, and free monthly HHW mobile collection events.

🗑
Garbage
Weekly
Black cart, mandatory
♻
Recycling
Every other week
Blue cart, optional
🌿
Compost
Weekly, all year
Green-lid cart, optional
📦
Large Items
6 free/year
By appointment, curbside
⏱
Set-Out Time
By 6:00 AM
Remove within 24 hrs
💉
HHW Sites
Monthly, free
12 PM – 7 PM, no appt.
⚠ Glass is NOT collected in the blue curbside cart. Glass bottles and jars must be taken to Curb It glass drop-off sites located at grocery stores and fire stations throughout the city. Curbside glass collection is also available as an optional fee-based service. See glass recycling details ↓
🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how trash collection works across the US? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)
Three-Cart System

Boise’s Three Carts — What Goes Where

Every Boise Curb It customer receives color-coded carts, all collected on the same weekday. Trash and compost are weekly; recycling is every other week on an alternating Purple or Orange week schedule. Cart sizes are available in 48, 65, and 95 gallons for all three carts.

🗑

Black Cart — Trash

Non-recyclable, non-compostable waste. Mandatory service. 5 free Overflow Stickers per year for extra trash in 20–35 gallon cans.

Weekly • Mandatory
♻

Blue Cart — Recycling

Cardboard, paper, aluminum & steel cans, foil, #1 & #2 plastic bottles/jugs, #5 plastic food tubs. Loose — no bags. Purple or Orange week.

Every other week • Optional
🌿

Green-Lid Cart — Compost

All food scraps (including meat, dairy, bones), yard waste, food-soiled paper. No plastic bags, no “compostable” bags or tableware. Weekly, year-round.

Weekly, all year • Optional

⏰ Set-Out Rules

  • Place carts at the curb or alley edge by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Remove from street within 24 hours of collection.
  • Handle points toward your residence; do not block the sidewalk.
  • Keep carts at least 3 feet away from other carts, mailboxes, fire hydrants, trees, parked cars, and utility poles.
  • Lids must be fully closed for collection.
  • Do not put hot ashes in carts or place carts near heat sources.
  • Motor oil: Up to two 1-gallon translucent containers (labeled “motor oil”) may be set next to the trash cart weekly.
  • Needles/sharps: Must be in a hard plastic or metal container before going in the trash cart.
💡 Recycling is on Purple or Orange weeks. Check the decal under your blue cart lid — if it says Purple, you recycle on Purple weeks; if Orange, on Orange weeks. Download the 2026 Recycling Calendar (PDF) from the City of Boise website to see the full year schedule.
🔗 Related Guide New to the US waste system? See: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)
Holiday Schedule

Boise Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026

When a Curb It holiday falls on a weekday, all collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the schedule is unchanged. This applies to trash, recycling, and compost equally.

Holiday2026 DateImpactWhat Happens
New Year’s DayThu, Jan 11-Day DelayThu → Fri  |  Fri → Sat  |  Mon–Wed: normal
MLK Jr. DayMon, Jan 19NormalNot a Curb It holiday. All routes collect as scheduled.
Presidents’ DayMon, Feb 16NormalNot a Curb It holiday. Collection as scheduled.
Memorial DayMon, May 251-Day DelayMon → Tue. All routes that week shift one day later.
Independence DaySat, Jul 4NormalFalls on Saturday — no weekday impact. All routes collect as scheduled.
Labor DayMon, Sep 71-Day DelayMon → Tue. All routes that week shift one day later.
Veterans’ DayWed, Nov 11NormalNot a Curb It holiday. Collection as scheduled.
ThanksgivingThu, Nov 261-Day DelayThu → Fri  |  Fri → Sat  |  Mon–Wed: normal
ChristmasFri, Dec 251-Day DelayFri → Sat  |  Mon–Thu: normal that week
💡 Boise observes 5 collection holidays in 2026. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans’ Day are NOT Curb It holidays — full normal collection. Independence Day falls on Saturday, so no weekday delay. New Year’s, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas each cause a one-day shift.
🔗 Related Guide Holiday delays confuse millions of US residents every year. For a national overview: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)
Recycling — Blue Cart

Boise Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart

Boise uses single-stream recycling in the blue cart, collected every other week on your regular collection day. Your address is on either a Purple week or Orange week rotation. All items must be placed loose in the cart — no bags of any kind. Check under your blue cart lid for your week color, or download the 2026 Recycling Calendar.

✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart

  • Corrugated cardboard — flattened, must fit inside with lid closed
  • Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, paperboard (cereal/tissue boxes), office paper, envelopes, paper bags
  • Aluminum & steel (tin) cans, pie pans, and foil
  • #1 PETE plastic bottles, jugs, and jars
  • #2 HDPE plastic bottles and jugs
  • #5 plastic food tubs (e.g., yogurt, deli containers)
  • Orange Hefty® ReNew™ bags (sealed, containing #4–#7 plastics)

🚫 Never in the Blue Cart

  • Plastic bags or film → use Hefty ReNew orange bag or store drop-off
  • Glass → Curb It glass drop-off sites
  • Foam / polystyrene (packing peanuts, cups, plates)
  • Plastic clamshells (berry boxes, salad containers)
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Hazardous waste or electronics → HHW mobile sites
  • Food waste → green compost cart
💡 Extra recycling overflow: Place occasional extra recycling in a cardboard box (max 2’×2’) or a 20–32 gallon trash can labeled “RECYCLING” — all cardboard must be flattened. A second recycling cart can be added for less than $1/month.
🔗 Related Guide Learn what the most common recycling mistakes are and how to avoid them: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)
Compost — Green Cart

Boise Compost Program — Weekly, All Year, All Food Scraps

Boise’s Curb It compost program is one of the most comprehensive in the US, with 97% resident participation diverting over 30,000 tons of organic waste per year from the landfill. The green-lid cart is collected every week, year-round — the same day as trash and recycling. Compost is processed into STA-certified soil amendment used in Boise parks and gardens. In 2025 the program expanded to include all food scraps, including meat, dairy, and bones.

✅ Accepted in the Green Compost Cart

  • All fruit and vegetable scraps
  • Meat, fish, poultry, bones
  • Dairy products, eggs, eggshells
  • Bread, grains, pasta, rice
  • Coffee grounds and paper filters, tea bags
  • Food-soiled paper: paper towels, napkins, paper bags, pizza box bottoms
  • Yard waste: grass clippings, leaves, weeds, garden debris
  • Branches/twigs cut under 4 ft, tied in bundles under 60 lbs

🚫 Not in the Green Cart

  • Plastic bags — any kind
  • “Compostable” bags, cups, plates, or cutlery → trash cart
  • “Biodegradable” tableware → trash cart
  • Pet waste or cat litter
  • Soil, rocks, or gravel
  • Glass, metals, or plastics

🍂 Leaf Overflow & Fall Collection

Place extra leaves and yard waste in paper leaf bags set out next to the green cart. Up to 10 paper bags or bundles per week are collected at no extra charge year-round — no overflow stickers needed. During fall, Curb It also maintains seasonal leaf drop-off sites for residents with large quantities. Bundles must use natural fiber twine (no plastic twine).

📷 Odor Prevention Tips (Now That Meat & Dairy Are Accepted)

  • Set your cart out every week, even when only partially full.
  • Line the bottom of the cart with newspaper, cardboard, or the greasy bottom of a pizza box.
  • Layer food scraps between grass clippings or leaves.
  • Freeze meat, bones, and dairy until the morning of pickup day to reduce odors.
  • Store cart in a cool, shaded, well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight.
🔗 Related Guide Yard waste and composting rules vary widely across the US: Yard Waste Pickup Rules in the US (What’s Allowed & What’s Not)
Glass Recycling

Glass Recycling in Boise — Drop-Off Sites & Curbside Option

Glass bottles and jars are recyclable in Boise but are not accepted in the blue curbside cart. The city partners with Environmental Abrasives Warehouse to crush glass into industrial abrasives. There are two ways to recycle glass in Boise:

✅ Option 1: Free Drop-Off Sites

Curb It glass drop-off containers are located at grocery stores, fire stations, and other convenient locations throughout Boise. Drop-off is free, available year-round. Find current sites on the Curb It Collection Sites map.

  • Glass bottles (all colors): wine, beer, spirits, soda, sauce
  • Glass food jars (rinsed)
  • Free • No appointment • Year-round

✅ Option 2: Curbside Glass Collection (Fee-Based)

Boise also offers a fee-based curbside glass collection program for residents who prefer not to use drop-off sites. Contact Utility Billing at (208) 608-7460 for details on adding this service.

  • Collected on your regular service day
  • Additional monthly fee applies
  • Contact Utility Billing: (208) 608-7460
🚫 Not accepted in the glass program: Window glass, mirrors, ceramics, crystal, Pyrex, light bulbs, or drinking glasses. These differ from container glass and cannot be processed together. Dispose of non-container glass in your regular trash cart.
Hefty® ReNew™ Orange Bag

Hefty® ReNew™ Orange Bag — Hard-to-Recycle Plastics

Boise offers a unique program for plastics that can’t go loose in the blue cart. The Hefty® ReNew™ orange bag lets residents collect #4–#7 plastics and divert them from the landfill to be converted into energy resources. This includes plastic bags, film, and other plastics not accepted loose in the blue recycling cart.

💉 How to Use the Hefty ReNew Orange Bag

  1. Pick up free orange Hefty ReNew bags at select retailers. Check hefty.com for participating locations.
  2. Fill the bag with #4–#7 plastics: grocery bags, bread bags, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, zip-lock bags (clean), plastic cutlery, Styrofoam cups, and other hard-to-recycle plastics.
  3. Tie the bag tightly when full and place it inside your blue recycling cart on your regular biweekly recycling day.
  4. Do not mix other items in the orange bag — only #4–#7 plastics.
Large Item Pickup

Free Large Item Pickup — 6 Times Per Year

Boise provides free curbside large item pickup for all Curb It residential customers — up to 6 large items per year, collected upon request. Items are picked up on your regular collection day after scheduling with Republic Services.

📅 How to Schedule Large Item Pickup

  1. Call Republic Services at (208) 345-1266 to request a large item pickup. Have an itemized list ready.
  2. Place items at the curb or in the alley on your regular trash collection day.
  3. Items are collected on the same day as your regular trash — no separate truck is scheduled.
  4. Appliances must be empty. After collection, Freon is safely removed if present, and appliances are recycled.

✅ Accepted Large Items (Free, Up to 6/Year)

  • Furniture: couches, chairs, dressers, bed frames
  • Mattresses and box springs
  • Appliances: refrigerators, freezers, AC units, dishwashers, hot water heaters (must be empty)
  • Miscellaneous: bicycles, swing sets, carpet/pad, grills, lawnmowers, water softeners, furnaces, swamp coolers

🚫 Not Included in Large Item Service

  • Construction or demolition debris
  • Hazardous materials → HHW mobile sites
  • More than 6 items per year (additional pickups available for a fee)
  • Commercial waste
  • Tires → Ada County Landfill (fee applies)
🔗 Related Guide Bulk item pickup rules vary widely across the US: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)
Household Hazardous Waste

Boise Household Hazardous Waste — Free Mobile Collection Sites

Boise operates free mobile HHW collection sites at multiple locations throughout the city, open one day per month from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM at each site. No appointment needed. Residents may also drop off HHW at the Ada County Landfill HHW Facility on Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM, for free. Maximum load at mobile sites: 25 items (about a small SUV cargo area). Larger loads must go directly to the Ada County Landfill facility.

🚩 Curb It Mobile HHW Sites (Monthly)

Multiple locations throughout Boise • Open 12 PM–7 PM • One day/month per site • Free for residents

Do NOT leave items when vehicle is not present — violates city code. Check the HHW Calendar & Map at cityofboise.org.

Closed on: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

🚩 Ada County Landfill HHW Facility

Ada County Landfill, Eagle River area

Fri & Sat • 8:00 AM–6:00 PM • Free for residents

For larger loads and business waste (VSQGs by appointment Fridays). Call (208) 577-4736 for questions.

✅ Accepted at HHW Sites

  • All batteries (except alkaline → trash is OK)
  • Lithium & lithium-ion batteries (rechargeable)
  • Paints, stains, solvents (max 25 gallons)
  • Automotive: motor oil (max 25 gal), antifreeze, old gasoline (max 5 gal), road flares
  • Fluorescent & CFL bulbs, mercury-containing items
  • Pesticides, herbicides, pool/spa chemicals
  • Propane/helium tanks (BBQ size & camping canisters)
  • Electronics: laptops, cell phones, flat screen TVs, cameras, A/V equipment, small appliances with batteries
  • E-cigarettes and vape pens
  • Yard and garden chemicals

🚫 Not Accepted at HHW Sites

  • Explosives or ammunition → call Impact Guns (208) 321-1288
  • Radioactive materials
  • Prescription drugs → medication disposal locations
  • Biomedical waste
  • Tires → Ada County Landfill (fee)
  • Large electronics: console TVs, tabletop printers, over-range microwaves → Ada County Landfill Recovery Area
  • Electric mowers
  • Commercial/business waste (appointment only at Ada County Landfill)
💡 Battery disposal guide: Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D) → regular trash cart. Lithium or lithium-ion (rechargeable) → HHW site only. Lead-acid (auto) → HHW site or battery distributor return. Never put lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling — they can cause fires in collection trucks.
Overflow Stickers

Overflow Stickers & Extra Trash

Each Boise household receives 5 free Overflow Stickers per year for extra trash that won’t fit in the black cart. Stickers never expire and carry over year to year. Additional sheets of 5 stickers can be purchased for $10.68.

💉 How Overflow Stickers Work

  • Place extra bags of trash inside a 20–35 gallon trash can (bags directly at the curb will not be collected).
  • Attach the Overflow Sticker to the can and set it at the curb on your regular trash day.
  • Each sticker is valid for one-time use and is removed at pickup.
  • To get your stickers or order additional sheets, contact Utility Billing at (208) 608-7460.
⚠ Bags placed directly at the curb will not be collected. All overflow trash must be in a 20–35 gallon can with the sticker attached. Automated collection trucks cannot pick up loose bags outside a cart.
Missed Pickup

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

  1. Confirm your collection day and recycling week. Use Republic Services’ collection day map or call (208) 345-1266. Check the 2026 Recycling Calendar PDF for your Purple or Orange recycling week.
  2. Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas each delay collection by one day for that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no change.
  3. Verify set-out rules. Cart must be out by 6:00 AM with lid fully closed and 3 feet of clearance on all sides. Overflow must be in a labeled 20–35 gallon can with a sticker attached.
  4. Check weather delays. Severe weather may cause service delays. Monitor announcements from Republic Services or the City of Boise.
  5. Report the missed pickup by emailing csidaho@republicservices.com or calling Republic Services at (208) 345-1266.
Local Tips

Boise Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Boise or Just Moved In?

Use Republic Services’ collection day map to find your day, and check the decal inside your blue cart lid to find your recycling week (Purple or Orange). All three Curb It carts should be at your address when you move in. If missing or the wrong size, contact Utility Billing at (208) 608-7460. Trash service is mandatory; recycling and compost are optional but encouraged. The Curb It Sorting Guide at cityofboise.org helps you decide where each item belongs.

🚫 5 Common Mistakes Boise Residents Make

  • Putting glass in the blue recycling cart — glass must go to drop-off sites or curbside glass service
  • Using “compostable” bags or tableware in the green cart — they go in the black trash cart
  • Forgetting that recycling alternates weeks — always check your Purple or Orange week before setting out the blue cart
  • Putting lithium batteries in the trash or recycling — they must go to a HHW mobile site
  • Setting extra trash in bags directly at the curb — must use a 20–35 gallon can with an Overflow Sticker

📦 Carry-Out Service for Mobility-Limited Residents

Residents with qualifying temporary or permanent disabilities under the ADA may receive free carry-out service — Republic Services will retrieve, empty, and return carts without the resident needing to bring them to the curb. For standard carry-out service without a disability qualification, an additional fee applies. Contact Utility Billing at (208) 608-7460 to request.

Contact

Contact Curb It & Republic Services Boise

ContactDetails
Republic Services (Missed Pickups)📞 (208) 345-1266 • csidaho@republicservices.com — missed pickups, large item pickup requests, schedule questions
City of Boise Utility Billing📞 (208) 608-7460 — start/stop service, account changes, broken/missing carts, overflow stickers, carry-out service, glass curbside service
City of Boise Curb It Team📞 (208) 608-7136 • Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM — item sorting questions, HHW info, all other Curb It questions not related to missed pickups or billing
Curb It Websitecityofboise.org/departments/public-works/curb-it — sorting guide, HHW calendar, collection sites map, 2026 recycling calendar
Collection Day Maprepublicservices.com/schedule — find your exact collection day by address
2026 Recycling Calendar (PDF)Download at cityofboise.org — full year Purple/Orange week schedule
HHW Mobile Sites & Mapcityofboise.org — Collection Sites — HHW calendar, glass drop-off locations, medication disposal
Ada County Landfill HHW📞 (208) 577-4736 • Fri & Sat 8 AM–6 PM — large HHW loads, business waste (VSQG appointment Fridays)
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Boise Trash Pickup

Your collection day depends on your specific address. The City of Boise’s Curb It program, operated by Republic Services, collects trash weekly, compost weekly, and recycling every other week — all on the same day. To find your day, use Republic Services’ online collection day map at republicservices.com/schedule or call (208) 345-1266.
Visit Republic Services’ collection day map at republicservices.com/schedule and enter your address. You can also call Republic Services at (208) 345-1266. Once you know your day, check the decal inside your blue cart lid to confirm your recycling week (Purple or Orange), or download the 2026 Recycling Calendar from cityofboise.org.
Recycling is collected every other week in Boise, on alternating Purple or Orange weeks. Trash and compost are both weekly. All three are collected on the same day. Check the decal under your blue cart lid to see your week color, or download the 2026 Recycling Calendar PDF from cityofboise.org.
No. Glass bottles and jars are not accepted in the blue curbside recycling cart in Boise. Glass must be taken to free Curb It glass drop-off sites located at grocery stores and fire stations throughout the city. A fee-based curbside glass collection service is also available — contact Utility Billing at (208) 608-7460 to add it. Find drop-off locations at cityofboise.org/departments/public-works/curb-it/collection-sites.
Five holidays cause a one-day delay: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Memorial Day (May 25), Labor Day (Sep 7), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas (Dec 25). Independence Day falls on Saturday in 2026 so there is no weekday delay. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans’ Day are not Curb It holidays — collection is normal those days. If a holiday falls on a weekend, no changes occur.
Call Republic Services at (208) 345-1266 to schedule. Each household gets up to 6 free large item pickups per year. Items are collected on your regular trash day after scheduling. Accepted items include furniture, mattresses, appliances (must be empty), carpets, bicycles, grills, lawnmowers, and more. Freon is safely removed from applicable appliances after collection.
Yes. As of 2025, Boise’s Curb It compost program accepts all food scraps including meat, fish, poultry, bones, and dairy. This was a significant expansion of the program. To manage odors, freeze meat and dairy until the morning of pickup. No plastic bags, compostable bags, or compostable tableware — these all go in the trash.
Free HHW mobile collection sites operate one day per month (12 PM–7 PM) at multiple Boise locations — no appointment needed, limit of about 25 items. Find the schedule at cityofboise.org. The Ada County Landfill HHW Facility is open Fridays and Saturdays 8 AM–6 PM for free drop-off including larger loads. Sites are closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Do not leave items at an unmanned site.
The Hefty® ReNew™ orange bag lets you recycle #4–#7 plastics that can’t go loose in the blue cart — including grocery bags, bread bags, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, and plastic cutlery. Fill the bag with these materials, tie it tightly, and place it inside your blue recycling cart on your regular recycling day. The bags are available at select retailers.
Email csidaho@republicservices.com or call Republic Services at (208) 345-1266. First confirm your collection day using the Republic Services map, check for holiday delays, and verify your cart was out by 6:00 AM with the lid closed and 3 feet of clearance on all sides. Extra overflow must be in a labeled 20–35 gallon can with an Overflow Sticker — bags left directly at the curb will not be collected.
Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

Use Republic Services’ online map to find your exact collection day by address, or contact the City of Boise Curb It team for any program-related questions. The 2026 Recycling Calendar PDF shows your full year Purple/Orange recycling week schedule.

🔍 Official Boise Collection Day Lookup & Contact Options

All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule:

🔍 Find My Collection Day 📞 Call (208) 345-1266
Collection Day Maprepublicservices.com/schedule — enter your Boise address to find your exact weekly trash, recycling, and compost collection day.
Republic Services (Pickups)(208) 345-1266 • csidaho@republicservices.com — missed pickups, large item scheduling, schedule questions.
Utility Billing (Account)(208) 608-7460 — start/stop service, cart changes, overflow stickers, curbside glass service.
2026 Recycling CalendarDownload PDF — full-year Purple/Orange recycling week calendar.
Curb It Websitecityofboise.org/departments/public-works/curb-it — sorting guide, HHW calendar, collection sites, program information.
HHW Sites Map & Calendarcityofboise.org — Collection Sites — glass drop-off, HHW mobile events, medication disposal.

You will leave this website when using any of the links above. Republic Services and the City of Boise Curb It program are the authoritative sources for your collection schedule.

Other Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities

Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides:

🏭 Seattle 🏭 Portland 🏭 Salt Lake City 🏭 Sacramento 🏭 Spokane