Boston Trash, Recycling, Yard & Food-Waste Pickup Schedule (2025)
Complete guide for Boston, MA: weekly trash, recycling cadence shown in the City’s app, yard-waste seasons, bulk pickups by appointment, Zero Waste drop-off events (HHW/e-cycling), curbside food-waste program, holiday delays, and how to report missed service.
Frequencies
Trash: weekly. Recycling: cadence varies by route (weekly or every-other-week) — confirm in the City’s lookup/app. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Set-out Time
Place materials by 6:00 a.m. (or after 5:00 p.m. the night before). Keep lids closed and access clear. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Bulk Rules
Bulk/special items are **by appointment via 311**: limit **10 items/year**, **max 5 per appointment**. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
📍 Address Lookup & Trash Day App
See your exact trash and recycling day(s), recycling cadence, yard-waste weeks, holiday adjustments and set reminders in Boston’s official tools. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
🗓️ Weekly Service & Set-out Rules
- Trash: weekly citywide; confirm your day in the Trash Day app. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Recycling: single-stream. Frequency shown in your address calendar (varies by route). :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Set-out time: curb by 6:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. the night before; lids closed; keep 2–3 ft clearance. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Containers: repair/replace and other service requests through **311**. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Weather/alerts: the app sends delay notices and holiday “slides.” :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
♻️ Recycling — Accepted Items
Put in your Blue Bin
- Paper & flattened cardboard
- Glass bottles & jars
- Metal cans, foil & trays
- Rigid plastics (bottles, jugs, tubs)
- Cartons (juice/soup)
Keep OUT of Recycling
- Plastic bags/film; hoses/cords (tanglers)
- Food/liquids; foam foodware
- Batteries, electronics, propane tanks
🌿 Leaf & Yard Waste — 2025 Season
- Collected on your **trash day** during listed weeks (if you have 2 trash days/week, yard waste goes on the **first** collection day). Use paper yard bags or labeled barrels; no plastic bags. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Christmas trees: picked up the **first two weeks of January** on your **recycling day**. Remove all decorations. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
🥕 Food-Waste (Compost) — Curbside & Drop-off
- Boston offers **free curbside food-waste collection** for buildings with ≤6 units. Enrollment is **open but currently full** — join the waitlist. Service is operated with Garbage to Garden. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- While you wait, use neighborhood food-scrap drop-offs and Zero Waste events listed on the City site. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
📦 Bulk / Special Items — By Appointment
- Schedule through **311** (web/app/phone). **Limit 10 items per calendar year**, **max 5 items per appointment**. Some items (e.g., mattresses, appliances) have special prep rules. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- Textiles: Boston partners with **HELPSY** for curbside textile pickup by appointment, plus drop-off bins around the city. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
🧪 Zero Waste Days — HHW & Waste-Ban Items
Several Saturdays per year, Boston holds **Zero Waste Day** events to drop off household hazardous waste, electronics, and other waste-ban items. Check the current year’s schedule and accepted materials. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
🎉 Holiday Schedule (“Slide” Weeks)
- On many City-observed holidays, collections **slide one day later** in affected neighborhoods. Always confirm your address in the Trash Day app during holiday weeks. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
🚚 Missed Pickup — What to Do
- Recheck set-out (by 6:00 a.m.), lids closed, access/spacing; verify it was your scheduled day/cadence. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
- Report via **BOS:311** (web/app/call) and leave materials out until serviced; the app notes delays/holidays. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
🔗 Data Sources
- Find Your Collection Schedule (Trash Day lookup/app) :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
- Trash & Recycling hub (City of Boston) :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
- Recycling (single-stream basics) :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
- Recycling/Set-out times (guide PDF; 6 a.m.) :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
- 2025 Leaf & Yard Waste calendar (PDF) :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
- Leaf & Yard Waste page :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
- Christmas trees — first two weeks of January :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
- Curbside Food-Waste (waitlist/open; ≤6 units) :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
- Zero Waste Day (HHW/e-cycling drop-offs) :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}
- Bulk & Special Item appointments (limits) :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}
- Clothing/Textile curbside pickup (HELPSY) & bins :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
- 2025 City Holidays (holiday-week delays note) :contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}