Labor Day Garbage Collection 2026 – Is Trash Pickup Running?

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

Labor Day is one of the most universally observed federal holidays for garbage collection in the United States. Unlike Presidents’ Day or Columbus Day — where observance varies widely from city to city — nearly every major city-run sanitation department suspends Monday collection on Labor Day and delays all routes that week by one day.

In 2026, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7. If your pickup day is any day of the week — not just Monday — there’s a good chance your schedule is affected. This guide tells you exactly what changes in your city and what to do if your trash wasn’t picked up.

⚠️ 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.

Labor Day 2026 – Key Facts

Date: Monday, September 7, 2026
Federal holiday: Yes
Day of week: Monday
Routes most affected if observed: All weekday routes (Monday through Friday)

Labor Day always falls on the first Monday of September. Because it is a Monday holiday, cities that observe it with the standard full-week one-day delay push every single route that week back by one day — making it one of the widest-impact holidays of the year for garbage collection.

Key insight: Labor Day is observed by far more U.S. cities for sanitation purposes than Presidents’ Day, Columbus Day, or Veterans Day. If your city observes any holiday for trash collection besides Thanksgiving and Christmas, Labor Day is almost certainly on that list. The main exception is San Francisco, where Recology only observes Thanksgiving and Christmas.

How Labor Day Affects Your Full Week Trash Schedule

For cities using the full-week one-day delay system, here is exactly what the week of Labor Day looks like in 2026:

Day	Regular Route	Labor Day Week (if observed)
Monday, Sep 7	Labor Day	❌ Suspended (if observed)
Tuesday, Sep 8	Tuesday pickup	⚠️ Delayed to Wednesday Sep 9
Wednesday, Sep 9	Wednesday pickup	⚠️ Delayed to Thursday Sep 10
Thursday, Sep 10	Thursday pickup	⚠️ Delayed to Friday Sep 11
Friday, Sep 11	Friday pickup	⚠️ Delayed to Saturday Sep 12

In cities that do NOT observe Labor Day: Every route runs on its normal schedule with no changes — though this is rare for Labor Day compared to other federal holidays.

Labor Day Garbage Collection 2026 – City by City

New York City, NY

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

DSNY observes all 11 federal holidays, including Labor Day. Monday, September 7 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. This applies to trash, recycling, and organics collection.

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

Los Angeles, CA

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

LASAN observes Labor Day as one of its six core holidays. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Chicago observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Houston observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward. If your area uses a private contractor, verify directly — most major contractors in Houston also observe Labor Day.

Where to verify: houstonsolidwaste.org

Phoenix, AZ

Provider: City of Phoenix Public Works Observes Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Phoenix observes Labor Day as one of its seven official sanitation holidays. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.

Where to verify: phoenix.gov/publicworks

Philadelphia, PA

Provider: Philadelphia Streets Department Observes Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Philadelphia observes Labor Day as one of its ten official sanitation holidays. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

San Antonio observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

San Diego observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Dallas observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Jacksonville observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Austin observes Labor Day. Routes scheduled for Monday are rescheduled to the following Saturday. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Fort Worth observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Columbus observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Charlotte observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Indianapolis observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward.

Where to verify: indy.gov/dpw

San Francisco, CA

Provider: Recology (contracted) Observes Labor Day: ⬜ No

San Francisco is the most notable exception on this list. Recology only observes Thanksgiving and Christmas. Labor Day causes no schedule change in San Francisco. All routes run normally the week of September 7. Monday pickup runs as usual.

Where to verify: recology.com/san-francisco

Seattle, WA

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

Seattle observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Denver observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.

Where to verify: denvergov.org/trash

Nashville, TN

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

Nashville observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

DPW observes all 11 federal holidays, including Labor Day. Monday routes are fully suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Republic Services observes Labor Day in Las Vegas service areas. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Portland observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Memphis observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward.

Where to verify: memphistn.gov/public-works

Louisville, KY

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

Louisville observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Baltimore observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Milwaukee observes Labor Day. Monday collection is suspended on September 7. 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 Labor Day: ✅ Yes

Albuquerque observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward.

Where to verify: cabq.gov/solidwaste

Tucson, AZ

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

Tucson observes Labor Day. Monday routes are suspended on September 7. All routes that week shift one day forward through Saturday.

Where to verify: tucsonaz.gov/es

Labor Day Garbage Collection 2026 – Quick Reference Chart

✅ = Delay confirmed | ⬜ = Normal schedule | * = Holiday-day-only system

City	Observes Labor Day	Mon Sep 7	Tue Sep 8	Wed Sep 9	Thu Sep 10	Fri Sep 11
New York City, NY	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Los Angeles, CA	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Chicago, IL	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Houston, TX	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Phoenix, AZ	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Philadelphia, PA	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
San Antonio, TX	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
San Diego, CA	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Dallas, TX	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Jacksonville, FL	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Austin, TX	✅ Yes*	❌ → Sat	✅ Normal	✅ Normal	✅ Normal	✅ Normal
Fort Worth, TX	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Columbus, OH	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Charlotte, NC	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Indianapolis, IN	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
San Francisco, CA	⬜ No	✅ Normal	✅ Normal	✅ Normal	✅ Normal	✅ Normal
Seattle, WA	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Denver, CO	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Nashville, TN	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Washington, DC	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Las Vegas, NV	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Portland, OR	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Memphis, TN	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Louisville, KY	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Baltimore, MD	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Milwaukee, WI	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Albuquerque, NM	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat
Tucson, AZ	✅ Yes	❌ → Tue	⚠️ → Wed	⚠️ → Thu	⚠️ → Fri	⚠️ → Sat

*Austin uses holiday-day-only system: only Monday routes move, to Saturday. Tuesday–Friday run normally.

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

In virtually every city that observes Labor Day, yes — recycling follows the same one-day delay as regular trash. The full-week shift applies to all collection services run by the same department.

Recycling: Shifts one day forward in all observing cities. Monday recycling moves to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, and so on through Saturday.

Yard waste and organics: In most cities, yard waste follows the same delay. Cities with separate green bin composting programs — including Portland and Seattle — also delay organics collection by one day during Labor Day week.

Bulk item pickup: Bulk collection shifts the same way as regular trash in most cities. If your bulk pickup was scheduled for Monday September 7 or any other weekday that 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 Labor Day.

What To Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Picked Up After Labor Day

Labor Day week is one of the busiest periods for missed pickup reports, since the shifted schedule catches many households off guard. If your trash wasn’t collected:

First, check the date. Confirm you put your bin out on the correct rescheduled day — not your normal pickup day. With a full-week one-day delay, Monday households go out Tuesday, Tuesday households go out Wednesday, and so on.

Wait 24 hours. Holiday routes sometimes run into the evening or carry into the next morning.

Report it through your city’s website. Most cities have a “Report Missed Collection” option in their sanitation portal. Submit the report and most cities will dispatch a return vehicle within 1–3 business days.

Call 311. If you can’t find the online form, 311 handles missed pickup reports in virtually every major U.S. city.

Keep your bin contained. Don’t leave bags loose on the curb while waiting for a make-up pickup — most cities require all trash to be in a closed container, and loose bags may be left behind.

Labor Day vs. Memorial Day – How Do They Compare?

Labor Day and Memorial Day are the two most universally observed Monday holidays for trash collection in the U.S. Both fall on Mondays and both push every weekday route that week back by one day in observing cities. But there are a few differences worth knowing:

Timing: Memorial Day is the last Monday of May; Labor Day is the first Monday of September. Between them, you have the entire summer with no major Monday holiday disruptions.

Observance rate: Both are observed by nearly every major city-run sanitation department. The handful of exceptions — most notably San Francisco — are the same for both holidays.

Private hauler behavior: Private haulers are more likely to observe Labor Day and Memorial Day than secondary holidays like Presidents’ Day or Columbus Day. If your hauler observes any holidays at all, these two are almost certainly on the list.

Yard waste season: Labor Day falls during peak yard waste season in many regions. If your city runs a yard waste or leaf collection program, confirm whether the Labor Day delay also affects your yard waste pickup day that week.

Frequently Asked Questions – Labor Day Garbage Collection 2026

Is garbage collected on Labor Day 2026?

In most U.S. cities, no — Monday September 7 routes are suspended. Labor Day is one of the most widely observed holidays for sanitation, with nearly every major city-run department suspending Monday collection. The main exception is San Francisco, where Recology runs normally. Check the quick reference chart above for your city.

What day does Labor Day fall on in 2026?

Labor Day 2026 falls on Monday, September 7 — the first Monday of September. As a Monday holiday, it delays every weekday route that week by one day in cities that observe it.

My pickup is on Monday — when does my trash run during Labor Day week 2026?

In cities using the full-week delay, your Monday pickup shifts to Tuesday, September 8. In Austin, Monday routes are rescheduled to Saturday, September 12. Check your city in the chart above.

My pickup is on Friday — am I affected by Labor Day 2026?

Yes, in most observing cities. Because Labor Day is a Monday holiday and most cities use the full-week one-day delay, your Friday pickup shifts to Saturday, September 12. The only exception is Austin, where only Monday routes are rescheduled.

Does San Francisco suspend collection on Labor Day 2026?

No. Recology, which handles all collection in San Francisco, only observes Thanksgiving and Christmas. All routes in San Francisco — trash, recycling, compost, and bulk — run on their normal schedule the week of September 7.

Does the Labor Day delay apply to recycling?

Yes, in all observing cities. Recycling follows the same one-day delay as regular trash collection during Labor Day week. Monday recycling moves to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, and so on.

What is the next holiday that affects trash pickup after Labor Day?

The next federal holiday is Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday October 12 — though it is observed by far fewer cities than Labor Day. After that comes Veterans Day on Wednesday November 11, and then Thanksgiving on Thursday November 26 — which is nearly universally observed. See the full picture in the Holiday Week Trash Schedule 2026.

What if I have bulk or large item pickup scheduled for Labor Day week?

In most observing cities, bulk pickup follows the same one-day delay as regular trash. If your bulk pickup was on Monday, it moves to Tuesday. Confirm with your city’s sanitation department — some cities pause bulk collection during major holiday weeks and resume the following week.

Related 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