St. Paul Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your collection day, hauler, recycling schedule, and bulky item rules for St. Paul.
City of St. Paul · Public Works — Solid Waste & Recycling · Updated April 2026
Find Your St. Paul Collection Day
Select your collection day to see your full schedule — garbage, recycling, yard waste, and holiday impacts. Your exact hauler and day vary by address.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete St. Paul collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day or hauler yet? Use the official address map at stpaul.gov/garbage-recycling or call 651-266-6101. See all contact options ↓
St. Paul Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of St. Paul coordinates organized garbage and recycling collection for all households with 1–4 units through a consortium of private haulers under city contract (current contract began April 1, 2025). Each address is assigned to a specific hauler. Recycling is provided to all St. Paul households and billed through Ramsey County property taxes. Garbage is billed quarterly by the City Assessments Office.
St. Paul’s Two Carts — Plus Seasonal Yard Waste
Every St. Paul household with 1–4 units is automatically enrolled in garbage and recycling collection. Both carts are collected on the same day. A separate seasonal yard waste service is available by subscription or per-bag fee. Garbage must be bagged inside the cart; recycling must be placed loose, never in plastic bags.
Black Cart — Garbage
All household waste. Must be in garbage bags inside the cart. Lid must close fully. Extra bags collected for $4.25 each (plus tax).
Weekly • Billed quarterlyBlue Cart — Recycling
Single-sort: paper, cardboard, cans, glass, plastic. Loose, never bagged. Extra recycling in paper bags (up to 6) or 3 cardboard boxes beside cart.
Weekly • Included in property taxesGreen Cart — Yard Waste
Grass, leaves, branches, garden waste. Season: April 13 – November 13. Subscription ($160/yr) or $4.25 per bag/bundle one-time. Not collected with garbage.
Seasonal • Subscription or per-bag⏰ Set-Out Rules
- All carts out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day (the evening before is recommended).
- Place carts along the edge of your alley or curb with the arrows on the lid facing out.
- At least 3 feet of clearance from other carts and objects on all sides.
- Less than 4 feet from the curb or alley edge.
- Do not place in the street, on or behind a retaining wall, inside a fence, or behind a car.
- In winter: clear snow from around carts. Do not place in a snowbank or standing water (carts freeze to the ground).
- Garbage must be bagged; recycling must be loose (never in plastic bags).
- Cart lid must close fully — overflowing carts may not be collected.
St. Paul Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Garbage and recycling collection is delayed by one day during holiday weeks. The rule: if a holiday falls on a weekday, and your collection day is on or after that holiday that week, your collection shifts one day later. Collection runs Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 651-266-6101 for any holiday questions.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | Who Is Delayed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | All routes collected on regular schedule. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | All routes collected on regular schedule. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue. All routes that week shift one day later. |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat. Mon–Thu: normal that week. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue. All routes that week shift one day later. |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | All routes collected on regular schedule. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat. Mon–Thu: normal that week. |
St. Paul Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart
St. Paul uses single-sort recycling in the blue cart, collected every week. All recyclable materials go in one cart — no sorting required. The City of St. Paul partners with Eureka Recycling (a nonprofit processor) to provide this service. All items must be clean, empty, and placed loose. Never put recyclables in plastic bags.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, paper bags
- Cardboard — flattened; fits inside cart or in up to 3 boxes beside cart
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Glass bottles and jars — rinsed
- Plastic bottles, tubs, and containers (#1, #2, #5) — rinsed
- Cartons: milk, juice, soup, broth
- Shredded paper — must be in a sealed paper bag
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or film → retailer drop-off or Ramsey County Environmental Center
- Styrofoam / polystyrene
- Food or food-soiled items
- Electronics or batteries → Ramsey County Environmental Center
- Tanglers: hoses, cords, string lights, wire hangers
- Ceramics, mirrors, or window glass
- Yard waste or food scraps
📦 Extra Recycling Rules
- Extra recycling can be placed next to the blue cart in up to 6 paper grocery bags or 3 medium cardboard boxes (cardboard flattened and stacked).
- Do not place extra recycling in plastic bags.
- Large extra cardboard can be taken to the Recycling Drop-Off Center at 309 Como Avenue (free for all residents).
- Cart sizes available: 32-gallon, 64-gallon (default), or 96-gallon. Request a switch by calling 651-266-6101.
St. Paul Food Scraps & Yard Waste Collection
St. Paul does not currently offer curbside food scraps (organics) collection to single-family homes, but free drop-off sites are available throughout the city 24/7. Yard waste collection is seasonal and optional — by subscription or one-time per-bag scheduling. Yard waste cannot go in your garbage or recycling cart.
🌿 Yard Waste Collection 2026
Season: April 13 – November 13, 2026 (weather permitting). Yard waste is collected on the same day as your garbage.
- Weekly Subscription: $160/year — includes a 64-gallon yard waste cart and up to 8 compostable bags or bundles collected weekly. The 2026 enrollment deadline was January 31. New weekly subscriptions are closed for 2026.
- One-Time Pickup: $4.25 per bag or bundle. Schedule at least 2 business days before your collection day by calling 651-266-6101 or using the online form at stpaul.gov. Available starting April 13, 2026.
- Branches: max 4 ft long, 6 in diameter, tied in bundles.
- Yard waste must be in compostable bags or tied bundles.
🍇 Food Scraps (Organics) Drop-Off — Free, 24/7
St. Paul operates several community food scraps drop-off sites available 24/7 at no cost. Key locations include Como Park, Highland Park, and Union Park. All Ramsey County yard waste sites also accept food scraps. Find the full list and accepted items at stpaul.gov/food-scraps or ramseyrecycles.com.
🎄 Christmas Tree Collection
LASAN collects live Christmas trees curbside from January 2–15, 2026. Place the tree next to your cart (not inside). Remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, stands, and plastic bags. Artificial trees must be scheduled as a bulky item. After January 15, live trees can be dropped off free at Ramsey County yard waste sites (Arden Hills, Frank and Sims, Midway, and White Bear Township).
🌿 Free Compost & Mulch for Ramsey County Residents
Ramsey County operates seven free yard waste drop-off sites for residents. Many sites also have free compost and mulch available to take home. Find current locations and hours at ramseycountymn.gov.
St. Paul Bulky Item & Mattress Pickup
Starting April 2025, all St. Paul households with 1–4 units are allowed one free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month, included in regular garbage service. Items are collected on your regular garbage collection day. You must schedule at least 2 business days in advance. Items set out without scheduling may not be collected.
📅 How to Schedule Bulky Item Pickup
- Contact the City at least 2 business days before your garbage collection day. Call 651-266-6101 or fill out the online request form at stpaul.gov/bulky-items.
- Place items curbside on your regular garbage collection day by 6:00 a.m.. Label each item with the word “Bulky” before setting out.
- All items must be emptied of food and liquids before pickup.
- Keep bulky items separate from your garbage and recycling carts.
- You may only have 3 total appliances and/or electronics picked up per unit annually. Additional bulky items beyond your monthly free pickup can be collected for $30 per item (plus tax).
✅ Accepted Bulky Items
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
- Mattresses and box springs (free, unlimited — see below)
- Large appliances (fridge, washer, dryer, AC) — max 3/yr for electronics/appliances combined
- Carpeting and rugs
- Toilets, sinks, and bathroom fixtures
- Doors, clean wood, shelving
- Scrap metal
🚫 Not Accepted in Bulky Service
- Construction or demolition debris
- Tires → Ramsey County Building Materials Reuse
- Commercial or business waste
- Hazardous materials → Ramsey County Environmental Center
- Cardboard boxes → flatten into blue recycling cart
Hazardous Waste & Electronics — Ramsey County Environmental Center
Hazardous waste and electronics cannot go in your garbage or recycling cart. The new Ramsey County Environmental Center in Roseville opened April 1, 2025, and serves as the year-round, one-stop drop-off for residents throughout Ramsey County (including St. Paul) — free of charge. No appointment needed.
🚩 Ramsey County Environmental Center
1700 Kent Street, Roseville, MN 55113
Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – Monday: Closed
Closed on county holidays and Christmas Eve.
Phone: 651-266-0200
🚩 Electronics Recycling — Repowered
Electronics are accepted at the Ramsey County Environmental Center (same location above), in partnership with Repowered (formerly Tech Dump). Free for residents of Ramsey, Washington, Hennepin, Anoka, Dakota, Carver, and Scott counties. All data is destroyed or wiped.
✅ Accepted at the Environmental Center
- Household hazardous waste: paints, solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides
- Automotive products: motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, vehicle batteries
- Cleaning products, drain openers, oven cleaners
- Batteries: all types
- Fluorescent & CFL bulbs, items containing mercury
- Sharps (needles, syringes, lancets) in a hard-sided labeled container
- Propane tanks (full or empty), string lights
- Electronics: TVs, computers, phones, tablets, printers, cameras
- Small countertop appliances: microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, etc.
- Scrap metal, plastic bags & film, food scraps
🚫 Not Accepted
- Commercial or business waste
- Explosives or ammunition
- Radioactive materials
- Regular household trash
- Large appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
Apartments & Multi-Unit Buildings (5+ Units)
St. Paul coordinates garbage and recycling for properties with 1–4 units. Properties with 5 or more units must arrange their own collection through a licensed hauler. All multi-unit buildings must provide garbage, recycling, and organics containers to residents per city requirements.
🚚 Multi-Unit Collection (5+ Units)
- Contact the City’s Solid Waste & Recycling Team at 651-266-6101 or visit stpaul.gov/garbage-recycling for multi-unit program details.
- If you live in an apartment with 5+ units, contact your building manager for your building’s specific collection days and hauler.
- Recycling in 5+ unit buildings is funded through Ramsey County property taxes at $87.69 per unit.
- All multi-unit buildings are required to provide food scraps (organics) containers to residents.
What to Do If Your Collection Was Missed in St. Paul
- Check the time. Collection runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If it’s before 6 p.m. on your collection day, your hauler may still arrive. Wait until 6 p.m. before reporting.
- Confirm your day and hauler. Use the official Collection Day map at stpaul.gov or call 651-266-6101 to verify your address’s specific day and assigned hauler.
- Check for a holiday delay. Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day all cause 1-day delays in 2026. Verify via the official Collection Calendar.
- Verify cart placement: carts out by 6:00 a.m., 3 feet of clearance on all sides, less than 4 feet from the curb or alley edge, lid fully closed, lid arrows facing out. Snow cleared around cart.
- Check for a contamination tag. If prohibited items were found in your cart, your hauler may have left a notice. Remove offending items before the next collection.
- Report the missed collection by calling 651-266-6101 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), emailing garbage@ci.stpaul.mn.us or recyclingprogram@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or using the online request form at stpaul.gov.
📦 Extra Garbage & Recycling Options
- Extra garbage bags placed beside the cart are collected for $4.25 per bag (plus tax). Keep them bagged and inside until collection day to avoid attracting animals.
- Extra recycling can be placed next to the blue cart in up to 6 paper grocery bags or 3 cardboard boxes (flattened).
- Bring extra recycling (including large cardboard) to the Recycling Drop-Off Center, 309 Como Avenue, free for all residents.
St. Paul Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to St. Paul or Just Moved In?
Use the Collection Day Finder at the top of this page or call 651-266-6101 to find your hauler and collection day. Both a black garbage cart and a blue recycling cart should already be at your property. If missing, call 651-266-6101. Recycling is automatic — no sign-up needed. Use the Ramsey County Environmental Center (Roseville) on weekday afternoons or Saturdays for HHW and electronics drop-off.
❄️ Winter Tips — Frozen Carts & Snowbanks
- Clear snow from around your cart before each collection.
- Never place carts in a snowbank or standing water — they freeze to the ground and will not be collected.
- Make sure the space around your cart (at curb or alley edge) has the required 3-foot clearance even after a snowfall.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes St. Paul Residents Make
- Putting recycling in plastic bags — always loose in the blue cart
- Not labeling bulky items with the word “Bulky” before set-out
- Putting yard waste in the garbage cart — it’s not allowed and will not be collected
- Missing the 6:00 a.m. cart set-out time — trucks can pass as early as 6 a.m.
- Not knowing that recycling is weekly in St. Paul — no A/B rotation here
📶 Walk-Up Collection Service
Free walk-up service is available for residents who are unable to bring carts to the curb or alley. Apply by calling 651-266-6101 or using the online form. All garbage for walk-up service must be bagged and weigh less than 40 pounds per bag. Additional services (bulky items, yard waste) are not available as walk-up service.
Contact St. Paul Solid Waste & Recycling
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Solid Waste & Recycling | 📞 651-266-6101 — Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. — missed collections, bulky scheduling, cart requests, billing questions, all garbage & recycling services |
| Garbage Email | garbage@ci.stpaul.mn.us — garbage service issues, missed pickups |
| Recycling Email | recyclingprogram@ci.stpaul.mn.us — recycling service issues |
| City Website | stpaul.gov/garbage-recycling — Collection Day Map, bulky item scheduling, forms, 2026 Annual Guide |
| City Assessments (Billing) | 📞 651-266-8858 (Ext. 1) — ofs-assessments@ci.stpaul.mn.us — billing-specific questions |
| Ramsey County Env. Center (HHW & E-waste) | 1700 Kent St, Roseville • 📞 651-266-0200 • Tue–Fri 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m. • ramseycountymn.gov/environmental-center |
| Ramsey Recycles Hotline | 📞 651-633-EASY (3279) — 24/7 with interpreter services — A-to-Z recycling guidance |
Frequently Asked Questions — St. Paul Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder at the top of this page and all the information above haven’t resolved your question, use the official City of St. Paul resources below. The interactive Hauler & Collection Days Map at stpaul.gov is the most accurate source for your specific address.
🔍 Official St. Paul Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule, hauler, and service details:
🔍 Open Collection Day Map 📞 Call 651-266-6101| Hauler & Collection Days Map | stpaul.gov/garbage-recycling — enter your address to find your specific hauler, collection day, and schedule. Also used for bulky item requests, missed pickup reports, and cart changes. |
| Solid Waste & Recycling Phone | 651-266-6101 — Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Garbage and recycling missed pickups, bulky scheduling, cart requests, all collection questions. |
| Ramsey County Recycling Hotline | 651-633-EASY (3279) — 24/7, interpretive services available — A-to-Z recycling and disposal guidance for all Ramsey County residents. |
| City Website | stpaul.gov — 2026 Annual Guide, collection calendars, holiday schedules, rates, all forms. |
| Ramsey County Environmental Center | 1700 Kent St, Roseville • 📞 651-266-0200 • Tue–Fri 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m. • HHW, electronics, small appliances, scrap metal, food scraps, plastic bags. |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The City of St. Paul’s official map is the most complete source for address-based schedule and hauler information.
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