Waste Collection Schedule
Waste Collection Schedule
Thanksgiving Holiday Collection Notice:
If your normal trash collection day is Thursday, your collection day this week is WEDNESDAY, November 26.
No yard waste collected Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Recycling center is closed on Thursday and Friday. Open Saturday.
🗓️ Weekly Pickup: Monday – Friday
Your trash and recycling will be collected once a week based on your neighborhood’s schedule.
Curbside Waste Placement Guidelines
🏠 Residential Properties:
Place trash and recycling at the curb after 7:00 PM the night before your scheduled collection day.
🏢 Downtown Businesses:
As per City ordinance, trash should be placed curbside no more than 2 hours before pickup.
The DPW typically starts collection around 3:00 PM, so have trash out by 1:00 PM to ensure compliance.
Important Reminders
✅ The City may inspect curbside waste to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
🗑️ Waste Limit: Up to 300 U.S. gallons per property per week.
♻️ Recycling is Mandatory – Let’s reduce landfill waste and protect the environment.
➡️ Learn more about our recycling program
📜 View the City’s Solid Waste Ordinances
Trash & Recycling Collection Route Map
📍 Click here to view the Trash & Recycling Route Map
Holiday Collection Schedule – 2025
If a holiday is not listed, collection follows your regular schedule.
| HOLIDAY | OBSERVED | TRASH/RECYCLING | YARD WASTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Wed, Jan 1 | Wed combined with Tue | N/A |
| Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day | Mon, Jan 20 | No change | N/A |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 17 | No change | N/A |
| Good Friday (Half Day) | Fri, Apr 18 | No change | N/A |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 26 | Mon combined with Tue | Mon/Tue cancelled |
| Juneteenth | Thu, Jun 19 | No change | Cancelled |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 4 | Fri combined with Thurs | Cancelled |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 1 | Mon combined with Tues | Mon/Tue cancelled |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 13 | No change | Mon cancelled |
| Veterans Day | Tues, Nov 11 | No change | Tues cancelled |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 27 | Thu combined with Wed (11/26) | Wed/Thu/Fri cancelled |
| Christmas Day (Observed) | Thu, Dec 25 | Thu combined with Wed (12/24) | N/A |
Yard Waste Collection
🗓️ Seasonal Collection: April 1 – November 30
Set-out Guidelines:
Use paper yard bags or clearly labeled barrels (“yard waste”).
Max bag weight: 50 lbs.
Brush: Bundle with string/twine.
Max bundle size: 1 ft diameter, 4 ft length
Max branch thickness: 5 inches
🔗 Click here for full yard waste details
Curbside Recycling Collection
♻️ Recycling is mandatory for both paper/fiber and containers.
Recyclables should be placed in a clearly marked bin, NOT BAGGED.
Preparation Guidelines:
Rinse cans, glass, and plastic bottles before placing them in green bins.
Remove caps, lids, corks, and plastic rings.
Accepted Paper Items:
Newspapers, junk mail, inserts, magazines, office paper, folders
Phone books, paperback books, cereal/pasta boxes, cardboard
Milk/juice cartons (wax-coated), paper egg cartons
🔗 Full list of recyclable materials
Bulky Waste Collection
How It Works:
Pay the fee before your scheduled date.
💻 Schedule & Pay Online for curbside bulky waste collection. Click here to view fees and pickup options.
Schedule in advance – call to confirm pickup date.
🛋️ To schedule a pickup, call Public Works at (603) 427-1530.
Place items curbside between 7:00 PM (day before) and 7:30 AM (day of pickup).
Separate from regular trash as directed.
Bulky Waste Collection by Week:
| Week | Accepted Items |
|---|---|
| 1st Week | Upholstered furniture, mixed materials |
| 2nd Week | Appliances, scrap metal (including refrigerators/Freon) |
| 3rd Week | Tires, TVs, computers, electronics |
| 4th Week | Wood furniture, wood scraps, painted/treated wood, pallets |
🚫 Do not place bulky waste curbside without scheduling with Public Works.
These services are designed with fiscal responsibility and environmental compliance in mind to best serve our Portsmouth community.