Solid Waste Collection and Schedule

Transfer Station Hours: 

Tues-Thurs 7:45 am - 3:15 pm and 

Saturday 8 am-2 pm

New Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule
Weekday holidays will follow normal weekly trash pickup schedules.

For example: Residential Areas with Monday trash pickup will still put their trash out on Labor Day, Monday September 7, 2026

For Downtown - If the Holiday falls on a Monday, Downtown trash and recycling will be collected on Tuesday

The only Holidays with rescheduled trash pick up are:

Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26, 2026 - No Collection - Make up collection day is Saturday, November 28, 2026.

Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026 - No Collection - Make up collection day is Saturday, December 26, 2026

New Year's Day: Friday, January 1, 2027 - No Collection - Make up collection day is Saturday, January 2, 2027.
 

Snow Storm Impact

Want to know if a winter storm will delay your waste collection? See the Snow-Related Impacts page.

🗓️ Weekly Pickup: Monday – Friday
Your trash and recycling will be collected once a week based on your neighborhood’s schedule.

Trash and Recycling Collection Route Map

📍 Click here to view the Trash and Recycling Route Map

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 4:00 PM, so have trash out by 2:00 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

Holiday Collection Schedule – 2026

If a holiday is not listed, collection follows your regular schedule.

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

Recycling Center - 

• The Recycling Center is available to accept your large, bulky items for disposal.  Some items have a disposal fee, check the list here.
• You may pay the attendant with a credit card (transaction fees apply) or check.  NO CASH.
• You may pay in advance with a credit card (transaction fees apply) on the website.  Be sure to print the receipt to show the attendant when you drop off your item(s) at the Recycling Center.

Curbside Pickup - 

• Curbside Bulky Waste Pickup is available for residents  for a fee, currently $10.00 plus the cost of disposal of the item(s).
• If your address is serviced by a PRIVATE  trash hauler (ex: condo assoc., business) you are NOT eligible for curbside pickup, however, you can bring the item(s) to the Recycling Center for disposal.

How Curbside Pickup Works:

1. Pay the item(s) fee: Using the payment portal choose the item(s), check the Schedule Pickup box, include the Pickup Location (address), and choose Curbside Pickup Fee + $10 from the drop box.

2. Schedule it: After payment is made, contact Public Works (603) 427-1530 to schedule the pickup date.  Pickups are scheduled on rotating weeks based on the item type and your regular trash collection day.  Please review the schedule below for details or click here.

3. Once the pickup date has been scheduled, place items curbside between 7:00 PM (day before) and 6:00 AM (day of pickup).

4. Keep the item(s) separate from regular trash.

HELPFUL TIP: You can come into DPW to pay and schedule your Bulky Pickup with our front desk staff.  The fees can be paid using credit card (transaction fees apply) or check, NO CASH.  

Bulky Waste Collection by Week:

🚫 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.