Waltham, MA: trash, recycling and bulky pickup guide 2026-27
Checked November 2026 · by JUNKRUN, Melrose MA
Weekly curbside trash and recycling by zone (buildings of 6 units or fewer).
Phones: Recycling Dept 781-314-3390; Capitol Waste Services 855-533-3400
Coming up in Waltham
Dates the town has posted, soonest first. Each row drops off once its day has passed.
- Nov 9-13, 2026Leaf vacuum for Wednesday trash streets, once that weekCurb, loose leaves out before Mondaycity.waltham.ma.us
Sun Nov 15, 2026, 9 am-2 pmMinuteman hazardous waste day (register first)60 Hartwell Ave, Lexingtoncity.waltham.ma.us- Nov 16-20, 2026Leaf vacuum for Thursday trash streets, once that weekCurb, loose leaves out before Mondaycity.waltham.ma.us
- Nov 23-27, 2026Leaf vacuum for Friday trash streets, once that weekCurb, loose leaves out before Mondaycity.waltham.ma.us
- Through Dec 4, 2026 (A week) or Dec 11, 2026 (B week)Regular yard waste, every other weekCurb, paper bags or marked barrelscity.waltham.ma.us
The dates posted when we last checked have all passed. The town's own pages, linked below, have the next ones.
At a glance
- Trash day
Weekly trash and recycling by zone, buildings of 6 units or fewer.
- Bulky items
One bulk item per household per week at no fee. Appliances (2 a week) and TVs by appointment, 855-533-3400.
- Drop-off
No transfer station. Use curbside bulky service or a private hauler.
- Mattress
Green Mattress Co by booking, up to 6 per household per year. No fee listed.
Waltham specifics, with sources
Checked 2026-11-06. Dates pass: if one is behind you, the town has probably posted the next set, so use the link. Tap a topic to open it.
- Holiday delays: One-day holiday slipFactWhen a holiday falls in the week, trash and recycling may be delayed one day for the rest of the week. The brochure calendar circles no-collection days and underlines the make-up day; only holidays that affect pickup are shown.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
Bulky items: Sectional couch sectionsFactEach piece of a sectional counts as its own bulk item, set out on separate weeks. Anything over 100 lb needs a phone call first. In buildings of 6 units or fewer each household gets 1 bulk item per week.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
Bulky items: Appliance and TV schedulingFactCapitol picks up washers, dryers, metal cabinets, fridges, freezers and ACs after a call to 855-533-3400 by 3:30 pm the day before; remove fridge doors, keep upright, out by 7 am. TVs and monitors need a booking 24 hours ahead.SourcePage dateundated- Bulky items: Grills and mowersFactGas grills go out with the trash with the propane tank removed. A push mower can go in the trash with gas drained, or Capitol will pick it up on a call. Ride-on mowers need a private hauler.SourcePage dateundated
Bulky items: Rugs and carpetFactOnly small area rugs of 4 ft or less are picked up, rolled tight and tied or taped at both ends and the middle. Wall-to-wall carpet must go through a private hauler.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
Bulky items: Mattress set-out rulesFactMattresses and box springs must stay dry and go to the curb only on the appointment day, house number visible, not behind gates or in backyards. Bags are okay. 6 units per household per calendar year through Green Mattress Co.SourcePage dateundated (cites Nov 1, 2022 state ban)- Drop-off and permits: Cardboard dumpsterFactExtra cardboard can go in the residents-only dumpster at 165 Lexington St. Boxes must be flattened; empty pizza boxes are recyclable. Free yard-waste stickers are at the same address.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
- Leaves and yard waste: Leaf vacuum is once per streetFactLeaves are vacuumed one day a year per street, not necessarily on your trash day. Rake to the curb the Sunday before your week (not earlier), and do not block sidewalks or storm drains. The 2026 schedule starts on Monday's route.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
- Leaves and yard waste: Yard waste season and sizeFactYard waste runs April 6 to Dec 4 for A weeks and April 13 to Dec 11 for B weeks, 2026. Twigs under 2 in thick and 3 ft long are fine; no stumps, logs, rocks or soil. Paper bags or barrels marked 'Yard Waste', up to 50 lb.SourcePage date2026 season
- Christmas trees: Christmas tree windowFactTrees may go curbside for three weeks after Christmas Day (about Dec 25, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027, our arithmetic). The city site lists drop-off locations as a second option.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
- Also worth knowing: Set-out time and missed pickupFactPut containers out by 7 am (or one hour before sundown the night before). Missed pickup line is 781-314-3855, Mon-Fri 7 am-3 pm. Items put out after 7 am will not be re-routed; wait for the next week.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
- Also worth knowing: Barrel and bag rulesFactTrash goes in a bag inside a barrel with a fully closed lid, max 32 gallons and 50 lb. Bags left on the street outside a barrel are not collected. The city supplies a blue recycling cart; call 781-314-3390 for a new or extra one.SourcePage date2026-27 brochure
- Also worth knowing: Hazardous waste cap and fallbackFactMinuteman registration closes at noon the Friday before or at 600 cars. Oct 22, 2026 (3-7 pm) and Nov 15 (9 am-2 pm) are listed. The site is closed Dec-March; Clean Harbors 781-380-7121 charges a minimum $250 for private pickup.SourcePage dateundated, 2026 events
Every service, in full
Tap a row for what the town publishes and its link. Every fact carries the town's own page and the date that page shows.
Leaf and yard wastePublished
Leaf vacuum in fall 2026, once per street, by your trash day: Mon Oct 26-30, Tue Nov 2-6, Wed Nov 9-13, Thu Nov 16-20, Fri Nov 23-27 (loose leaves at the curb before that Monday). Regular yard waste in paper bags or marked barrels, 50 lb max, every other week through Dec 4 (A week) or Dec 11 (B week), 2026; twigs under 2 in.
Source: city.waltham.ma.us, city.waltham.ma.us
Christmas tree pickupUsual pattern, check back
The 2026-2027 brochure says residents can place Christmas trees curbside for three weeks following Christmas day; drop-off sites are secondary. Exact dates not posted.
Source: city.waltham.ma.us
Bulky itemsPublished
One bulk item per household per week beside your trash barrel at no fee (couches, chairs, dressers, bookcases; each piece of a sectional counts as one; small rugs 4 ft or less, tied; no wall-to-wall carpet). Mattresses: Green Mattress Co by booking, up to 6 per household per year, no fee listed. Appliances (2 per week) and TVs: appointment with Capitol 855-533-3400, fee not stated.
Source: city.waltham.ma.us, city.waltham.ma.us, city.waltham.ma.us
Transfer station or drop-offNo town program
No transfer station for furniture or trash found on official pages. The Recycling Department at 165 Lexington St (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30) has a resident-only cardboard dumpster and gives out yard-waste stickers.
Source: city.waltham.ma.us
Hazardous waste dayPublished
Minuteman facility, 60 Hartwell Ave, Lexington, one weekend day per month April-November, pre-registration and proof of Waltham residency required, no direct charge. Next: Sun Nov 15, 2026, 9 am-2 pm. Latex paint: Waltham's page lists it as accepted but a neighboring town says it is not; call 781-314-3390 first.
Source: city.waltham.ma.us, city.waltham.ma.us
Notes on 2027 dates, row by row
- Leaf and yard waste: The 2026-2027 brochure and the schedule page are the sources; 2027 fall dates are not posted. Check back in October 2027.
- Christmas tree pickup: Three weeks after Dec 25 is about Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 (our arithmetic). Confirm on the city site in December.
- Bulky items: Limits are per calendar year. Check back in January.
- Transfer station or drop-off: Use curbside bulky service or a private hauler.
- Hazardous waste day: Pattern: one weekend date per month April through November; the 2027 dates are posted in spring. Check back in March 2027.