Indianapolis Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026

Indianapolis and Marion County residents who receive city solid waste service generally use a 96-gallon trash cart for weekly trash, get one heavy trash day per month, and can subscribe to bi-weekly curbside recycling. Because the exact day depends on your address, the official lookup should always be your source of truth.

How to Find Your Indianapolis Trash Pickup Day (Fast Lookup)

Indianapolis uses an address-based lookup for both trash and recycling. This is the fastest way to check your regular trash day, see your heavy trash day, and confirm your recycling information.

1. Open the trash lookup. Go to Find Your Trash Pickup Day.
2. Enter your address. Use your exact property address so the city tool returns the right collection day.
3. Check your heavy trash day too. Indianapolis limits residents to two heavy or bulky items per month on their heavy trash day.
4. Check recycling separately. Use Find Your Recycling Pickup Day and sign up if you want curbside recycling service.
5. Save the schedule. A reminder helps because heavy trash is monthly and recycling is bi-weekly rather than weekly.

Indianapolis Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When

For homes that receive city curbside service, Indianapolis generally follows a simple pattern. Trash is weekly, heavy trash is monthly, and curbside recycling is available by subscription on a bi-weekly schedule.

Indianapolis materials also note that curbside recycling is currently subscription-based. Residents who want curbside recycling can sign up through LRS, while others can still use approved recycling drop-off locations around the city.

Indianapolis Trash Cart, Recycling, and Heavy Trash System

The city’s curbside system is designed around the standard trash cart, a separate recycling subscription, and a monthly heavy-trash allowance for items too large to fit in the cart.

For regular trash, Indianapolis says waste must be bagged and placed inside the trash cart. Bags or loose trash left outside the cart will not be picked up.

Indianapolis Set-Out Rules

Set-out rules in Indianapolis are straightforward, but following them matters. Wrong placement or loose items are one of the easiest reasons for missed service.

• Have your cart at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your service day.
• Keep the cart 2 to 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars, poles, fences, and other objects.
• Bag trash before placing it inside the cart.
• Keep the cart lid closed. Overflowing carts can cause collection problems.
• Do not place extra trash bags outside the cart for regular weekly pickup.

Indianapolis Heavy / Bulky Trash Pickup

Indianapolis allows residents to place up to two heavy or bulky items per month at the curb on their heavy trash day. This is the city’s main curbside option for furniture and other oversized household items.

Common heavy trash items include:

• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Box springs
• Large household items that do not fit in the cart
• Bundled limbs, when prepared within the city’s size rules

1. Check your heavy trash day first. Use the official trash-day lookup for your address.
2. Limit the set-out to two items. Indianapolis limits residents to two heavy or bulky items each month.
3. Bundle yard waste correctly. Bundled limbs up to about 3 feet in diameter and 3 feet long count as one heavy trash item.
4. Keep prohibited materials out. Construction debris is not accepted as heavy trash.
5. Use the transfer station when needed. If the item is not accepted curbside, the Citizens’ Transfer Station may be the easier option.

Indianapolis 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule

Indianapolis holiday service follows a slide schedule on observed holidays, while holidays that fall on a weekend are generally not observed for curbside trash. City pages say weekend holidays stay on a normal schedule.

Because Indianapolis is moving through a 2026 vendor transition and address-based service tools remain the source of truth, always verify your exact week with the official city lookup before a holiday.

What to Do If Indianapolis Missed Your Pickup

If your trash, heavy trash, or cart service was missed, the city directs residents to RequestIndy or the Mayor’s Action Center for help.

1. Check your scheduled day first. Confirm you used the correct weekly trash day or monthly heavy trash day.
2. Review the holiday rule. Observed holidays usually slide service one day later, while weekend holidays stay normal.
3. Confirm set-out rules. Your cart should have been out before 7:00 a.m. with 2 to 3 feet of clearance.
4. Report the issue through RequestIndy. Use the city’s online tool for trash-related service requests.
5. Call the Mayor’s Action Center if needed. Reach them at 317-327-4622.

Indianapolis Drop-Off and Extra Disposal Options

When curbside service is not enough, Indianapolis also gives residents official drop-off and extra-disposal options. These are especially useful for extra household trash, overflow recycling, or items not accepted in the cart.

Frequently Asked Questions About Indianapolis Trash Pickup

Official Indianapolis Trash Collection Resources

Reminder: Because Indianapolis collection is address-based, always verify your exact trash day, heavy-trash day, and recycling schedule with the official lookup before setting items at the curb.