Brookline Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026: Weekly Trash, Recycling, Yard Waste, Bulk Items and Holiday Delays
This Brookline trash pickup schedule garbage collection guide is for Brookline, Massachusetts residents on Town Waste Collection Service. Brookline collects trash and recycling weekly, yard waste runs seasonally on the resident’s regular waste day, and bulky or metal items must be scheduled and paid for before pickup.
Enter your ZIP code below — we'll take you straight to your city's official schedule. No searching, no confusion.
Quick Answer for Brookline Residents
Brookline residents on Town Waste Collection Service should use the Town’s address lookup or the “We Recycle Brookline” app to confirm the exact pickup day. Carts may be placed curbside after 3:30 PM the night before or by 7:00 AM on collection day. Weekday holidays delay pickup by one day. Bulky, metal, mattress, white-goods and electronics pickups require advance scheduling and payment.
Trash pickup
Town waste customers receive weekly trash collection. Brookline’s HPAYT program bills based on the size and number of trash carts.
Recycling pickup
Recycling is mandatory and is collected on the same day as trash for Town Waste Collection Service subscribers.
Yard waste
Yard waste is collected on the regular waste day from the first full week of April through the last full week of December.
Bulky items
Bulky and metal items must be scheduled one week in advance and paid for before pickup. Some special items are collected on Tuesdays.
Call Brookline DPW at 617-730-2156 if you cannot use the online pickup tool, need help with a missing cart, want to schedule a bulky pickup, or are unsure whether your building is on Town service or private-hauler service.
Which Brookline Is This Schedule For?
This guide covers Brookline, MA, including Brookline Village, Coolidge Corner, Washington Square, Chestnut Hill sections within Brookline, and residents using the Town’s waste collection program. It does not cover Brookline, New Hampshire, the Brookline neighborhood in Pittsburgh, or private apartment-hauler schedules.
Town Waste Collection Service
Single-family homes, condos, landlords and buildings subscribed to Brookline’s Town service can use the timing, cart, recycling, yard waste and bulky-item rules here.
Multi-unit buildings
Property owners and condominium associations are responsible for Town service accounts and cart orders. Tenants should also check building rules.
Private hauler or business
Commercial properties, construction cleanouts, major move-outs and private dumpsters may need a permitted private hauler rather than Town curbside pickup.
How to Find Your Brookline Trash Pickup Day
Brookline pickup days are address-based. The fastest reliable method is the official curbside collection page or the “We Recycle Brookline” mobile app. Search phrases like “Brookline trash pickup near me,” “Brookline garbage day by address,” and “Brookline recycling schedule” all point to the same practical step: confirm your exact address before moving carts outside.
- Open Brookline’s official curbside collection page. Use the Town page first because it links to the current address lookup and app.
- Enter your service address. Use the exact address tied to Town Waste Collection Service. Do not guess from a neighbor’s cart.
- Save the weekly day. Trash and recycling are collected on the same day, so one weekly reminder can cover both carts.
- Add a night-before reminder. The safe reminder is “after 3:30 PM the night before,” with a second “by 7:00 AM” backup reminder.
- Add holiday verification. Weekday holidays delay pickup one day, so your recurring phone reminder can be wrong on holiday weeks.
- Use item-specific rules. Yard waste, bulky items, electronics, mattresses, textiles, paint and hazardous waste do not all follow the same path.
Brookline Cart Rules: Set-Out Time, Spacing, Snow and Storage
Brookline uses automated curbside collection, so placement is part of the schedule. Your cart can be on the correct day and still be skipped if the truck arm cannot safely reach it.
Cart placement checklist
- Place carts out after 3:30 PM the night before collection or by 7:00 AM on collection day.
- Use Town-issued or Town-approved trash carts for curbside trash.
- Keep carts accessible from the street.
- Leave at least 12 inches of space on each side of recycling and waste bins.
- Keep carts from blocking walkways, roads, curb ramps or driveways.
- Close lids tightly and keep carts free of holes or major damage.
- In winter, clear snow from around carts, lids and the curbside area.
Common missed-pickup causes
- Putting carts out too early or after the 7:00 AM deadline.
- Overfilled bins or loose garbage outside the approved cart.
- Cart blocked by a parked car, snowbank, fence, mailbox, tree, construction material or bicycle rack.
- Recycling in plastic bags or contaminated with food waste.
- Hazardous waste, bulky items, mattresses, electronics or construction debris in regular carts.
- Failure to remove empty carts by the Town’s required removal deadline.
Brookline HPAYT Program, Cart Sizes and 2026 Refuse Costs
Brookline uses a Hybrid Pay-As-You-Throw program. The size and number of trash carts tied to the refuse account determines the annual refuse cost. Recycling service is included with the annual refuse fee, and extra recycling carts can be requested without increasing the annual refuse cost.
| Trash cart size | Town capacity note | Quarterly cost | Annual refuse cost | Best practical fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 gallon | Up to 2 tall kitchen bags | $68.75 | $275 | Low-waste household, strong recycling and composting habits. |
| 65 gallon | Up to 4 tall kitchen bags | $93.25 | $373 | Most common middle option for many homes. |
| 95 gallon | Up to 7 tall kitchen bags | $119 | $476 | Larger household or shared multi-unit account where one cart is not enough. |
When you have extra household trash
Purple overflow bags are the Town’s correct path when normal household waste does not fit inside the Town-issued trash cart. Use these instead of leaving loose extra trash beside the cart.
When your cart size is wrong
Brookline allows cart exchange requests. Increasing the size of a trash cart may trigger a swap fee and the new size changes the next applicable quarterly bill.
Brookline Recycling Pickup: Same Day as Trash, But Different Rules
Recycling is mandatory in Brookline and is collected on the same day as trash. The search intent behind “Brookline recycling schedule” is usually not a separate day problem; it is a sorting and cart-placement problem.
Put these loose in the recycling cart
- Empty and rinsed metal food and beverage cans.
- Empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs.
- Empty glass bottles and jars.
- Mixed paper, newspaper, magazines and flattened cardboard boxes.
- Paper cups when clean enough for recycling guidance.
Common contamination items
- Plastic grocery bags or bagged recyclables.
- Food waste, paper towels or paper plates.
- Batteries, light bulbs, propane or butane canisters.
- Styrofoam, plastic film, stickers and labels.
- Mirrors, ceramics, porcelain, auto glass or rigid plastic toys.
- Wet cardboard or wet paper.
If your recycling cart is full of clean cardboard or paper, Brookline points residents to the free Recycling Dumpster in the Centre Street West Parking Lot near 20 Centre Street, across from the Coolidge Corner Theatre parking lot.
Brookline Yard Waste Pickup 2026
Brookline yard waste is picked up for Town Waste Collection Service subscribers on the resident’s regular waste collection day. For 2026, the Town announced spring yard waste collection beginning the week of April 6, 2026 and continuing through the end of December.
April through December
General yard waste pickup runs from the first full week of April through the last full week of December, on your regular waste day.
Paper bags or marked barrels
Leaves and smaller yard material should be in paper yard waste bags or containers clearly labeled “Yard Waste.” Plastic bags are not collected.
3-foot / 75-pound rule
Bundles should not exceed 75 pounds or 3 feet in length. Branches and limbs must also stay within the Town’s diameter and length rules.
| Yard item | Brookline path | Practical resident note |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves, grass clippings, plant cuttings, vines | Paper yard waste bag or barrel labeled Yard Waste | Do not use plastic bags. |
| Shrub trimmings and small branches | Bundle and tie | Branches should not exceed 3 inches in diameter or 3 feet in length. |
| Logs, rocks, sand, sod, soil, stumps and trunks | Not curbside yard waste | Contact a private hauler or use another approved disposal option. |
| Christmas tree | Special seasonal pickup | Remove decorations, do not bag it, and place it curbside on your regular day during the tree pickup period. |
Brookline Bulk Trash Pickup 2026: Schedule First, Pay First
Brookline bulky item pickup is not a “leave it at the curb and hope” system. For Town Waste Collection Service residents, bulky, metal, white goods, mattress and electronics pickups must be scheduled one week in advance and paid for before pickup. Brookline allows up to four bulky, metal, white-goods and/or mattress items per week through the special collection program.
One week in advance
Schedule early. Same-week guessing creates curb clutter and missed pickups.
Fees apply
Online credit card payments may have a non-refundable service fee; in-person payment is also available.
Check confirmation email
Furniture-type bulky trash may be regular trash day, while electronics, metals, white goods and mattresses are collected on Tuesdays.
No unscheduled curb pile
Do not place sofas, mattresses, TVs, appliances or large items outside without a confirmed pickup.
| Item category | Current Brookline fee | Collection note |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress or box spring | $65 each | Must be recycled under MassDEP rules and is collected through the special item process. |
| Electronics and white goods | $30 | Collected on Tuesdays each week; your confirmation email gives the exact instructions. |
| Special items such as wood/upholstered furniture, rugs or carpet | $20 | Furniture-style bulky waste may be collected on your regular trash day when scheduled. |
Trash Amnesty Week and Student Move-In/Move-Out
Brookline’s Trash Amnesty Week helps Town Waste Collection Service residents dispose of extra household trash bags at no cost twice per year, usually the weeks following Memorial Day and Labor Day. This is useful for move-out, move-in and household overflow, but it does not cover bulky items, hazardous waste or construction debris.
Extra household waste
Place extra household trash bags alongside your Town-issued trash and recycling carts on your normal pickup day during the amnesty week.
No bulky or hazardous items
Sofas, mattresses, TVs, appliances, flammable materials, construction debris and demolition waste still need the correct separate disposal path.
Do not put out too early
Do not place items out before 3:30 PM the day before your scheduled trash day.
Brookline Trash Tools: Save This Page and Use It Weekly
These tools turn the Brookline rules into practical reminders. They are not a replacement for the Town’s official lookup, but they help you plan your week and avoid the mistakes that usually cause missed pickup or fines.
Brookline Holiday Trash Pickup 2026
Brookline’s curbside collection page says weekday holidays delay pickup by one day. The practical rule is: if a recognized weekday holiday falls before or on your normal collection day, expect your pickup to slide one day later that week. Saturday holidays usually do not move weekday routes unless Brookline posts a specific notice.
| 2026 holiday | Date | Pickup impact | Resident reminder |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, Jan. 1 | Thursday and Friday routes likely move one day later. | Check the Town lookup before setting carts out. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan. 19 | Monday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Use the holiday delay checker. |
| Presidents Day | Monday, Feb. 16 | Monday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Do not trust a normal recurring phone alert. |
| Patriots’ Day | Monday, Apr. 20 | Monday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Yard waste may also shift because it follows the waste day. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | Monday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Trash Amnesty Week normally follows Memorial Day week. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun. 19 | Friday route likely moves one day later. | Check Town notices for the exact week. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul. 4 | No normal weekday slide unless Brookline posts a notice. | Saturday holiday; verify if your route is unusual. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep. 7 | Monday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Trash Amnesty Week normally follows Labor Day week. |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus Day | Monday, Oct. 12 | Monday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Confirm through the app or official page. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Wednesday through Friday routes likely slide one day. | Monday and Tuesday routes may stay normal. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov. 26 | Thursday and Friday routes likely move one day later. | Do not place holiday trash early. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec. 25 | Friday route likely moves one day later. | Christmas tree pickup begins after Christmas and runs into January. |
Household Hazardous Waste, Paint, Batteries, Tires and Electronics
Household hazardous waste cannot go in Brookline’s regular trash or recycling. In 2026, Brookline’s HHW Recycling Facility at the Brookline Transfer Station, 815 Newton Street, operates every other Tuesday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM from May through October. Proof of Brookline residency is required.
| 2026 HHW dates listed by Brookline | Time | Location | Resident note |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, May 19, June 2, June 16, June 30 | 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM | 815 Newton Street | Bring proof of residency and keep materials in original containers. |
| July 14, July 28, August 11, August 25 | 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Brookline Transfer Station | Transport materials securely in the trunk or truck bed. |
| September 8, September 22, October 6, October 20, October 27 | 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Brookline Transfer Station | Stay in the vehicle and follow posted site directions. |
Bring to HHW drop-off
- Non-alkaline batteries, CFLs, lightbulbs and mercury products.
- Oil-based paints, paint thinners, solvents, adhesives and varnishes.
- Fuels, gasoline, antifreeze, motor oil and car batteries.
- Pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers and propane tanks.
- TVs, CRTs, electronics, tires and small appliances when accepted by the program.
Dry latex paint rule
Acrylic or latex paint may go in the regular trash only when completely dry. Brookline recommends mixing with cat litter and allowing the paint to harden; leave the lid off so crews can see it is dry.
Textiles, Compost and Food Waste: Do Not Put These in the Wrong Cart
Brookline residents often search for “clothing recycling near me,” “food waste drop off,” or “Black Earth Compost Brookline” when the real issue is that regular carts are not the best route. Textiles and food scraps should be diverted whenever possible.
Use Helpsy bins or pickup
Clothing and household textiles cannot go in curbside trash or recycling carts. Brookline’s textile recovery partner accepts dry, odorless textiles; bins are at 815 Newton Street and at-home pickup is available for larger amounts.
Food waste options
Brookline encourages composting and lists curbside subscription, food-waste drop-off, backyard composting and school composting options.
Less trash cart pressure
Using textile recovery and compost options can help smaller HPAYT carts work better and reduce overflow bag needs.
Private Haulers, Dumpsters and Construction Debris
Brookline’s Town waste collection fee is for normal domestic household waste accumulated during a one-week period. Apartment cleanouts, attic or basement cleanouts, renovation waste, construction debris and demolition waste are not handled like weekly household trash.
Construction and demolition
Concrete, renovation debris, cabinets, demolition waste and cleanout loads generally need a permitted private waste hauler.
Permit may be needed
If a dumpster will be dropped on the street, Brookline says an Occupancy Permit is needed.
Commercial rules differ
Business waste and private hauling should follow Brookline’s permitted hauler requirements and recycling pickup obligations.
Missed Trash Pickup in Brookline: Check This Before Calling
Missed pickup reports are easier when you can explain exactly what happened. Before calling DPW, check the set-out time, cart access, holiday week, and whether the item should have been scheduled separately.
Before reporting trash or recycling
- Was it your correct address-based pickup day?
- Was the cart out after 3:30 PM the prior day and before 7:00 AM collection day?
- Was there a weekday holiday delay?
- Was the cart visible and accessible from the street?
- Was there 12 inches of side clearance for the automated arm?
- Was the lid closed and the cart not overflowing?
- Were recyclables loose, clean enough and not bagged?
Before reporting bulky or HHW
- Was the bulky item scheduled one week in advance?
- Was the pickup paid for before pickup?
- Did your confirmation email give a Tuesday collection date?
- Was the item a mattress, electronics, white good, TV or metal item?
- Was the item construction debris, hazardous waste, paint, chemicals or textiles?
- Did you place it out too early?
Brookline Map: Town Hall and Transfer Station Context
Use the official address lookup for pickup day decisions. The map below is for Brookline Town Hall/DPW context only. HHW drop-off and textile bins are at the Brookline Transfer Station area at 815 Newton Street, while billing and DPW administration contacts also reference Town Hall offices.
Official Brookline Links Residents Actually Need
Use the right official page for the task. This prevents the common mistake of using the weekly pickup page for a mattress, paint can, construction dumpster or textile bag.
Related Trash-Pickup.org Guides
These internal links are included because Brookline residents often compare nearby Greater Boston rules, holiday delay logic, HPAYT systems and bulky-item scheduling.
What This Brookline Guide Solves
Residents usually arrive with one urgent problem: finding the pickup day, checking a holiday delay, scheduling a mattress, figuring out if recycling is same-day, handling extra student move-out trash, dropping off paint or batteries, or knowing whether a private hauler is required. This page answers those problems as practical sections, tables, tools and FAQs instead of repeating search phrases.
Address lookup first
The guide explains why “near me” trash pickup must be confirmed by address through Brookline’s official tool or app.
Schedule and pay first
Mattresses, furniture, electronics, white goods and metal items are separated from normal weekly trash.
HHW, textile and compost paths
Paint, batteries, clothing, food scraps, yard waste and construction debris each get a specific route.
Brookline Trash Pickup FAQ
What day is trash pickup in Brookline, MA?
Brookline trash pickup is address-based. Use the official Curbside Collection Services page or the We Recycle Brookline app to find your exact collection day.
What time should I put trash out in Brookline?
Place recycling, trash and yard waste carts at the curb after 3:30 PM the night before or by 7:00 AM on collection day.
Is recycling collected the same day as trash in Brookline?
Yes. Brookline says recycling service occurs on the same day as trash collection for residents on Town Waste Collection Service.
Does Brookline have a garbage pickup app?
Yes. Brookline points residents to the We Recycle Brookline mobile app for collection schedules, reminders and disposal guidance.
How do Brookline holiday trash delays work?
Brookline says weekday holidays delay pickup by one day. If the holiday falls before or on your normal pickup day, expect a one-day slide that week and verify through the official schedule.
When does Brookline yard waste pickup run in 2026?
Brookline announced 2026 spring yard waste collection beginning the week of April 6, 2026 and continuing through the end of December. Yard waste is picked up on the resident’s regular waste collection day.
Can I put yard waste in plastic bags in Brookline?
No. Yard waste must be in paper yard waste bags or containers clearly labeled Yard Waste. Plastic bags are not collected.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Brookline?
Schedule through the Brookline bulky item pickup program at least one week in advance and pay before pickup. Review your confirmation email because some items are collected on Tuesdays.
How much does mattress pickup cost in Brookline?
Brookline lists mattresses and box springs at $65 each through the bulky item program.
Can electronics or white goods go out with regular trash?
No. Electronics and white goods require special scheduling and are generally collected on Tuesdays. Brookline lists the electronics and white-goods fee at $30.
What is Trash Amnesty Week in Brookline?
Trash Amnesty Week occurs twice a year, generally after Memorial Day and Labor Day. Town Waste Collection Service residents may place extra household trash bags beside carts on their pickup day, but bulky items, hazardous waste and construction debris are not included.
Where do batteries, oil-based paint and chemicals go in Brookline?
Use Brookline’s Household Hazardous Waste drop-off program at 815 Newton Street on the listed 2026 dates. Proof of residency is required.
Can latex paint go in Brookline trash?
Latex or acrylic paint may go in the regular trash only after it is completely dry. Brookline suggests mixing with cat litter and leaving the lid off.
Who do I call for missed trash pickup in Brookline?
Call Brookline DPW at 617-730-2156 after checking your pickup day, set-out time, cart access, holiday delay and item eligibility.
Is Trash-Pickup.org the Town of Brookline?
No. Trash-Pickup.org is an independent resident help guide. For live service decisions, official fees, exact collection dates, notices, account billing and enforcement, use the Town of Brookline links on this page.
Final Brookline Resident Summary
For Brookline trash pickup in 2026, confirm your exact address through the Town’s official lookup or We Recycle Brookline app. Put trash, recycling and yard waste carts out after 3:30 PM the night before or by 7:00 AM on collection day. Trash and recycling are collected weekly on the same day, while yard waste runs seasonally on your regular waste day.
Use the bulky item program for mattresses, furniture, electronics, white goods and metal items. Use HHW drop-off for oil-based paint, batteries, fuels, solvents, pesticides and similar materials. Use textile recovery for clothing and household textiles, and use private permitted haulers for major cleanouts, construction debris, demolition waste and dumpsters.
Franklin TN Trash Tools
Holiday calculator | Buck-A-Bag counter | Recycling checker
Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Call (615) 794-1516 to confirm