Providence Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026: Collection Day, Holidays, Recycling, Bulk and Missed Pickup
This Providence trash pickup schedule guide is for residents who need the practical answer: what day carts go out, how 2026 holidays affect pickup, what belongs in the gray trash cart and blue recycling cart, how bulk pickup works, and who to contact when collection is missed. Providence uses street-based pickup lookup, so the exact day must be checked by your street or address.
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Quick Answer for Providence Residents
Providence residential trash and recycling are collected Monday through Friday, except weekday holidays. Your trash and recycling are collected on the same regular day each week, but the exact day depends on where you live in the city. Use the official Providence waste pickup lookup and enter your street name before relying on a neighbor’s routine.
Lookup by street
Providence asks residents to enter a street name to see the waste pickup day. This is the best answer for “trash pickup near me” searches.
Gray + blue
The gray cart is for trash. The blue cart is for recycling. Providence says only city-issued carts are collected for normal service.
Night before or 5:30 a.m.
Move carts to the curb the night before collection or no later than 5:30 a.m. on collection day.
Call WM or use PVD 311
If carts were set out properly and not collected, call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 or report through PVD 311.
How to Find Your Providence Trash Pickup Day
The most important search intent behind “Providence trash pickup schedule garbage collection” is not a citywide calendar. It is an address question. Providence routes vary by street, so the right workflow is to check your street, confirm the holiday week, then place both trash and recycling carts correctly.
- Open the official waste pickup schedule page. Use the City of Providence lookup, not an old social post or a neighbor’s memory.
- Enter your street name. If your street has multiple similar names, check carefully before saving the day.
- Write down your regular collection weekday. Trash and recycling are collected on the same day each week for city curbside homes.
- Check the holiday schedule before holiday weeks. A weekday holiday can push collection back one day for the rest of that week.
- Set a night-before reminder. This is easiest for seniors and busy households because carts can be moved before 5:30 a.m.
This guide is for the City of Providence, Rhode Island. East Providence and North Providence use different local departments and rules. If your mailing address says East Providence or North Providence, use that city or town’s official page instead.
Providence 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule
Providence’s holiday rule is simple: when a holiday falls on your pickup day, collection moves to the very next day and the rest of that week runs one day late. Friday routes move to Saturday. If the holiday falls on a weekend, trash pickup is not impacted.
| 2026 holiday | Official 2026 collection note | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day — Thursday, Jan. 1 | Collection on Friday, Jan. 2 | Thursday routes move to Friday; Friday routes should watch for Saturday service. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, Jan. 19 | Collection on Tuesday, Jan. 20 | All remaining routes that week run one day late. |
| Memorial Day — Monday, May 25 | Collection on Tuesday, May 26 | Monday through Friday routes should expect the one-day slide. |
| Juneteenth — Friday, June 19 | Collection on Saturday, June 20 | Friday routes move to Saturday. |
| Victory Day — Monday, Aug. 10 | Collection on Tuesday, Aug. 11 | All remaining routes that week run one day late. |
| Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 7 | Collection on Tuesday, Sept. 8 | Monday through Friday routes should expect the one-day slide. |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous People’s Day — Monday, Oct. 12 | Collection on Tuesday, Oct. 13 | All remaining routes that week run one day late. |
| Veterans Day — Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Collection on Thursday, Nov. 12 | Wednesday, Thursday and Friday routes shift later that week. |
| Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 26 | Collection on Friday, Nov. 27 | Thursday routes move to Friday; Friday routes should check for Saturday service. |
| Christmas Day — Friday, Dec. 25 | Collection on Saturday, Dec. 26 | Friday routes move to Saturday. |
Providence Pickup Tools: Save This Page and Reuse It
Use these simple resident tools after you know your regular pickup weekday. They are designed for repeat visits: holiday weeks, move-out weeks, spring cleanup, and days when you are not sure whether an item goes in the cart.
Set two phone reminders: one at 7 p.m. the night before pickup and one at 5:15 a.m. on pickup morning. The night reminder solves most missed-cart problems.
Providence Cart Rules: Set-Out Time, Spacing and New 2026 Carts
Providence’s regular curbside system is cart-based. The 2026 cart rollout replaced aging carts citywide with standardized trash and recycling carts. The basic rule for residents is still practical: use the city-issued gray trash cart and blue recycling cart, put them out on time, keep lids closed, and leave enough space for collection.
Correct cart setup
- Move carts to the curb the night before pickup or by 5:30 a.m. on collection day.
- Use the gray cart for trash and the blue cart for recycling.
- Place carts on the street with wheels against the curb.
- Keep carts at least 3 feet from parked cars, mailboxes and other obstacles.
- Close lids fully so animals, rain and wind do not create a mess.
- Store carts behind or beside the home between collections.
Common collection problems
- Trash or recycling left outside or next to carts without using an approved program.
- Cart blocked by parked vehicles, snow, poles, fences or construction materials.
- Recycling placed in plastic bags.
- Overflow trash stuffed into the blue recycling cart.
- Bulky items placed out without a WM request.
- Leaving carts on the sidewalk or curb all week.
Providence Recycling Pickup: What Goes in the Blue Cart
Providence recycling is required, and recycling pickup runs Monday through Friday on the same day as trash, except weekday holidays. The blue cart is not for “anything that seems recyclable.” It is for a short accepted list, and contamination can cause real problems.
| Item type | Providence blue cart answer | Practical household note |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and cardboard | Yes, if clean and dry | Flatten cardboard and keep it inside the blue cart with the lid closed. |
| Cartons, metal cans, metal lids, clean foil | Yes | Empty and rinse food residue before placing in the cart. |
| Glass bottles and jars | Yes | Do not include drinking glasses, mirrors or window glass. |
| Plastic containers | Yes, if accepted and empty | Keep recyclables loose. Do not bag them in plastic. |
| Plastic bags and plastic wrap | No | Use store drop-off programs where available. Never put bags in the blue cart. |
| Food, liquids, Styrofoam, trash bags | No | These are common contamination problems. When in doubt, use the gray trash cart or official A–Z tool. |
For the blue cart, think “empty, rinse, loose, basic containers and paper.” If the item is greasy, full of food, tangled, soft plastic, or not on the basic list, do not guess.
Providence Bulk Trash Pickup: Furniture, Appliances and Large Items
Providence bulk trash pickup is handled through Waste Management and must be scheduled. The City says WM provides free bulk item service for Providence residents, limited to 3 items per week. Do not place a couch, dresser, appliance, rug or other large item outside without scheduling first.
- Call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 or use the WM portal. Give your Providence address and describe each item.
- Schedule at least 24 hours before your regular trash day. RIRRC’s Providence guidance repeats this for bulky waste, appliances and e-waste.
- Keep the limit in mind. The usual Providence-specific guidance is 3 bulk items per collection day.
- Set items out no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before your regular trash day. Early set-out creates sidewalk, rodent and code problems.
- Keep carts and bulk separated. Do not block the gray trash cart or blue recycling cart with furniture.
Furniture
Sofas, chairs, tables, dressers and similar household furniture should be scheduled with WM before set-out.
White goods
Large appliances are listed with Providence-specific bulk guidance. Call WM and describe the item clearly.
Mattresses
Mattresses and box springs have a separate paid curbside option or free drop-off route for Providence residents.
Providence Yard Waste Pickup: Leaves, Branches and Christmas Trees
Yard debris is seasonal in Providence. The City’s pickup lookup says yard waste is collected every year from mid-April through December, while RIRRC’s Providence A–Z guidance says leaf and yard waste is picked up from mid-April through mid-December on the regular collection day.
How to set out yard debris
- Use brown paper yard debris bags.
- Or use your own container clearly marked as yard debris.
- Cut sticks and trimmings to 4 feet or smaller.
- Tie branches and sticks together when needed.
- Place yard debris out on your regular collection day during the season.
Common yard waste mistakes
- No plastic bags for yard debris.
- Do not mix yard waste into recycling.
- Do not leave loose piles that can blow into the street.
- Do not assume winter pickup after the seasonal window ends.
Providence-specific guidance says Christmas trees are picked up curbside during the second, third and fourth full weeks of January on the regular collection day. Check City notices near January because weather can affect collection.
Mattresses, E-Waste, Hazardous Waste, Overflow Bags and Tricky Items
The biggest pickup mistakes happen when an item does not belong in either cart. Use the right path before you drag it to the curb.
| Item | Best Providence route | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress or box spring | Paid curbside pickup or free resident drop-off | Call WM for paid curbside service, or drop off eligible items at the Mattress Drop-off Center with proof of Providence residency. |
| TV, computer, electronics | E-waste pickup or drop-off | Call WM at least 24 hours before your regular collection day, or use the Providence resident e-waste drop-off option listed by RIRRC. |
| Paint, gasoline, propane, oil, pool chemicals | Eco-Depot / hazardous waste appointment | State law prohibits household hazardous waste in regular trash. Use RIRRC Eco-Depot events. |
| Extra household trash | Official overflow trash bag program | Do not put extra trash in recycling. Use designated overflow bags from participating stores when needed. |
| Usable clothing, toys, household items | Donation, exchange or resale | If the item is still in good shape, reuse is often better than bulk disposal. |
Missed Trash, Recycling, Yard Waste or Bulk Pickup in Providence
If your cart or scheduled item was missed, check the basics first. This helps you avoid filing the wrong request and makes your PVD 311 report more useful.
Self-check list
- Was it your correct street-based pickup day?
- Was there a weekday holiday delay?
- Were carts out the night before or by 5:30 a.m.?
- Were carts blocked by a car, mailbox, snowbank or obstacle?
- Were lids closed and carts city-issued?
- Was extra trash placed outside the cart without approved overflow bags?
- For bulk, did you have a WM request number?
What to provide
- Exact address where service was missed.
- Whether the issue is trash, recycling, yard waste or bulky item.
- Number of bins or items missed.
- Waste Management request number if you scheduled bulk pickup.
- Best contact information for follow-up.
Providence Trash Pickup Map and Local Contact Context
Use the map for DPW location context only. It does not replace the official street-name pickup lookup, because collection day depends on your service address.
Providence Public Works
Official DPW contact pages list 75 Chapman Street, Providence RI 02905 and phone 401-680-7500.
700 Allens Ave note
RIRRC lists the Providence Mattress Drop-off Center at 700 Allens Ave, rear entrance on Terminal Road, Saturday 7 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., weather permitting, for Providence residents with proof of residency.
Official Providence Links by Resident Problem
Use these links by task. The fastest way to get the right answer is to open the page that matches the problem you have today.
Related Trash-Pickup.org Guides
Use these related guides when you need a sitewide tool or want to compare how another large city handles holiday delays, bulk items, recycling contamination and missed pickup reporting.
Providence Trash Pickup FAQ
How do I find my Providence trash pickup day?
Use the official City of Providence waste pickup schedule page and enter your street name. Your pickup day depends on where you live in the city.
Are Providence trash and recycling collected on the same day?
Yes. Providence says trash and recycling are collected on the same day each week for city curbside collection customers.
What time should Providence carts be out?
Move carts to the curb the night before collection or no later than 5:30 a.m. on collection day.
What color cart is trash in Providence?
The gray cart is for trash. The blue cart is for recycling.
Does Providence trash pickup change on holidays?
If a weekday holiday falls on your pickup day, collection moves to the next day and the rest of the week runs one day late. Friday pickup moves to Saturday. Weekend holidays generally do not affect trash pickup.
Who do I call for Providence missed trash pickup?
If carts were set out properly and not collected, call Waste Management at 800-972-4545. You can also report missed trash, recycling, yard waste or bulky items through PVD 311.
How do I schedule bulk pickup in Providence?
Call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 or use the WM online portal. Providence bulk item pickup is scheduled service and is generally limited to 3 items per week.
Can I put extra trash beside my Providence cart?
Do not place random extra trash beside the cart. Use the official overflow trash bag program when extra household trash does not fit in the gray cart.
Can plastic bags go in Providence recycling?
No. Plastic bags and plastic wrap should not go in the blue recycling cart. Recyclables should be loose, empty and rinsed.
How does Providence yard waste pickup work?
Yard debris is collected seasonally on the regular collection day. Use brown paper yard waste bags or a container marked as yard debris. Do not use plastic bags.
How do I dispose of a mattress in Providence?
Mattress and box spring curbside pickup is available for a fee through Waste Management. Providence residents may also use the Mattress Drop-off Center with proof of residency, subject to posted hours and weather.
Is this guide for East Providence or North Providence?
No. This guide is for the City of Providence, Rhode Island. East Providence and North Providence have separate refuse departments and schedules.
Final Providence Resident Summary
Providence trash pickup and recycling collection are street-based, so start with the City’s official pickup day lookup. Place city-issued gray trash and blue recycling carts out the night before pickup or by 5:30 a.m., keep lids closed, leave 3 feet from obstacles, and check the 2026 holiday schedule before holiday weeks.
For bulk items, call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 before putting anything large at the curb. For missed service, use WM or PVD 311 with your address, item type, timing and request number. For mattresses, electronics, yard debris, hazardous waste and overflow trash, use the specific Providence disposal route instead of guessing.
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