Racine Trash Pickup, Recycling & Bulky Item Schedule 2026
This guide is written like a Racine resident trying to solve pickup problems fast: area A-E pickup letters, Green and Gold recycling weeks, 7 AM set-out rules, holiday rotation, pink-tag bulky items, Pearl Street yard waste, the 21st Street drop-off site, missed pickup and what to do when the truck skips your cart.
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Racine trash pickup schedule garbage collection is based on your collection area letter, from Area A through Area E. The 2026 City of Racine calendar tells you when your area letter is collected, and it also shows whether your recycling week is Green Zone or Gold Zone.
Put carts and bulky items out by 7:00 AM on collection day, or after 4:00 PM the previous day. Place carts at the curb or alley line, then remove them by 7:00 PM on collection day.
Racine Trash Pickup Day Lookup — Find Your Area Letter and Recycling Zone First
Racine uses an area-letter calendar. The 2026 City of Racine schedule shows Area A, B, C, D and E on different weekdays across the year. When your letter appears on the calendar, that is your trash day. When your letter appears in your recycling zone color, you also put out the blue recycling cart.
The easiest way to avoid mistakes is to check three things together: your area letter, your Green or Gold recycling zone, and the holiday rotation calendar. If you check only the weekday, you may miss a holiday shift or put recycling out on the wrong week.
Open the official Racine collection lookup
Use the City’s Solid Waste Collection Lookup Tool or 2026 PDF calendar. The lookup is best for your address; the PDF is best for understanding the area-letter pattern.
Find your Area A-E collection letter
Your area letter tells you when garbage and eligible bulky items are collected. Do not use a neighbour’s day unless the address is in the same collection area.
Find your recycling zone color
Racine’s 2026 map separates recycling into Green Zone and Gold Zone. Recycling is every other week using the blue cart.
Check red holiday dates
There is no collection on designated holidays shown in red. Your pickup rotates with the new schedule shown on the 2026 calendar.
Best official tool: Start with the City of Racine collection schedule page, then save the PDF or Racine Recycles reminder for weekly checks.
Open Lookup ToolRacine Collection Areas A, B, C, D and E — How to Read the 2026 Calendar
The 2026 calendar is not a simple Monday-to-Friday list. It is a rotating collection calendar. Each day has an area letter. Your regular trash day is the day your area letter appears. Your recycling cart goes out when your area letter appears in your recycling zone color.
Find whether your address is Area A, B, C, D or E. This controls your normal solid waste and bulky-item pickup day.
Find the recycling zone color shown on the City map. When your area letter appears in that color, place the blue cart out too.
Red dates mean no collection. Do not assume the next day is always your makeup day; follow the rotating calendar.
Local resident shortcut: If you are unsure whether your area is Green Zone or Gold Zone, use the Racine Recycles app or the city lookup. The city map is useful, but street-level boundaries can be confusing if your home sits near a route line.
Racine 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule — No Collection on Red Calendar Dates
The City of Racine says observed holidays affect DPW solid waste and recycling collection. If your trash pickup day falls on an observed holiday, there is no solid waste or recycling pickup on that day. Your pickup then follows the rotating schedule listed in the official 2026 calendar.
| Observed Holiday | 2026 Date | Day | Resident Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Thursday | No collection on the red holiday date. Use the PDF calendar for the next area-letter pickup. |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday | No collection on the holiday. Follow the rotated area-letter calendar. |
| Spring Break | Calendar-marked period | Varies | Check the official calendar and Racine Recycles alerts. |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday | No holiday pickup; follow the adjusted area-letter dates. |
| Juneteenth Day | June 19 | Friday | No collection on the marked holiday date. |
| Independence Day Observed | July 3 | Friday | The 2026 PDF marks the observed Friday holiday; verify in the calendar. |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday | No collection on the holiday; route rotation continues by calendar. |
| Thanksgiving | November 26 | Thursday | No collection on Thanksgiving. |
| Thanksgiving Friday | November 27 | Friday | No collection on the Friday after Thanksgiving. |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Thursday | Listed by the city as an observed collection holiday; verify exact calendar color/letter. |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday | No collection on Christmas Day. |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31 | Thursday | Listed by the city as an observed holiday; verify end-of-year schedule in official tools. |
Do not use a simple “one-day delay” rule in Racine. Racine publishes a rotating holiday collection calendar. The safest method is to check the red date and the next appearance of your area letter in the official calendar.
Racine Garbage Collection Rules — Black Cart, Extra Bags, Cart Weight and Rejected Items
Racine’s black cart is for curbside solid waste. The 2026 schedule lists accepted black-cart items such as mixed trash, food waste, non-recyclable plastics, Styrofoam, broken toys and light bulbs. The city also lists many items that are not accepted in carts or bags.
- Mixed household trash.
- Food waste.
- Non-recyclable plastics.
- Styrofoam.
- Broken toys.
- Light bulbs.
- Yard waste.
- Recyclables.
- Concrete.
- Construction waste.
- Batteries.
- Electronics.
- Oils and liquids.
- Paint.
Extra Trash Bags Beside the Cart
The city’s violation guidance says households may place up to three black 42-gallon bags next to a full garbage cart. This is not unlimited overflow. If you regularly exceed your cart, call the DPW Field Office about cart options instead of creating repeat overage problems.
Skipped-cart warning: Cart contents cannot exceed 12 inches above the top rim, and carts cannot exceed 75 pounds. Overweight, overfilled, contaminated or improperly placed carts can be left behind.
Racine Recycling Schedule — Blue Cart, Green Zone, Gold Zone and Accepted Items
Racine recycling is collected every other week using the blue cart. The 2026 calendar uses Green Zone and Gold Zone colors to show which recycling area is active. Your recycling day connects to your area letter and your zone color, so the calendar matters.
- Tin, foil, steel and trays.
- Empty aerosol cans.
- Cardboard, broken down and bundled.
- Glass bottles and jars in clear, brown and green glass.
- Plastics 1 through 5 and 7.
- Envelopes, magazines and books.
- Putting solid waste or garbage in the blue cart.
- Leaving liquids or food contamination in containers.
- Putting Styrofoam in recycling.
- Putting hazardous materials, light bulbs or fluorescent lamps in the cart.
- Leaving large cardboard unbroken or oversized.
Overflow recycling tip: If your blue cart is full, the city allows excess recyclables in clear blue 42-gallon bags next to the full cart. Broken-down cardboard may be boxed, bundled or tied, but should not exceed 4 feet in length or width and 3 feet in height.
Official recycling rules: Use the City of Racine “What to Recycle” page before guessing on plastics, glass, cardboard, paper, bulbs or food-contaminated packaging.
What to RecycleRacine Bulky Item Pickup — Pink Tags, Furniture, Mattresses and Items Too Large for the Cart
Household Bulky Items are items that will not fit into a solid waste cart, such as furniture, mattresses, box springs, bags of household trash and prepared carpet. Racine’s violation guidance says HBI must have pink HBI stickers attached and be placed next to the garbage cart.
- Furniture.
- Mattresses.
- Box springs.
- Rolled carpet under 4 feet wide, tied.
- Items too large for the cart.
- Household trash bags when handled as bulky/drop-off material.
- Food waste.
- Recyclables.
- Yard waste.
- Construction waste.
- Electronics.
- Tires.
- Wood or pallets.
- Appliances curbside.
Pink tag trap: The city says only up to five Household Bulky Items are allowed next to the garbage cart. If a bulky item needs a pink tag and you put it out without one, it can be left behind and may look like a missed pickup when it is actually a preparation issue.
Pink HBI sticker help: For information on how to obtain pink Household Bulky Item stickers, call 262-636-9121.
Call 262-636-9121Racine Solid Waste Drop-Off Site and Pearl Street Yard Waste Site — Hours, Fees and Resident Proof
Some materials should not be left curbside. The City of Racine’s 2026 PDF lists two key drop-off locations for City residents: the Solid Waste Drop-Off Site at 6300 21st Street and the Yard Waste Drop-Off Site at 821 Pearl Street. Residents must show proof of residency with a driver’s license or photo ID and a tax or utility bill with address.
| Site | Address | Hours | Accepted / Fees | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Waste Drop-Off Site | 6300 21st Street | Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-5:45 PM; closed holidays | Tires $8 each; microwaves, TVs and computers $20 each; non-Freon appliances $20 each; Freon appliances $30 each; household bulky items $25 each. | On-site cashless payment only. |
| Yard Waste Drop-Off Site | 821 Pearl Street | Saturday-only seasonal hours listed by the city calendar | Maximum 2 cubic yards of material; branches less than 6 inches in diameter. | No dump trucks, dump trailers or trailers longer than 8 feet at Pearl Street. |
- Concrete.
- Construction materials.
- Metal.
- Toilets and sinks.
- Vanities.
- Wood.
- Paint.
- Oil.
- Branches over 6 inches in diameter.
- Tree stumps.
- Root balls.
- Oversized trailer loads.
- Material from non-City residents.
Racine Solid Waste Drop-Off Site Map
Racine Yard Waste, Leaves and Branches — What Goes to Pearl Street and What Stays Out of the Cart
Yard waste is not collected with regular solid waste pickup. If you put yard waste in or next to the regular garbage cart, it can be rejected. The city directs yard waste to the Pearl Street Facility, and seasonal leaf collection is handled separately through DPW notices.
- Yard waste from City of Racine residents.
- Maximum 2 cubic yards of material.
- Branches less than 6 inches in diameter.
- Material from approved resident vehicles.
- Proof of residency required.
- Grass clippings.
- Yard waste.
- Loose leaves outside seasonal collection instructions.
- Tree stumps.
- Root balls.
- Branches over 6 inches in diameter.
Leaf-season warning: Follow the current spring or fall leaf collection notice, not an old year’s PDF. Racine changes seasonal leaf pickup windows by year and weather conditions.
Pearl Street Yard Waste Site Map
Missed Trash Pickup Racine WI — How to Diagnose a Skipped Cart Before You Call
A skipped cart is not always a missed pickup. Racine’s violation guidance shows several common reasons material is left behind: overweight carts, construction material, yard waste, too much overflow, missing pink HBI stickers, offensive waste, and banned materials in the wrong cart.
Check your area letter and holiday rotation
Make sure your Area A-E letter appears on the calendar that day. Red holiday dates have no collection.
Check set-out timing
Carts and bulky items must be out by 7:00 AM, or after 4:00 PM the previous day. Late carts can be missed by the route.
Check cart weight and overflow
Cart weight cannot exceed 75 pounds. Contents cannot exceed 12 inches above the rim. Only up to three extra 42-gallon bags are allowed next to a full garbage cart.
Check item type before calling
Yard waste, construction debris, appliances, electronics, paint, oil and household bulky items may need a separate site, fee or sticker.
Call the correct Racine contact
For missed garbage, call 262-636-9126. For bulky pickup guidance, call 262-636-9171 or the specific pink-sticker help line if needed.
Best proof: If this happens repeatedly, take a photo of the cart placement before 7:00 AM. Make sure the photo shows the cart at the curb or alley line, lid closed if possible, and the material not blocked by vehicles or construction.
Racine Waste Video Guide — Official Video Check
No official relevant embeddable video was found from the City of Racine, Racine DPW, or an official municipal waste authority channel at the time of writing. Because no verified official video was found, this article does not embed a random YouTube or creator video.
Best for: New residents, renters, homeowners, alley-line users, recycling users and bulky-item users should rely on the official Racine collection lookup, 2026 PDF calendar, Racine Recycles app and DPW trash/recycling pages linked in this article.
If Racine later publishes or links an official video about Racine Recycles, recycling, bulky items, Pearl Street yard waste, holiday collection or the 21st Street drop-off site, it should be added here using only the official embed URL.
Racine Trash Pickup Phone Numbers, Office Address, Maps and Official Links
| Need | Official Contact | Use This For |
|---|---|---|
| City Customer Service | 262-636-9171 | General DPW trash, recycling, bulky waste, schedule and city service help. |
| Missed Garbage | 262-636-9126 | Missed garbage, cart questions, DPW Field Office guidance. |
| Pink HBI Stickers | 262-636-9121 | Information on how to obtain pink Household Bulky Item stickers. |
| City Hall | 730 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 | General city government and customer service routing. |
| Solid Waste Drop-Off | 6300 21st Street, Racine, WI | Paid drop-off for listed resident materials; cashless payment only. |
| Yard Waste Drop-Off | 821 Pearl Street, Racine, WI | Saturday seasonal yard waste drop-off for eligible City residents. |
City Hall Map
Official Racine Waste Links
Related Trash Pickup Guides — Internal Links for Wisconsin, Holiday and Bulk Pickup Help
Use these related trash-pickup.org guides when comparing address lookup tools, rotating holiday schedules, bulky item systems, recycling weeks and missed pickup troubleshooting.
Racine Trash Pickup FAQ — Local Questions Residents Actually Ask
Source Verification and Editorial Note
Independent information guide — not affiliated with the City of Racine. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate garbage collection, recycling, Racine Recycles, DPW routes, bulky item pickup, the 21st Street Solid Waste Drop-Off Site, the Pearl Street Yard Waste Drop-Off Site, or City of Racine customer service.
Area-letter collection logic, set-out times, recycling rules, 2026 holiday calendar guidance, drop-off site addresses, fees, HBI sticker rules, cart limits, yard waste notes and contact numbers were checked against official City of Racine DPW and trash/recycling sources as of May 2026. Schedules, fees, site hours, holidays, accepted materials and alerts can change. Always verify through the official City of Racine website, Racine Recycles app or DPW before acting.
Official Sources — Verified May 2026
- City of Racine — Trash and Recycling
- City of Racine — Solid Waste
- City of Racine — Collection Schedule Lookup
- City of Racine — 2026 Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule PDF
- City of Racine — Recycling Collection
- City of Racine — What to Recycle
- City of Racine — Bulky Waste and Transfer Station
- City of Racine — Solid Waste Pickup Violations
- City of Racine — Appliance Recycling
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