Washington, District of Columbia resident guide
Washington DC bulk trash pickup, trash & recycling schedule
Request DC bulk collection for up to seven items, find the address schedule, track fall leaf collection, use Fort Totten, and review current 2026 special waste events.
Official source links checked on August 31, 2026.
Regular household service
Trash and recycling service
Start here for the recurring household collections residents use most often.
Most DPW households receive trash once a week. Use the official address app for the exact day. DPW service generally covers single family homes and residential buildings with three or fewer units.
Recycling follows the address schedule for eligible DPW households. Use Zero Waste DC to sort individual items and keep prohibited electronics or hazardous products out of the carts.
Need it gone before the city service?
Get a LoadUp quote when the local date is too far away or an item is excluded.
Start here
Schedule Washington service
Call 311 or submit the official residential bulk trash request. List no more than seven eligible items and wait for confirmation before placing anything at the normal trash and recycling collection point.
Washington DC 2026 DPW guide
How DC bulk trash collection works
Eligible small residential properties receiving DPW trash can book a bulk appointment for up to seven items. Fort Totten provides another resident option, while larger buildings need a licensed private hauler.
Call 311 or submit the official online request before setout.
The property must also receive DPW trash collection.
Use the normal trash collection location around the confirmed appointment.
The reopened station accepts published household material during resident hours.
Service after an affected District holiday moves one day later through Saturday.
DPW announces two seasonal passes for each section through the leaf tracker.
Fall leaf and yard waste pickupUse the DC leaf tracker before raking leaves to the curb2026 fall dates pending
DC has not yet posted the 2026 to 2027 section dates. DPW normally announces each section through the leaf tracker and collects leaves twice. TrashDayFinder will add the new dates after DPW publishes them.
DPW divides every ward into sections and announces the active section.
Do not rake leaves into the street, an alley, or a storm drain.
Plastic bags are not compostable and are not collected with the leaf pass.
What residents should do
- Open the official leaf tracker and enter the address to find the ward section.
- Wait for DPW to announce that the section should prepare for collection.
- On the Sunday before the announced week, place leaves in the front tree box or at the curb.
- Use a separate 311 yard waste request for grass, weeds, twigs, or up to 20 paper bags outside the leaf pass.
Choose the correct local service
DC bulk service depends on the property and the material
DPW pickup is available to eligible small residential properties by appointment. Larger buildings use a licensed private hauler, while Fort Totten provides a resident drop off option.
Up to seven approved household bulk items
Single family homes and residential buildings with three or fewer units can request collection when they receive DPW trash service.
Request DC bulk collection ↗Bulk items, trash, recycling, yard waste, and tires
At 4900 John McCormack Road NE: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring residency proof. Benning Road remains closed.
Fort Totten official facility information ↗Electronics, household chemicals, and document shredding
DPW runs registered special waste events at RFK Parking Lot 8. Electronics do not belong in ordinary trash.
View DC special waste events ↗Buildings with four or more units, condos, co-ops, and commercial properties
These properties are outside DPW residential bulk eligibility and must arrange a licensed private hauler.
DC appointment checklist
Schedule first and keep every item within the seven item limit
Items placed in public space outside the confirmed appointment window can result in a sanitation violation.
Items per appointment
DPW will not collect more on one request.
Maximum building size
The property must also receive DPW trash.
Earliest set out
Wait until the evening before the appointment.
Ready on appointment day
Use the normal trash collection point.
- 1
Confirm that the property receives DPW trash and has no more than three living units.
- 2
Call 311 or submit the online residential bulk trash service request.
- 3
List no more than seven eligible items and save the confirmed appointment.
- 4
Set the items at the normal collection point from 6:30 p.m. the night before through 6 a.m. on appointment day.
Regular DC collection
Use the address app for trash and recycling days
Most DPW households receive trash once a week. Some neighborhoods receive two weekly trash collections. Recycling follows the address schedule.
Weekly for most DPW households
DPW serves single family homes and buildings with three or fewer units. Larger and mixed use buildings arrange private collection.
Follow the address collection day
Use the official collection day app and the Zero Waste DC sorting guide for accepted material.
Collection slides after the holiday
When a collection day falls on a District holiday, remaining service moves one day later through Saturday.
Fort Totten Transfer Station
A resident drop off option when an appointment is not the best path
Fort Totten is at 4900 John McCormack Road NE. No bulk drop off appointment is needed. Bring a DC driver’s license, or an out of state photo ID plus a utility bill from the last 30 days, lease or deed with a matching name. Resident hours and identification rules checked September 13, 2026.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Resident disposal hours for bulk items, trash, recycling, and yard waste.
7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
No resident disposal on Mondays or Sundays. Holiday closures can also apply.
Cars, pickups, SUVs, and passenger vans
Rental vehicles must be under 15 feet. Trailers, cargo vans, and commercial tags are not accepted.
Up to four
DC directs residents to Fort Totten for passenger tires within the published limit.
2026 DC special waste
September 2026 special waste events at RFK Parking Lot 8
The September 12 event has passed. DPW also lists September 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at RFK Parking Lot 8, 2500 Independence Avenue SE. Registration is required and free for District residents; bring your registration and proof of residency. Event details checked September 13, 2026.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
RFK Parking Lot 8, 2500 Independence Avenue SE.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
RFK Parking Lot 8, 2500 Independence Avenue SE.
Computers, TVs, phones, printers, and more
Review the accepted list and register before loading the vehicle.
Paint, fuel, chemicals, batteries, and lamps
Keep each product safely contained and follow event preparation instructions.
Important local distinction
DC appointment eligibility ends at three living units
Condominiums, co-ops, buildings with four or more units, and commercial properties need a licensed private hauler even when a nearby small home receives DPW service.
Read current DC bulk collection rules ↗City rules at a glance
Local limits before placement
DPW collects no more than seven eligible items per appointment. Buildings with four or more units, condominiums, co ops, mixed use properties, and commercial properties must use a licensed private hauler.
After the appointment is confirmed, set out the approved items where trash and recycling are normally collected between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6 a.m. on appointment day. Wrap toilets and their tanks completely in plastic.
Local detail that matters
What makes Washington service different
DC bulk eligibility follows the property, not only the ZIP code. A single family home receiving DPW service can qualify, while a nearby condominium or four unit building must arrange a licensed private hauler.
Item guidance
What may go in the bulk item pile
Accepted examples
Approved household furniture, appliances, mattresses, bed frames, tied rugs, prepared toilets, large toys, and other items listed in the official DPW program, within the seven item appointment limit.
Not accepted
Bricks, concrete, dirt, ceiling tile, construction or demolition material, hazardous waste, and items from ineligible larger or commercially served properties are not accepted in the residential bulk appointment.
Holiday collectionDC collection slides one day after an affected holiday2026 schedule confirmed
When a DPW trash or recycling day falls on a District holiday, collection moves one day later for the rest of that week through Saturday.
Start with the address schedule
Most DPW households receive weekly trash, while some neighborhoods receive two collections. The holiday effect depends on the property's assigned day.
Bulk appointments are confirmed separately
Use the date in the DC 311 confirmation. Do not assume a curbside holiday slide automatically changes a bulk appointment.
Saturday completes the route week
The one day slide continues through Saturday so the remaining affected weekday routes can be completed.
One day slide through Saturday
Monday collection moves to Tuesday. Each remaining route also moves one day later, with Friday routes completed Saturday.
- Labor Day. Monday, September 7
Common questions
Washington collection FAQ
How many bulk items will DC collect?
DPW will collect no more than seven eligible items on one confirmed appointment.
Does DC bulk pickup serve apartment buildings?
It serves eligible residential buildings with three or fewer living units that receive DPW trash. Buildings with four or more units and other private properties need a licensed private hauler.
When can DC bulk items be placed outside?
Use the normal trash collection point between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6 a.m. on the confirmed appointment day. Earlier public setout can result in a sanitation ticket.
Where can DC residents drop off bulk items?
Fort Totten Transfer Station accepts published resident bulk items, trash, recycling, yard waste, and tires during resident hours. Benning Road remains closed.
Where can DC residents recycle electronics?
Use a registered DPW special waste event. The current page lists events at RFK Parking Lot 8 and publishes the accepted electronics list.
When will DC collect fall leaves in 2026?
DPW has not yet posted the 2026 to 2027 section dates. Use the official leaf tracker before setout. The seasonal program normally gives each section two passes and asks residents to prepare leaves on the Sunday before the announced week.
Sources used for this guide
Official supporting information
TrashDayFinder used these public sources to prepare the resident guidance above. They were checked on August 31, 2026 and are provided here as evidence.