Chicago, IL Trash Pickup Holiday Schedule 2026
Every holiday that moves pickup in Chicago — and by how many days.
Every holiday that moves pickup, 2026–2027
Upcoming first; earlier dates collapse below the table.
| Holiday | Observed | Pickup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: LRS zones 1/3/5/6 work normal week |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: DSS zones 2/4 no service, LRS zones 1/3/5/6 no service |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: DSS zones 2/4 no service, LRS zones 1/3/5/6 no service |
Earlier 2026 dates
| Holiday | Observed | Pickup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: DSS zones 2/4 no service, LRS zones 1/3/5/6 no service |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: LRS zones 1/3/5/6 work normal week |
| Pulaski Day | Mon, Mar 2, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: LRS zones 1/3/5/6 work normal week |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: DSS zones 2/4 no service, LRS zones 1/3/5/6 no service |
| Juneteenth Day | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: LRS zones 1/3/5/6 work normal week |
| Independence Day (observed) | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; LRS zones 1/3/5/6 'will work a normal week- Monday through Friday' |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: DSS zones 2/4 no service, LRS zones 1/3/5/6 no service |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Skipped that week | No trash service citywide; recycling: LRS zones 1/3/5/6 work normal week |
“Runs one day later” moves every route on or after the holiday by one weekday. Saturday/Sunday observances normally don’t move weekday routes.
Get the dates on your calendar
Every pickup date for the next 12 months, holiday shifts already applied.
Printable 12-month calendar · Subscribe (.ics) — works with Google, Apple, and Outlook.
How a holiday week works in Chicago
The rule behind the table above, applied to your street.
Your regular day is the one shown for your area in the collection table on the city page — extra days that appear only in some weeks are holiday-week exceptions, not a second weekly pickup. On a holiday week, check the city's notice or the exceptions table above before assuming a normal day. Set bins out the night before a holiday-week pickup.
Common questions
Holiday-related questions first.
What day is garbage pickup in Chicago?
Streets & Sanitation collects garbage weekly Monday-Friday on a grid system; your exact day comes from the city's day-of-service lookup or 311 (312-744-5000). On 11 observed holidays there is no trash service citywide and collection slides.
What day is recycling pickup in Chicago?
Blue Cart recycling runs weekly on your zone's calendar. If you have curbside service, set the blue cart out on your garbage day during your highlighted week; if you have alley service, put it out during the entire highlighted week. Zones 1, 3, 5 and 6 are serviced by LRS; zones 2 and 4 by city DSS crews.
Which Chicago holidays stop trash and recycling collection?
In 2026 there is no trash service citywide on 11 holidays: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Pulaski Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day (Jul 3), Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For recycling, city-serviced zones 2 and 4 observe the same 11, while LRS zones 1, 3, 5 and 6 only suspend for five (New Year's, Memorial, Labor, Thanksgiving, Christmas).
Who picks up recycling in Chicago - the city or LRS?
Both: the Blue Cart program is split into six zones. Zones 1, 3, 5 and 6 are serviced by contracted hauler LRS; zones 2 and 4 are serviced by Department of Streets and Sanitation crews. The zone PDF maps on chicagorecycles.org show which zone an address falls in.