Marlborough, MA Trash Pickup Schedule
Collection days, holiday changes, recycling rules, and drop-off options for Marlborough, Massachusetts — in one page, with sources.
Trash in Marlborough, MA is collected Tuesday. Recycling, where offered, follows its own schedule listed below.
Trash Recycle Yard
When is each service collected?
Recurring schedule for Marlborough services.
| Service | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Tuesday | Every Tuesday citywide per the city's official collection calendar. The calendar grid marks specific holiday-week moves to Wednesday (currently Labor Day week 2026 and Memorial Day week 2027); other holidays listed as Resident Drop-Off Facility closures do not change the Tuesday collection. Containers out one hour before sundown the night before or by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. |
| Recycling | Tuesday | Depends on your zone — check the Recycling zone list |
| Yard waste | Seasonal yard waste by weekday per parcel (measured: Mon 2,355 / Fri 2,191 / Wed 2,162 /... | Seasonal yard waste by weekday per parcel (measured: Mon 2,355 / Fri 2,191 / Wed 2,162 / Tue 2,107 / Thu 1,719 parcels); leaf bags at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Mondays per the city calendar. |
When is recycling collected?
Recycling day by zone — recycling runs on its own schedule, which can differ from trash. Confirm at the edges with the city.
| Zone | Day | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Marlborough Zone A (Route 85 and west) | Tuesday | Route 85 (both sides) and all areas west - recycling every other Tuesday; 5,173 parcels measured Zone A. |
| Marlborough Zone B (east of Route 85) | Tuesday | All areas east of Route 85 - recycling every other Tuesday; 5,513 parcels measured Zone B. |
What changes on holidays?
Upcoming days that move your pickup, with the exact shift rule.
| Holiday | Observed | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 | Runs one day later |
What about bulky or special items?
Mattresses, appliances, storm debris — the rules before you set them out.
- Resident Drop-Off Facility — Resident Drop-Off Facility holiday closures per the city calendar (separate from curbside adjustments): Jul 3-4 2026; Sep 7; Oct 12; Nov 11; Nov 26-27; Dec 25-26 2026; Jan 1; Jan 18; Feb 15; Apr 19; May 31; Jun 18 2027 (open Jun 19). The 2026-27 calendar grid marks curbside shifts to Wednesday for the Labor Day 2026 and Memorial Day 2027 weeks; other facility closures do not automatically imply a curbside shift. The calendar's printed RDF list reads 'February 15, 2026' between 2027 dates - an apparent year typo for 2027. RDF location 856 Boston Post Road E; HHW at 860 Boston Post Rd. East 9 am-noon.
More details: bulk & yard waste page.
Who collects what?
The provider for each service and how to reach them.
| Service | Provider | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | City of Marlborough DPW | |
| Recycling | City of Marlborough DPW | |
| Yard waste | City of Marlborough DPW |
Common questions
The things Marlborough residents ask most.
What day is trash pickup in Marlborough, MA?
Every Tuesday, citywide. The city calendar grid marks the holiday weeks that move to Wednesday (Labor Day week 2026; Memorial Day week 2027). Holidays that only close the Resident Drop-Off Facility do not change Tuesday collection - for example, Tuesday Oct 13, 2026 is a regular collection day even though Indigenous People Day (Oct 12) closes the RDF.
How does Marlborough recycling work?
Every other Tuesday by zone: Zone A is Route 85 (both sides) and all areas west; Zone B is everything east of Route 85. The city calendar marks Wednesday curbside collection for the Labor Day 2026 and Memorial Day 2027 weeks; check the calendar for the exact dates. Empty recyclables loose into the cart - no plastic bags.
When is the Marlborough Resident Drop-Off Facility open?
The RDF (856 Boston Post Road E) is open to residents and closed on the holidays listed on the city calendar (for example July 3-4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). Curbside collection is separate; the calendar grid marks Wednesday collection for the Labor Day 2026 and Memorial Day 2027 weeks. Check the calendar for each date.
What changed recently?
Every update to this page, newest first.
- Record created from Marlborough GIS parcel+street waste package (10687 parcels / 1940 streets).
- Correction: the holiday list now shows only the two moves marked on the city's calendar grid (Labor Day week 2026 and Memorial Day week 2027 move to Wednesday). Other holidays close the Resident Drop-Off Facility but do not change Tuesday collection - for example, Tuesday Oct 13, 2026 stays a regular collection day.
- Schedule contract clarified: regular trash/recycling days are explicit Tuesday fields, separate from the two source-published pickup changes (Sep 8 -> Sep 9, 2026; Jun 1 -> Jun 2, 2027). FAQs distinguish those marked curbside shifts from other Resident Drop-Off Facility closures. Holiday rules and URL membership are unchanged.
Population 41,179 · Sources: Marlborough DPW Trash/Recycling (fetched 2026-09-25), www.marlborough-ma.gov, City of Marlborough MA Trash_Parcels1 (owner nbowen, Marlborough GIS) · Summarized from municipal, hauler, and public-data records; schedules change without notice.