Trash, bulk pickup & dump guide for Washington, DC
Bulk pickup schedules, landfill hours and fees, and hazardous waste drop-offs for Washington residents — from official city and county sources.
- Most households get once-weekly trash collection. Homes in neighborhoods with narrow streets and alleys get twice-weekly trash collection (Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri). Recycling is collected weekly on the same day. When a holiday falls on a collection day, collections 'slide' to the next day for the rest of the week through Saturday. Use DPW's Trash and Recycling Collection Day lookup to find your day(s).
- By appointment only; appointments are usually available within 10 to 14 days of your call.
- District of Columbia — Department of Public Works (DPW)
At a glance: Washington
- Trash day
- Most households get once-weekly trash collection. Homes in neighborhoods with narrow streets and alleys get twice-weekly trash collection (Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri). Recycling is collected weekly on the same day. When a holiday falls on a collection day, collections 'slide' to the next day for the rest of the week through Saturday. Use DPW's Trash and Recycling Collection Day lookup to find your day(s).
- Bulk pickup
- By appointment only; appointments are usually available within 10 to 14 days of your call.
- Dump
- Fort Totten Transfer Station
- Hazardous waste
- No permanent HHW facility — Special Waste Collection Events only, with advance Eventbrite registration required (free 30-minute arrival windows, DC residents only, no entry after 2:00 pm).
Regular trash day
- Schedule
- Most households get once-weekly trash collection. Homes in neighborhoods with narrow streets and alleys get twice-weekly trash collection (Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri). Recycling is collected weekly on the same day. When a holiday falls on a collection day, collections 'slide' to the next day for the rest of the week through Saturday. Use DPW's Trash and Recycling Collection Day lookup to find your day(s).
Bulk & large-item pickup
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Landfills, transfer stations & drop-offs
| Name | Type | Address | Hours | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Totten Transfer Station | transfer-station | 4900 John McCormack Rd NE, Washington, DC DC residents only; photo ID proving District residency required (DC driver's license, or other photo ID plus current utility bill, lease, or deed with matching name) | Tue-Fri 10 am-2 pm, Sat 7 am-2 pm, Mon closed (resident hours) | — |
| ||||
| Benning Road Transfer Station | transfer-station | — Temporarily closed until further notice; when open it serves licensed commercial haulers only, not residents. | — | — |
Household hazardous waste
Anacostia Skate Park (Special Waste Collection Event)
- Address
- 1500 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC
- Hours
- Quarterly Thursday event; event dates and advance Eventbrite registration required
- Residency
- DC residents only; proof of residency required (driver's license, utility bill, or lease)
Carter Baron Tennis Center (Special Waste Collection Event)
- Address
- 1698 Kennedy St NW, Washington, DC
- Hours
- Quarterly Saturday event; event dates and advance Eventbrite registration required
- Residency
- DC residents only; proof of residency required (driver's license, utility bill, or lease)
Accepted
- aerosol cans
- antifreeze
- asbestos
- auto fluids (brake, transmission)
- batteries (alkaline and rechargeable; tape terminals, especially lithium and 9V+)
- bleach
- compact fluorescent lamps (cfls)
- cooking oil
- drain decloggers
- expired license plates
- fire extinguishers (household sizes)
- flammable adhesives
- flammable waxes and abrasives
- fluorescent lamps and tubes (4 ft or less)
- household cleaning products
- insecticides
- lawn and garden products
- led bulbs
- mercury and mercury thermometers
- motor oil and fuel
- latex paint
- oil-based paint
- pet flea control
- photographic chemicals
- pool and spa chemicals
- propane tanks (20 lbs or less)
- rodent poisons
- stains, lacquers, varnishes
- thinners, mineral spirits
- vapes/e-cigarette devices (tobacco use only)
Not accepted
- air conditioners (call 311 for bulk pickup)
- ammunition (take to closest police station)
- explosives (take to closest police station)
- tires (up to 4 at Fort Totten)
- medicines, needles, and sharps
Yard waste
- Schedule
- Year-round by appointment: call 311, book at 311.dc.gov, or use the 311 mobile app. Up to 20 paper bags per collection; paper bags only (yard waste in plastic bags is collected as trash). Can also be left at the point of trash collection or dropped off at Fort Totten Transfer Station. Seasonal vacuum leaf collection generally runs November through January.
E-waste
- How
- Electronics recycling accepted at DPW Special Waste Collection Events (quarterly, advance Eventbrite registration required): computers and monitors, tvs, cell phones and smartphones, printers, audio/visual equipment, cords and cables, game consoles, and other listed electronics.
- Cost
- Free
DC has no municipal landfill; Fort Totten is a transfer station open to residents (businesses must use licensed commercial haulers). Benning Road Transfer Station is closed until further notice. Bulk collection covers single-family homes and buildings with 3 or fewer units only; larger buildings must use private haulers. Leaf vacuum collection generally runs November-January; confirm dates on dpw.dc.gov.
Frequently asked questions
- When is trash day in Washington, DC?
- Most households get once-weekly trash collection. Homes in neighborhoods with narrow streets and alleys get twice-weekly trash collection (Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri). Recycling is collected weekly on the same day. When a holiday falls on a collection day, collections 'slide' to the next day for the rest of the week through Saturday. Use DPW's Trash and Recycling Collection Day lookup to find your day(s).
- When is bulk pickup in Washington, DC?
- By appointment only; appointments are usually available within 10 to 14 days of your call. Call 311 (Mayor's Citywide Call Center), book online at 311.dc.gov, or use the 311 mobile app.
- What items are accepted for bulk pickup in Washington?
- air conditioners (drained of water and fluids), hot water heaters, household furniture, large toys (kiddie pools, playhouses, disassembled swing sets), major appliances (refrigerators with doors removed, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves), mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic), bed frames, rugs (must be rolled and tied)
- Where can I dump trash near Washington?
- Fort Totten Transfer Station (4900 John McCormack Rd NE, Washington, DC); Benning Road Transfer Station (None)
- Where do I take hazardous waste in Washington?
- Anacostia Skate Park (Special Waste Collection Event) (1500 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC); Carter Baron Tennis Center (Special Waste Collection Event) (1698 Kennedy St NW, Washington, DC)
- Yard waste in Washington: Year-round by appointment: call 311, book at 311.dc.gov, or use the 311 mobile app. Up to 20 paper bags per collection; paper bags only (yard waste in plastic bags is collected as trash). Can also be left at the point of trash collection or dropped off at Fort Totten Transfer Station. Seasonal vacuum leaf collection generally runs November through January.
- Year-round by appointment: call 311, book at 311.dc.gov, or use the 311 mobile app. Up to 20 paper bags per collection; paper bags only (yard waste in plastic bags is collected as trash). Can also be left at the point of trash collection or dropped off at Fort Totten Transfer Station. Seasonal vacuum leaf collection generally runs November through January.
- E-waste in Washington: Electronics recycling accepted at DPW Special Waste Collection Events (quarterly, advance Eventbrite registration required): computers and monitors, tvs, cell phones and smartphones, printers, audio/visual equipment, cords and cables, game consoles, and other listed electronics.
- Electronics recycling accepted at DPW Special Waste Collection Events (quarterly, advance Eventbrite registration required): computers and monitors, tvs, cell phones and smartphones, printers, audio/visual equipment, cords and cables, game consoles, and other listed electronics.