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Columbus Day 2026 will bring a temporary pause to New York City’s regular sanitation schedule. The New York City Department of Sanitation announced that there will be no trash, composting, or recycling collection on Monday, October 12, in observance of Italian Heritage Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The service alert, issued October 7, affects residents whose regular collection day falls on Monday. The department is asking residents to adjust when they place materials at the curb and to prepare for possible delays as sanitation crews work through the post-holiday backlog.

Important Columbus Day 2026 Collection Changes

Residents who normally receive Monday trash, curbside composting, or recycling collection should not expect their materials to be collected during the day on October 12. Instead, they may place items at the curb on Monday evening for collection beginning Tuesday, October 13.

No trash collection will take place on Monday, October 12.
No curbside composting collection will take place that day.
No recycling collection will take place on the holiday.
Residents with Monday service may set materials out Monday evening.
Collection is scheduled to begin Tuesday, October 13.

The schedule applies to the regular residential collection services identified in the announcement. Residents should avoid putting materials out earlier than the permitted setout time, helping keep sidewalks and public areas clear during the holiday.

Possible Delays After the Holiday

The Department of Sanitation cautioned that collection delays may occur after the holiday. Because crews will need to collect material that would normally have been handled on Monday, some neighborhoods may experience a slower-than-usual service recovery.

Sanitation officials asked residents for patience while workers address the accumulated material. Residents whose collection does not occur immediately on Tuesday should understand that crews may be managing increased volumes across multiple service areas.

Planning ahead can make the schedule change easier. Households can separate trash, recyclables, and compostable material as usual, then place each category at the curb on the revised schedule. Keeping materials securely contained can also help prevent litter while residents wait for pickup.

Strongest Contingent to Support Parade Cleanup

The holiday service announcement also highlighted the Department of Sanitation’s role in the annual Columbus Day parade. A contingent from the “Strongest” will march in the parade and help clean the route before and after the festivities.

The cleanup effort reflects the department’s broader responsibility for maintaining public spaces during major city events. Parade routes can attract large crowds and generate additional litter, making pre-event preparation and post-event cleanup important parts of the holiday operation.

While the regular collection pause affects residents with Monday service, the sanitation contingent will remain involved in supporting the city’s event environment. Its work is expected to include cleaning the route ahead of the parade and restoring the area afterward.

What New Yorkers Should Do Now

Residents can reduce confusion by checking whether Monday is their normal collection day. Those affected should keep materials inside until Monday evening, then place them at the curb for collection beginning Tuesday.

It is also important to remember that Tuesday service may not move at the same pace as a typical collection day. The department’s warning about possible delays means some residents may see crews later than usual as the backlog is cleared.

Confirm whether your normal pickup day is Monday.
Keep trash, recycling, and compost indoors until Monday evening.
Set materials out Monday evening for collection starting Tuesday.
Expect possible delays after the holiday.
Contact 311 with questions about sanitation services or holiday schedules.

The alert was issued by the New York City Department of Sanitation as Press Release #26-42. The department encouraged residents to use 311 for questions about service schedules and collection concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there trash collection on Columbus Day 2026?

No. There will be no trash collection in New York City on Monday, October 12, 2026, for residents normally scheduled for Monday service.

Will recycling and composting be collected on October 12?

No. Curbside recycling and composting collection will also be suspended on the holiday.

When should residents put materials out?

Residents with Monday collection may place their trash, recycling, or composting materials at the curb Monday evening for collection beginning Tuesday, October 13.

Could collection be delayed after the holiday?

Yes. The Department of Sanitation warned that delays may occur while crews work through the backlog created by the holiday schedule.

Who should residents contact with questions?

Residents can contact 311 for questions about New York City sanitation services and holiday collection schedules.