Waste Collection Schedule

Weekly Collection: Monday – Friday

Curbside Waste Placement:

• Residential: Place trash at the curb after 7 PM the night before your scheduled pickup.
• Downtown Businesses: In accordance with City ordinance, trash should be placed curbside 2 hours before pickup. DPW typically begins downtown collection around 3 PM, so placing it by 1 PM ensures compliance.

Important Guidelines:

• The City reserves the right to inspect curbside waste for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Weekly waste limit: 300 U.S. gallons per property.
• Recycling is mandatory! Learn more about the recycling program here.
• View the City’s Solid Waste Ordinances here.

Portsmouth Trash and Recycling Collection Route Map

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

**If the holiday is not listed, waste and recyclables are collected on your regular collection day.**

Yard Waste Curbside Collection

Collection Period: April 1 – November 30

Guidelines:

• Use paper bags or a trash barrel clearly marked “yard waste.”
• Bags should not exceed 50 lbs each.
• Brush:
  • Bundle into groups for easy pickup.
  • Bundles should not exceed 1' in diameter and 4' in length.
  • Brush pieces in bundles should be no greater than 5" in diameter.
  • Use string or twine to bundle.

For more information, click here.

Curbside Recycling Collection

Recycling is mandatory for both fiber/paper and commingled recyclables.

Recycling Guidelines:

• Cans, glass, and plastic bottles must be rinsed before placing in the green recycling bins.
• Remove lids, caps, corks, and neck rings before recycling.
• Accepted Paper Items:
  • Newspapers, junk mail, inserts, magazines, office paper, manila folders
  • Phone books, paperback books, paperboard (e.g., cereal and pasta boxes), cardboard
  • Wax-coated milk and juice cartons, paper egg cartons

For more details on what to recycle, click here.

Curbside Bulky Waste Collection

To schedule curbside bulky waste collection, please call (603) 427-1530.

Collection Guidelines:

• Schedule your collection date with Public Works in advance.
• Fees must be paid before the scheduled collection date.
• Place materials curbside no earlier than 7:00 PM the evening before the scheduled pickup and no later than 7:30 AM on the day of pickup.
• Public Works will collect the materials on the specified date(s).
• Separate bulky waste from weekly trash, as directed by Public Works and in compliance with the solid waste ordinance.

Bulky Waste Collection Weeks:

• 1st week: Upholstered furniture, mixed materials
• 2nd week: Appliances and scrap metal (including Freon-containing units, such as refrigerators)
• 3rd week: Tires, TVs, computers, and other electronics
• 4th week: Wood furniture and wood scraps (clean, painted & treated wood, pallets, etc.)

Please do not place bulky waste curbside without scheduling a collection date with Public Works.

Our solid waste services and programs are designed with fiscal responsibility and environmental compliance in mind.