Recycling pickup in Jefferson County is handled by AmWaste, the county’s contracted waste hauler.
Service changes on holidays depend on which day of the week the holiday falls — and for Thanksgiving and Christmas, they only affect select ZIP codes, not all residents.
Check your ZIP code below before you put your bin out.
Quick Answer: Jefferson County Recycling on 2026 Holidays
It depends on the holiday. Memorial Day and Labor Day delay all routes by one day.
Thanksgiving and Christmas delays are limited to specific ZIP codes only.
The 4th of July falls on a Saturday in 2026, so there is no weekday disruption and collection runs as normal.
- AmWaste is the sole waste hauler for unincorporated Jefferson County
- Holiday delays push pickup forward by one day only
- Thanksgiving and Christmas: only ZIP codes 35216, 35226, 35223, 35094, 35242, 35243, 35244 are affected
- New Year’s Day 2027 status has not yet been confirmed — check back closer to the date
Jefferson County Full Holiday Recycling Schedule 2026
AmWaste observes the following sanitation schedule for Jefferson County residents. This covers both trash pickup and recycling collection.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Pickup Status | Resumption Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Delayed 1 Day | Tue, May 26, 2026 |
| 4th of July | Sat, Jul 4, 2026 | Normal | N/A — falls on Saturday |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Delayed 1 Day | Tue, Sep 8, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed 1 Day (select ZIPs only) | Fri, Nov 27 (Thu routes) / Sat, Nov 28 (Fri routes) |
| Christmas | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Delayed 1 Day (select ZIPs only) | Sat, Dec 26, 2026 |
| New Year’s Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Not Yet Confirmed | Check jccal.org closer to date |
Thanksgiving and Christmas ZIP codes affected: 35216, 35226, 35223, 35094, 35242, 35243, 35244. Christmas delays apply to Friday routes only, primarily ZIP codes 35216, 35226, and 35244.
If your ZIP code is not on that list, your pickup runs on its normal day.
→ See the full Jefferson County Recycling Pickup Day & Schedule 2026 for your specific collection day.
What To Do With Extra Recycling During the Holidays
Holiday weeks often mean more cardboard, bottles, and packaging than usual. Here is how to handle it cleanly:
- Break down all cardboard boxes flat before placing them at the curb — oversized boxes can cause collection delays
- Hold overflow recycling until your next pickup rather than piling bags next to the bin
- Keep materials dry — wet cardboard and paper cannot be recycled and may be rejected
- Do not overfill your bin to the point where the lid cannot close
Can You Leave Extra Bags Next to the Bin?
AmWaste’s general policy does not guarantee collection of materials placed outside the bin.
Extra bags left beside the recycling bin may be skipped or treated as trash. When in doubt, hold recyclables until the following week’s pickup or take cardboard to a local drop-off site.
How to Get Jefferson County Holiday Pickup Alerts
Three easy ways to stay updated on service changes from AmWaste and Jefferson County public works:
- Jefferson County official website — The AmWaste holiday schedule is published on the Residential Garbage page at jccal.org
- MyJeffCo App — Download on iOS or Android to report missed pickups and get sanitation schedule updates directly from the Jefferson County Commission
- AmWaste Customer Care — Call (205) 574-1930 or email customercare@amwasteusa.com with questions about your specific route
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is recycling pickup delayed on Thanksgiving in Jefferson County?
Yes — but only for residents in ZIP codes 35216, 35226, 35223, 35094, 35242, 35243, and 35244. Thursday routes move to Friday; Friday routes move to Saturday. All other residents collect on their normal day.
Q: When does recycling resume after a holiday delay in Jefferson County?
Collection delayed shifts by exactly one day. If your normal day is Monday, pickup moves to Tuesday. If your normal day is Thursday or Friday during Thanksgiving week, see the ZIP code table above for your specific resumption day.
Q: Does trash pickup also change on holidays in Jefferson County?
Yes. AmWaste handles both trash and recycling for unincorporated Jefferson County. Both services follow the same holiday delay schedule. Any delay applies to your full collection — trash and recycling together.