If you live in Los Angeles County, your holiday trash and recycling schedule depends on who picks up your bins. The City of Los Angeles (LASAN) follows one set of holiday rules.
Private haulers serving unincorporated areas and contract cities — like Athens Services, Republic Services, Waste Management, and Burrtec — follow a different set.
Here’s the short version: most holidays that fall on a weekday push your pickup back by one day for the rest of that week. Holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday, like July 4, 2026, don’t cause any delay at all.
The one big difference between the two systems is Memorial Day — LASAN treats it as a normal collection day, but most private haulers in the county still observe it as a holiday.
Because Los Angeles County covers 88 cities and more than 100 unincorporated communities, your exact schedule can vary by ZIP code and by hauler.
Use the table that matches your service area below, then confirm with your provider if you’re not sure who collects your bins.
Last verified: July 2026
Quick Summary
- LASAN (City of LA) observes 4 major holidays that delay pickup in 2026: New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Private haulers in unincorporated LA County typically observe 6 holidays, adding Memorial Day and sometimes an extra day around Independence Day.
- Memorial Day (May 25, 2026) is a normal pickup day for LASAN customers but a delayed day for most private hauler customers — this is the biggest point of confusion each year.
- July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, so it will not delay any Monday–Friday routes for either service area.
- Christmas tree recycling runs for roughly 2–3 weeks after Christmas, curbside, with your regular bin.
- Not sure who your hauler is? Use LA County Public Works’ service locator or call your city’s sanitation line — details below.
City of Los Angeles (LASAN) Holiday Schedule 2026
This applies if your bin is marked “City of Los Angeles” or your sanitation bill comes from LASAN.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Service Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Delayed (Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat) |
| M.L. King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal schedule |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal schedule |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Normal schedule |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | Normal schedule (verify locally) |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal schedule (falls on Saturday) |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Delayed (all week shifts one day) |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Mon, Oct 12 | Normal schedule |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal schedule |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Delayed (Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat) |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Delayed (Fri→Sat) |
recycLA commercial and apartment customers generally follow this same LASAN calendar, so Memorial Day is a normal pickup day for them too.
Unincorporated LA County & Private Hauler Schedule 2026
This applies to areas like East LA, Altadena, and Stevenson Ranch, and to any city that contracts out its trash service to a private hauler such as Athens Services, Republic Services, Waste Management, or Burrtec.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Service Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Delayed (Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat) |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Delayed (Mon→Tue, and so on through the week) |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal schedule (no weekday delay) |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Delayed (all week shifts one day) |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Delayed (Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat) |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Delayed (Fri→Sat) |
Rule of thumb: when a holiday lands on a Saturday, like Independence Day in 2026, your weekday route usually isn’t affected. Juneteenth (June 19) is typically a normal service day for private haulers, but this can vary by contract, so it’s worth a quick check with your specific provider.
Christmas Tree Recycling (Winter 2025–2026)
City of LA (LASAN): Curbside tree collection usually runs for 2–3 weeks after Christmas. Cut the tree into pieces that fit inside your green bin with the lid closed, or set the whole tree next to the bin if it’s too large. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, stands, and flocking first.
Unincorporated LA County: Most districts offer tree pickup for about two weeks after Christmas. Place your tree curbside on your regular trash day, following the same no-decorations, no-stand, no-flocking rules.
How to Verify Your Exact Schedule
Because service varies by hauler and address, here’s how to confirm yours:
- City of LA residents: Visit lacitysan.org or call 1-800-773-2489.
- County residents (unincorporated areas and contract cities): Use the LA County Public Works service locator to find your hauler (Athens, Republic, Waste Management, Burrtec, etc.) and pull up their specific 2026 calendar.
- Everyone else: Check the address lookup tool on your city’s public works or sanitation webpage, or call your hauler directly and reference your account number.
FAQ: LA County Recycling & Trash Holidays 2026
Does Memorial Day delay trash pickup in LA County in 2026?
It depends on your provider. LASAN (City of LA) treats Memorial Day as a normal collection day in 2026. Most private haulers in unincorporated LA County still observe it as a holiday and delay pickup by one day for the rest of the week.
Will July 4, 2026 delay my trash and recycling pickup?
No, in most cases. Independence Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, and holidays that land on a weekend generally don’t push back Monday–Friday routes for either LASAN or private haulers.
What happens if my pickup day is a holiday?
Typically, your pickup shifts one day later, and every collection day for the rest of that week shifts one day later too. For example, a Thursday holiday usually pushes Thursday’s pickup to Friday and Friday’s pickup to Saturday.
Who picks up my trash if I live in an unincorporated part of LA County?
It depends on your neighborhood’s contract. Common haulers include Athens Services, Republic Services, Waste Management, and Burrtec. Use the LA County Public Works service locator to confirm which one serves your address.
When does Christmas tree recycling end in LA County?
Curbside tree collection generally runs 2–3 weeks after Christmas, both in the City of LA and in unincorporated areas. Check your city or hauler’s page for the exact cutoff date, since it can vary by a week or two depending on location.
Is Juneteenth a holiday for trash collection in LA County?
It’s inconsistent. Some LASAN routes treat it as a normal schedule day, and most private haulers do too, but individual contracts can differ. It’s worth confirming directly with your provider each year.
Sources
- Los Angeles County Public Works – CleanLA, Holiday Tree Recycling: https://cleanla.lacounty.gov/holiday-tree-recycling/
- LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN), City of Los Angeles: https://lacitysan.org
Schedules can shift from year to year and even city to city, so treat this guide as a starting point. Before you set your bins out around a holiday, do a quick check with your city’s sanitation department or your private hauler’s online lookup tool to confirm your exact 2026 dates.