Prince George's County Updates Holiday Trash Collection Schedule, Residents Advised

Prince George's County instituted a revised holiday waste collection schedule on July 1, 2024. Under the new guidance curbside bulky items, regular trash and recycling, food scraps and yard trim will not be collected and county waste facilities will be closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth Day observed, Independence Day observed, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day observed and New Year’s Day observed. The county specified that if a holiday falls on a Monday all collections including organics will slide one day later in the week.

The county also identified holidays when trash will be collected and facilities will remain open. Those days include the Day After Thanksgiving County Employees' Appreciation Day, Native American Day, Veterans Day observed and Presidents' Day. The Department of the Environment published examples and specific slide day instructions for the December and January holiday window to help residents anticipate service shifts when major holidays affect regular collection days.

Residents who receive municipal collection services should note that local schedules may differ from the county calendar. The county advised people to use its online address tool or contact PGC311 to confirm whether their residence is served by county collection or by a municipal contractor. The county also directed residents to contact PGC311 for assistance or to schedule bulky pickup appointments for white goods, appliances, scrap tires, electronics recycling and scrap metal. A downloadable holiday schedule flyer and guidance on interruptions due to inclement weather were also posted by the county.

The policy change has practical implications for household planning and municipal coordination. For households the clarified list of closure days and slide rules reduces uncertainty about when to place materials at the curb and when to expect bulky item pickups. For municipalities and the county the schedule highlights the need to align public communication and service contracts to prevent missed collections and service gaps. For businesses and congregations that generate large volumes of waste around holidays the schedule affects operational planning and potential costs if private hauling is required.

Accountability and clear outreach remain important as the schedule continues in effect. Residents should verify their collection status through the county address tool or PGC311, plan storage of organics and recyclables during closure weeks, and schedule bulky pickups in advance to avoid late season backlogs.