TAMPA, Fla. — If you were planning to haul your bins to the curb this Thursday, hit the brakes. The City of Tampa has released its modified waste collection schedule for the upcoming holiday, and it includes a pause in service that residents need to know about.
With city offices shuttered for New Year’s Day on Thursday, January 1, 2026, all garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection will be suspended for the holiday.
Here is the breakdown of how the holiday impacts your service:
Residential Customers There is no pickup on Thursday, January 1. However, the interruption is brief. Normal collection schedules kick back into gear the following morning, Friday, January 2.
Commercial Accounts Businesses will also see a pause on Thursday. Those collections will shift to Friday, January 2. Consequently, commercial routes will operate on a one-day delay for the remainder of the holiday week, running through Saturday, January 3.
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McKay Bay Transfer Station For those looking to drop off waste personally, take note of early closures. The McKay Bay Transfer Station and Scale House (114 S. 34th Street) will close its gates at noon on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31. The facility remains closed all day on January 1 and returns to standard hours on Friday.
Ditching the Tree As the holidays wrap up, the city is launching its curbside Christmas Tree Collection Service starting Friday, January 2. This service is free, but crews won’t take just anything. To ensure your tree gets picked up:
- Strip all lights and ornaments (these go in the regular garbage, not recycling).
- Cut limbs into four-foot sections.
- Bundle the pieces.
- Place the bundle at the curb on your scheduled yard waste day.
Important Note for New Tampa Residents in New Tampa fall under a different jurisdiction for waste management. If you live in that area, you should check with Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management at (813) 272-5680 for your specific schedule.
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For any other questions regarding city services, the Tampa Utilities Call Center is available at (813) 274-8811, or you can check updates online at tampagov.net/solidwaste.
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