Trash & Recycling in Providence, RI (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Providence, Rhode Island, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Providence sets exact windows for curbside trash: no early set-out before 4 p.m. the day before collection, and Department of Public Works pickups run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Providence Trash and Recycling Pickup Rules
Some Restrictions§§ 12-63, 12-64
The owner of any dwelling shall be deemed to have allowed an unsanitary condition and a nuisance to exist whenever garbage, trash or debris at that dwelling is placed out early for municipal collection. "Early" shall mean prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day preceding the date of garbage collection...Regular weekly removals and pickups...shall be carried out only on the days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednes...
Bin Placement Rules
Providence bans curbside trash containers before 4 p.m. the day before pickup and requires removal by midnight of collection day.
Trash Cart Set-Out Times in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 12-63(a)-(b)
The owner of any dwelling shall be deemed to have allowed an unsanitary condition and a nuisance to exist whenever garbage, trash or debris at that dwelling is placed out early for municipal collection. "Early" shall mean prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day preceding the date of garbage collection. ... whenever containers used for the deposit of garbage, trash or debris at that dwelling are not remov...
Bulk Item Disposal
Providence bans dumping heavy debris and large items, over one cubic yard, anywhere but a licensed solid waste facility, with fines escalating from $500 to $5,000 per violation, enforced by the Department of Public Works.
Heavy Debris and Large-Item Rules
Significant Restrictions§ 12-89.2
Any person who shall dispose of heavy litter other than at a solid waste management facility licensed by the director of the department of environmental management of the state shall be deemed to have created an unsanitary condition and a nuisance. The phrase "dispose of heavy litter," as prohibited herein, refers to the depositing, casting, throwing, leaving or abandoning of a quantity greate...
Recycling Requirements
Providence requires households to sort recyclables into the state-provided bin and bars dumping them anywhere else, with fines for violations.
Curbside Recycling Rules in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 12-61.2
The owner or occupant of any premise or dwelling unit where recyclables shall accumulate shall store said recyclables in the state-provided special container/receptacle on said premises. Said owner or occupant shall deposit recyclables by placing them in or on top of the container.(b)Use. Said owner or occupant shall not locate such container/receptacle in any place which is not satisfactory to...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
When a holiday lands on your normal collection day, Providence pushes that pickup and every remaining pickup that week back by one day.
Providence Holiday Trash Pickup Delays
Light RestrictionsProvidence City Code § 12-64(b)
Such regular weekly removals and pickups by the department of public works or any private entity under contract with the city shall be carried out only on the days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week. When a holiday falls on the normally scheduled collection day for a given street or neighborhood, collection for that street or neighborhood shall occur on the followin...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping over one cubic yard of litter anywhere but a licensed solid waste facility is banned citywide, with fines from $500 up to $1,000 by volume and $5,000 for a repeat offense.
Illegal Dumping Fines in Providence
Heavy RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 12-89.2
Any person who shall dispose of heavy litter other than at a solid waste management facility licensed by the director of the department of environmental management of the state shall be deemed to have created an unsanitary condition and a nuisance. The phrase "dispose of heavy litter," as prohibited herein, refers to the depositing, casting, throwing, leaving or abandoning of a quantity greate...
Yard Waste Collection
Providence requires leaf and yard debris to be set out curbside in approved containers, separate from trash and recycling, with plastic bags banned.
Providence Leaf and Yard Debris Rules
Some RestrictionsCity Code § 12-89
Leaf/yard debris shall consist of leaves, grass, weeds, vegetable and flower garden herbaceous debris and remnants, plant trimmings, small brush and hedge clippings, chipped or shredded tree or shrubbery branches and other small landscape trimmings and cuttings. Acceptable yard/leaf debris shall be placed in municipally approved recyclable, reusable or disposable biodegradable containers for co...
Dumpster Rules
Providence requires a city permit before any commercial dumpster is placed on public or private property, sets size and screening standards, and restricts placement near the street line.
Commercial Dumpster Rules in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 12-61.1
Any person engaged in the business of providing dumpsters to others shall, prior to placing a dumpster on public or private property for any period of time, shall first obtain a permit from the director of public works... Dumpsters on private property shall not be placed within twenty (20) feet of the public right-of-way or city street line. All dumpsters shall be screened from public view on a...
Collection Schedule
Providence picks up curbside household trash, garbage and recyclables Monday through Friday only, with collection required to run between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on each address's designated day.
Providence Trash Collection: Mon-Fri, 7 AM-5 PM
Some RestrictionsProvidence City Code § 12-64
Such regular weekly removals and pickups by the department of public works or any private entity under contract with the city shall be carried out only on the days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week. When a holiday falls on the normally scheduled collection day for a given street or neighborhood, collection for that street or neighborhood shall occur on the followin...
Recycling Rules
Providence Code § 12-61.2 makes the owner or occupant of any premises or dwelling unit where recyclables accumulate store them in the state-provided special container kept on that property, and deposit them by placing them in or on top of that container. Depositing recyclables anywhere else, or putting nonrecyclable material into the state container, both break the section. The city's citation fine is $50 per violation, enforced by the Department of Public Works.
Recycling Container Rules in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 12-61.2
The owner or occupant of any premise or dwelling unit where recyclables shall accumulate shall store said recyclables in the state-provided special container/receptacle on said premises. Said owner or occupant shall deposit recyclables by placing them in or on top of the container.(b)Use. Said owner or occupant shall not locate such container/receptacle in any place which is not satisfactory to...