Boise, ID Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Trash/compost pickup
- once per week
- Recycling pickup
- every other week
- Set-out window
- evening before to 7:00 AM
- Max curbside time
- 24 hours
- Cart clearance
- 3 ft from obstructions, 14 ft overhead
Summary
Boise sets carts out by 7 AM on collection day, no earlier than the evening before, and pulls them back within 24 hours.
Time Of Placement: Solid waste carts and cans shall be placed for collection by seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. on the regularly scheduled collection day, but no sooner than the evening prior to collection. The containers may not remain at the curbside for a period greater than twenty-four (24) hours.
C. Collection Days: Regularly scheduled collection days will be determined by the franchise hauler in conjunction with the City.
D. Return Collection: If the carts and cans are not emptied, due to missed collection, the customer may choose to store the solid waste until their next scheduled collection day or contact the franchise hauler for a return collection. If the missed collection is due to the carts or cans not being set out by the required time or from improper placement or overloaded containers, the City may charge the customer a fee for the return collection.
E. Additional Collection: Customers may request additional collection from the franchise hauler. This collection shall be provided within a timely manner after the customer request, excluding nonbusiness days and holidays. (Ord. 21-17, 5-23-2017; amd. Ord. 10-21, 4-13-2021; Ord. 50-22, 11-1-2022)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-31: Code current through: Ord. 20-26, passed 6-9-2026).
Full Breakdown
Boise City Code makes weekly trash and compost pickup mandatory and every-other-week recycling voluntary, all run by the City's franchise hauler. Carts and cans must be curbside or in the alley by 7:00 A.M. on the scheduled day, but residents can't set them out any earlier than the evening before, and containers can't sit at the curb for more than 24 hours. Carts need 3 feet of clearance from other carts, mailboxes and utility poles, plus 14 feet of overhead clearance. If a cart isn't set out on time, is blocked, or is overloaded and gets missed, the City can charge a return-collection fee.
Violations & Fines
Late or improper cart placement can draw a warning notice from the hauler; if the unsanitary or litter condition persists the City can pursue administrative enforcement, treat it as a public nuisance, or charge as a misdemeanor under §10-4-5-6 through §10-4-5-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my cart out in Boise?
How long can trash carts sit at the curb in Boise?
What happens if my cart is missed for improper placement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boise
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