What to do if you missed trash day

It happens! We all get busy and forget to put out our trash bins out and before you know it you’ve missed trash day.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been laying in bed on a Tuesday morning (my trash day), heard the trash truck coming down the street, and had to jump out of bed to the the bins out!

Here’s a few things you can do to get rid of your trash if you forgot to put your bins out, missed trash day and your carts are full.

Move your bins across the street (maybe)

Depending on the route the trash truck takes, one side of the street may be picked up before the other.

If you notice that the trash cans on your side of the street have been emptied but ACROSS the street the bins are still full, you may be able to move your cans over there and have them emptied.

In my neighborhood the trash trucks route picks up our side of the street first and then picks up the other side of the street a few hours later.

On days that I forgot to put the trash out first thing in the morning, I’ll wheel my carts in front of my neighbors house across the street to be picked up later in the day.

Call the Trash Company or Sanitation Department

Many trash companies or sanitation departments (or whoever manages the trash pickup in your city) have a phone number to call if your trash wasn’t picked up.

If your trash wasn’t picked up because you forgot to put your bins out be honest about that. Don’t say that the driver missed your bins because that negatively affects his performance.

But be polite and ask if there’s anything they can do to come pick up your garbage.

If you’re polite they may send a truck back to collect your garbage.

For example, Los Angeles has number you can call to request a truck return to your house. The first service is free but additional services is charged a small fee.

Take it to the dump or transfer station yourself

This requires a bit of work on your part but may be necessary if you have a ton of trash.

You can take the trash to your local dump, landfill or transfer station to dispose of it yourself.

They’ll likely charge you a small fee for doing so but might be your last resort to get rid of the garbage.

Call your local junk hauler

This is likely the most expensive option but may get you out in a pinch.

Call your local junk hauler and tell them what you need to dispose of.

Not all of them accept trash or garbage but some of them do.

While they’re at your house you can also give them your bulky items like furniture and mattresses to get rid of.

Use the community bins

If you live in a community that has public bins you can take your trash there.

Of if you live in a private community with a club house there’s likely large rolloff dumpsters there that you can put your trash in.

Just make sure you’re not breaking any rules of the community for doing this!

Wait until next week

Sometimes the best solution is to do nothing. If your bins aren’t too full you can just wait to put your trash out next week.

Hopefully this helps you figure out what to do if you miss trash day.

Frequently Asked Questions

One time when I forgot to roll my bins out they were completely full to the brim. I had to ask my neighbor to but my garbage in their bins until my got dumped the following week.

Luckily I have nice neighbors so it wasn’t a problem but I don’t like asking unless I absolutely have to.

Any other ways to dispose of trash I’m missing?

Do you have a creative way you got rid of your trash after missing pickup?

Let us know in the comments.