The Johnston Brief
You dragged the cart out and it's still sitting there - or you're not sure whether to. The quick version: in Johnston, trash only shifts around major holidays, and when it does, Metro Waste Authority pushes collection back one day. Here's how to know in ten seconds.
Your pickup is delayed only if a major holiday fell on or before your normal day this week. When one does, Metro Waste Authority pushes collection back one day. Not a holiday week? You're on your normal day - Monday west of NW 86th Street, Tuesday east of it. Always confirm on cityofjohnston.com or mwatoday.com.
Johnston's collection runs through Metro Waste Authority, which observes major holidays. The City of Johnston specifically lists Memorial Day and Labor Day as holidays that push trash and recycling back one day. MWA also observes other major holidays across the metro that can shift collection - so treat the list below as the usual suspects and confirm the current year on the official pages.
When a holiday lands during the week, that day and every day after it usually slide one day later. Pickups before the holiday stay put. If this week has no holiday, your trash is simply on its normal day. Because the exact observed list can change year to year, check the city's Holiday Closures page before assuming.
Unlike some metro suburbs where each household hires its own hauler, Johnston arranges collection for you through Metro Waste Authority, billed on your city water bill. So "is trash delayed" is a single question with a single answer for the whole city - it just depends on the holiday calendar and which side of NW 86th Street you're on. New to town? See our trash & recycling guide for how Johnston's collection works and how to find your day.
The City of Johnston posts holiday shifts on its Holiday Closures and Collection Delays page at cityofjohnston.com. You can also look up your address on mwatoday.com or sign up for MWA email and text alerts plus the city's notifications. When a holiday shifts things, we also flag it in the weekly Brief.
The Johnston Brief is a free weekly email: city-service reminders, what's happening, deals, and events. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
No - without a holiday on or before your pickup day, collection runs on its normal day: Monday west of NW 86th Street, Tuesday east of it.
One day. The holiday and every day after it shift back one day, so a Monday route would run Tuesday.
Metro Waste Authority at 515-244-0021 about collection, or the Johnston Utilities Clerk at 515-727-7772 about billing. Johnston's trash is city-arranged, not a private hauler.
Trash & recycling · Setting up utilities · Is the water safe? · All guides