What day is trash pickup in Philadelphia?

Your collection day depends on your address. Use the schedule lookup at phila.gov/find-trash-recycling-day or call Philly 311 (215-686-8686). If you're in the twice-a-week pilot zone (Center City and parts of North/South Philadelphia), you receive two trash pickups per week.

What time should I put trash out in Philadelphia?

Two seasonal windows: April 1–September 30: set out after 7:00 p.m. the evening before. October 1–March 31: set out after 5:00 p.m. All materials must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Early set-out is a sanitation code violation.

Are holidays affecting trash collection in Philadelphia in 2026?

Yes. On City holidays, no collection, and all subsequent collections that week shift one day later. 2026 holidays include New Year's (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Presidents' Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day observed (Jul 3), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus Day (Oct 12), Veterans' Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving AND Day After Thanksgiving (Nov 26 AND Nov 27 — both no collection), Christmas (Dec 25). Thu customers on Thanksgiving are collected Sat Nov 28; Fri customers are collected Sun Nov 29.

What is the twice-a-week trash pilot in Philadelphia?

Launched January 5, 2026 in two zones: (1) Vine St to Hunting Park Ave, Broad St to Schuylkill River; (2) Vine St to Glenwood Ave, Broad St to Delaware River. Two trash pickups/week. Recycling stays once/week on first trash day. Up to 2 compactable items per collection. No second collection during holiday weeks. No mixing recycling in second-day trash — fines apply.

What can I recycle in Philadelphia?

Place empty, clean, dry, and loose in blue bin: paper, cardboard (flattened), glass bottles and jars, metal cans, aluminum foil, cartons, and plastics #1, #2, and #5 ONLY. Never put in: plastic bags, Styrofoam, food, electronics, batteries, or plastics #3, #4, #6, #7.

How do I schedule bulk pickup in Philadelphia?

Schedule at phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup or call 311 (215-686-8686). Up to 4 items. Mattresses must be sealed in plastic. Fridges: doors off. Alternative: bring up to 2 items/day to any Sanitation Convenience Center (Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, free, no appointment).

What are the Sanitation Convenience Centers in Philadelphia?

Six free centers: Port Richmond (3901 Delaware Ave), Strawberry Mansion (2601 W. Glenwood Ave), West Philadelphia (5100 Grays Ave), Southwest Philadelphia (3033 S. 63rd St.), Northwest Philadelphia (300 Domino Ln.), Northeast Philadelphia (State Rd. & Ashburner St.). Mon–Sat 8am–6pm. Electronics accepted all days. Yard waste Saturdays only in paper bags. Proof of residency required. No commercial vehicles.

How do I report a missed pickup in Philadelphia?

After 7 p.m. on collection day, report via Philly311 app, phila.gov/311, or call 311 (215-686-8686). First use StreetSmartPHL (phila.gov/streetsmart) to confirm trucks haven't serviced your area. Check holiday/weather delays. Or take materials to a Convenience Center (Mon–Sat 8am–6pm).

Philadelphia Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026

Find your Philadelphia collection day, understand the seasonal set-out rules, the new twice-a-week trash pilot, holiday delays, Sanitation Convenience Centers, and everything about waste collection in Philadelphia.

City of Philadelphia · Department of Sanitation · Updated March 2026 · Twice-a-week pilot launched January 5, 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Philadelphia Collection Day

Select your collection day to instantly see your full schedule — trash, recycling, seasonal set-out times, and 2026 holiday impact. If you’re in the twice-a-week pilot zone, your second day is also covered.

👈 Select your day above to see your complete Philadelphia collection schedule.

⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the official schedule lookup at phila.gov. For real-time truck tracking and service alerts, use StreetSmartPHL / PickupPHL at phila.gov/streetsmart. Or call Philly 311 (215-686-8686 outside city). See all contact options ↓

At a Glance

Philadelphia Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation provides trash and recycling collection to over 510,000 households across the city, collecting more than 610,000 tons of trash and 80,000 tons of recycling annually. As of January 5, 2026, a pilot program provides twice-weekly trash collection in parts of Center City and North and South Philadelphia.

🗑

Garbage

Weekly (most areas)

Twice weekly in pilot zones

♻

Recycling

Weekly

First trash day of the week

📦

Bulk Items

By appointment

Up to 4 items • Philly311

🔌

Convenience Centers

Mon–Sat 8am–6pm

6 locations citywide, free

📲

StreetSmartPHL

Real-time truck GPS

phila.gov/streetsmart

⚠ City of Philadelphia limits only. The Department of Sanitation collects from addresses within Philadelphia city limits. Lower Merion Township, Cheltenham Township, Camden (NJ), and surrounding suburbs use separate providers. Call Philly 311 at 215-686-8686 to confirm your address receives City collection service.

🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how US trash collection works? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)

Seasonal Set-Out Times

Philadelphia’s Two Seasonal Set-Out Windows

Philadelphia is one of the few major US cities with two different set-out time windows depending on the time of year. The rules change on April 1 and October 1 each year. Setting trash out before the permitted time is a sanitation code violation subject to a fine.

☀

🌸 April 1 – September 30

Earliest set-out: 7:00 p.m. the evening before your collection day

All materials must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day

Spring & Summer window

❄

🍂 October 1 – March 31

Earliest set-out: 5:00 p.m. the evening before your collection day

All materials must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day

Fall & Winter window

📦 Container Rules

Trash containers: leak-proof, tied plastic bags (30–32 gal); or metal or hard plastic cans ≤32 gallons with a secure, tight-fitting lid. Bags must be tied closed — not just twisted.
Recycling containers: the City-provided blue recycling bin, or any bin clearly labeled “RECYCLING.” Request a free recycling bin at any Sanitation Convenience Center.
Place containers in front of your property on the sidewalk, close to the curb. Do not block fire hydrants, utility poles, or neighbor’s access.
Do not place containers in the street itself.
Containers with lids must have lids fully closed — overfilled containers may not be collected.

🔗 Related Guide See how US cities compare on trash and recycling systems: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)

Twice-a-Week Pilot — New 2026

Twice-a-Week Trash Collection Pilot — Launched January 5, 2026

On January 5, 2026, the City of Philadelphia launched a twice-a-week trash collection pilot program targeting areas with high rates of illegal dumping. The pilot is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s initiative to reduce litter and improve sanitation in high-density neighborhoods.

📍 2026 Pilot Zone Boundaries

The twice-a-week collection pilot covers two geographic areas:

Zone 1: From Vine Street to Hunting Park Avenue, between Broad Street and the Schuylkill River (parts of North and West Philadelphia)
Zone 2: From Vine Street to Glenwood Avenue, between Broad Street and the Delaware River (Center City and parts of North Philadelphia)

Use the official schedule lookup at phila.gov to confirm whether your address is in the pilot zone and to see your two specific collection days.

📌 Twice-a-Week Pilot Rules

Residents in the pilot zone receive two trash collections per week — typically two days apart (e.g., Monday and Thursday).
Recycling stays once per week and is collected on the first trash day of the week only. Place recycling out only on that first day.
Each collection allows up to 2 household compactable items (sofas, furniture, wrapped mattresses, box springs) per household per collection.
No second trash collection during holiday weeks. During any week with a City-observed holiday, only one collection occurs that week regardless of your normal twice-weekly schedule.
Do not mix recycling with trash on the second collection day — fines will be issued if recycling materials are found in trash set-outs on the second collection day.
Set-out times are the same as regular collection: 7 p.m. (Apr–Sep) or 5 p.m. (Oct–Mar) the evening before each collection day.

⚠ Recycling fine in pilot zones. In twice-a-week pilot zones, recycling is collected only on the first trash day of the week. If recyclables are found in trash set-outs on the second collection day, fines will be issued. Keep recycling separate at all times and only set it out on your designated first trash day.

Holiday Schedule

Philadelphia Holiday Collection Schedule 2026

The City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation observes all City-designated holidays with no collection. On each holiday, collection for that day and all subsequent days of that week shifts one day later. There is no collection on the holiday itself, and the rest of the week runs one day behind through the end of the week.

Philadelphia has a unique Thanksgiving policy: both Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) and the Day after Thanksgiving (Friday) are City holidays. This means Thursday and Friday customers are both affected, and Thursday customers may be pushed to Saturday while Friday customers may be pushed to Sunday.

Holiday	2026 Date	Impact	What Happens
New Year’s Day	Thu, Jan 1	1-Day Delay	Thu → Fri \| Fri → Sat \| Mon–Wed: normal
MLK Day	Mon, Jan 19	Full Week Delay	All Mon–Fri routes shift one day later. Confirmed: City Sanitation announces Jan 19 closed, resume Tue Jan 20.
Presidents’ Day	Mon, Feb 16	Full Week Delay	All Mon–Fri routes shift one day later that week.
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25	Full Week Delay	All Mon–Fri routes shift one day later that week.
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19	1-Day Delay	Fri → Sat \| Mon–Thu: normal that week
Independence Day	Sat, Jul 4 (Observed Fri, Jul 3)	1-Day Delay	City observes Friday July 3. Fri → Sat \| Mon–Thu: normal that week
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7	Full Week Delay	All Mon–Fri routes shift one day later that week.
Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day	Mon, Oct 12	Full Week Delay	All Mon–Fri routes shift one day later that week.
Veterans’ Day	Wed, Nov 11	Partial Delay	Wed → Thu \| Thu → Fri \| Fri → Sat \| Mon–Tue: normal
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26	Two-Day Holiday	No collection Thu Nov 26 AND Fri Nov 27. Thu materials collected Sat Nov 28. Fri materials collected Sun Nov 29. Mon–Wed: normal. No second trash collection in pilot zones this week.
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25	1-Day Delay	Fri → Sat \| Mon–Thu: normal that week. No second trash collection in pilot zones this week.

⚠ Thanksgiving = TWO consecutive days of no collection. Philadelphia observes both Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26) AND the Day After Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) as City holidays. This is unique in the series. Thursday customers are collected Saturday, November 28; Friday customers are collected Sunday, November 29. This is the only week in the year when Philadelphia collection extends to Sunday. In twice-a-week pilot zones, there is only one collection during Thanksgiving week.

💡 February 2026 snow storm — 2-day delay precedent. On February 23–24, 2026, a major snowstorm (14 inches) caused Philadelphia to suspend all collection for two days with a two-day delay for the entire week. Monday collections moved to Wednesday, Tuesday to Thursday, through Friday to Sunday, with no rear driveway collections for the week. Residents were directed to Sanitation Convenience Centers. During future major weather events, monitor phila.gov/sanitation and follow @PhilaStreets on social media for real-time alerts.

🔗 Related Guide Holiday collection delays compared across the US: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)

Recycling — Blue Bin

Philadelphia Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Bin

Philadelphia uses single-stream recycling collected weekly on your first trash collection day. Items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loose in the blue bin — never in plastic bags. A free blue recycling bin can be obtained at any of the six Sanitation Convenience Centers.

✅ Accepted in the Blue Recycling Bin

Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, scrap paper, paper bags, phone books, brochures
Cardboard: corrugated boxes (flattened), cereal boxes, paperboard — dry only
Glass: bottles and jars (all colors) — rinsed, lids off
Metal: aluminum and tin/steel cans, aluminum foil, empty aerosol cans, cartons
Plastic: labeled #1, #2, and #5 bottles and containers — rinsed

🚫 Never in the Blue Bin

Plastic bags or plastic film → grocery store drop-off
Styrofoam / polystyrene
Food, liquids, or food-soiled containers
Electronics → Sanitation Convenience Centers, Mon–Sat
Batteries → HHW events or retail drop-off
Plastics #3, #4, #6, #7
Tanglers: cords, hoses, wire hangers

💡 Only plastics #1, #2, and #5. Philadelphia accepts a more limited range of plastics than most US cities in this series. Only plastics labeled #1 (PET/PETE — water bottles, soda bottles), #2 (HDPE — milk jugs, laundry detergent), and #5 (PP — yogurt tubs, medicine bottles) are accepted. Plastics #3 (PVC), #4 (LDPE), #6 (PS/Styrofoam), and #7 (other) are not accepted in the blue bin.

🔗 Related Guide Learn the most common recycling mistakes and how to avoid them: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)

Bulk Item Pickup

Philadelphia Bulk Item Pickup — Appointment via Philly311

Philadelphia offers free scheduled bulk item pickup for eligible residential properties (typically 1–6 units). An appointment is required — do not place items at the curb without a confirmed appointment. Schedule via the Philly311 online portal at phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup or call 311 (215-686-8686).

📌 Bulk Pickup Rules

Up to 4 bulky items per appointment
Place items curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day using the seasonal set-out windows above
Mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic bags before placement at the curb
Refrigerators and appliances: remove doors or prop them open securely to prevent child entrapment
Items should be accessible and not blocked by vehicles or other obstacles

✅ Accepted in Bulk Pickup

Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
Mattresses and box springs (sealed in plastic)
Large appliances: washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators (doors off/secured)
Rugs and carpeting
Large household items
Clean wood and lumber (tied/bundled)

🚫 Not Accepted in Curbside Bulk

Electronics → Sanitation Convenience Centers (all 6, Mon–Sat, free)
Construction or demolition debris (concrete, drywall, roofing)
Hazardous materials → HHW events
Tires → check Sanitation Convenience Centers or HHW events
Rocks, dirt, or concrete
Commercial or contractor-generated waste

💡 Alternative to bulk appointment: Convenience Centers. You can drop off up to 2 bulk items per day at any of the six Sanitation Convenience Centers — no appointment needed, Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. This is often faster than waiting for a scheduled pickup. Electronics are also accepted at all centers at no charge.

🔗 Related Guide How bulk trash pickup works across the US: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)

Sanitation Convenience Centers

Philadelphia’s 6 Sanitation Convenience Centers

Philadelphia operates six Sanitation Convenience Centers citywide, open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed Sundays and City holidays). All centers are free for Philadelphia residents with proof of residency required. They accept household trash, recycling, bulk items, electronics, and yard waste — making them a comprehensive self-haul option.

🚩 Port Richmond

3901 Delaware Ave

215-685-1358

🚩 Strawberry Mansion

2601 W. Glenwood Ave

215-685-3955

🚩 West Philadelphia

5100 Grays Ave

215-685-2600

🚩 Southwest Philadelphia

3033 S. 63rd St

215-685-4290

🚩 Northwest Philadelphia

300 block Domino Ln

215-685-2502

🚩 Northeast Philadelphia

State Rd & Ashburner St

215-685-8072

✅ Accepted at All Six Convenience Centers

Household trash and recyclables: regular and oversized items — 2 items per day (regular), 1 oversized per week
Electronics: TVs, computers, phones, printers, tablets — all accepted, free, every day (Mon–Sat)
Bulk items: furniture, appliances, mattresses — 2 items per day, no appointment needed
Yard waste: accepted on Saturdays only, must be in paper bags, free of contamination
Recycling bins: pick up a free City blue recycling bin at any center

Eligibility: Philadelphia residents only. Bring proof of residency (utility bill, lease, or ID with Philadelphia address). Personal passenger vehicles and rental trucks/U-Haul with GVW under 6,000 lbs permitted. No commercial contractors or commercial-load vehicles.

⚠ Yard waste at Convenience Centers: Saturdays only, paper bags only. Yard waste is accepted at all six Sanitation Convenience Centers on Saturdays only. It must be in paper yard waste bags (not plastic bags) and must be free of contamination. This is the primary option for yard waste disposal in Philadelphia outside of seasonal leaf collection.

HHW & Hazardous Waste

Philadelphia HHW — Annual Collection Events

Philadelphia does not operate a permanent HHW drop-off facility. Instead, the Department of Sanitation hosts several free HHW collection events per year (7 events were held in 2025) at various locations across the city. Events typically run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and are free for Philadelphia residents.

📅 Finding 2026 HHW Event Dates

The 2026 HHW event calendar is published by the Department of Sanitation at phila.gov/sanitation. Event dates are typically announced in advance each quarter. You can also call Philly 311 (215-686-8686) for the current schedule.

✅ Accepted at HHW Events

Oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes
Motor oil and automotive fluids
Pesticides and pool chemicals
Solvents and thinners
Batteries: all types
Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
Propane tanks
Antifreeze

🚫 Not Accepted at HHW Events

Latex paint → dry completely (add kitty litter), then trash
Sharps/needles → pharmacy drop boxes only (NOT Convenience Centers or HHW events)
Medications → pharmacy take-back programs only
Business or commercial waste
Electronics → Convenience Centers, Mon–Sat, free

💡 Electronics are NOT at HHW events — use Convenience Centers instead. All six Sanitation Convenience Centers accept electronics (TVs, computers, phones, printers, tablets) for free, Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. You do not need to wait for an HHW event to recycle electronics in Philadelphia.

Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Philadelphia

Confirm your correct collection day. Use the schedule lookup at phila.gov/services/trash-recycling or StreetSmartPHL at phila.gov/streetsmart. The PickupPHL button shows real-time truck locations and which streets have been serviced today.
Check seasonal set-out time. Was your trash out by 7:00 a.m. on the collection day? Was it set out after the permitted evening start time (7 p.m. Apr–Sep; 5 p.m. Oct–Mar)? Did containers have secure, closed lids?
Check for a holiday or weather delay. Philadelphia delays by one day for all City holidays. Thanksgiving = two-day delay (Thu and Fri both affected). February 2026 saw a two-day weather delay. Monitor phila.gov/sanitation and @PhilaStreets.
If it is past 7:00 p.m. on your scheduled collection day and your trash has not been collected, contact Philly 311: call 311 (215-686-8686 from outside Philly), use the Philly311 app (iOS/Android), or submit online at phila.gov/311. Select “Trash and Recycling” → “Missed Trash Pickup.”
Alternative: take materials to a Convenience Center. If collection was suspended due to weather or a holiday and you can’t wait, take materials to any of the six Sanitation Convenience Centers, open Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Local Tips

Philadelphia Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Philadelphia or Just Moved In?

Enter your address at phila.gov/find-trash-recycling-day to find your exact collection day and confirm whether you’re in the twice-a-week pilot zone. Get a free blue recycling bin at any Sanitation Convenience Center (no appointment). Save the seasonal set-out times: 7 p.m. (Apr–Sep), 5 p.m. (Oct–Mar), and 7 a.m. deadline on collection day. Bookmark StreetSmartPHL at phila.gov/streetsmart for real-time truck tracking. Remember: only plastics #1, #2, and #5 go in the blue bin.

⛄️ Philadelphia Winter & Snow

Philadelphia averages 15–22 inches of snow annually. The February 2026 snowstorm (14 inches) resulted in a 2-day collection delay citywide. During major snow events, the Streets Department diverts sanitation trucks to snow operations. Leave materials at the curb (or bring inside and set out when service resumes) and monitor phila.gov/sanitation and @PhilaStreets on social media. The six Sanitation Convenience Centers often remain open during weather events — call ahead to confirm.

🚫 5 Mistakes Philadelphia Residents Make

Setting out trash before the permitted time — 7 p.m. (Apr–Sep) or 5 p.m. (Oct–Mar); early set-out is a code violation and a fine
Putting plastics #3, #4, #6, or #7 in the blue bin — only #1, #2, and #5 are accepted
Expecting Thanksgiving to be only a 1-day delay — Philadelphia observes both Thursday and Friday as no-collection days
Not knowing they’re in the twice-a-week pilot zone — check your address at phila.gov to see if you now receive collection twice a week
Placing bulk items curbside without a Philly311 appointment — schedule first; or use a Convenience Center (2 items/day, no appointment)

Contact

Contact Philadelphia Department of Sanitation & Philly 311

Contact	Details
Philly 311	Dial 3-1-1 inside Philadelphia, or 215-686-8686 from outside — missed pickups, bulk scheduling, schedule questions, all non-emergency city services
Philly311 App & Web	phila.gov/311 · Philly311 app (iOS & Android) — report missed pickups, schedule service requests, track status. Closed on City holidays.
Schedule Lookup	phila.gov — Find Your Trash & Recycling Collection Day — address lookup for your exact collection day, recycling day, and service alerts
StreetSmartPHL / PickupPHL	phila.gov/streetsmart — real-time GPS truck tracking, see which streets have been serviced today, service alerts and delays
Bulk Pickup Scheduling	phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup — schedule up to 4 bulk items online; or call 311
Sanitation Convenience Centers	6 locations: Port Richmond, Strawberry Mansion, West Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, Northwest Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia · Mon–Sat 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · Free for residents with proof of residency · Electronics accepted daily · Yard waste Saturdays only in paper bags
Twice-a-Week Pilot Info	phila.gov — Twice-a-Week Trash Collection Program — pilot zone boundaries, rules, launch date (January 5, 2026)
Sanitation Department	phila.gov/departments/department-of-sanitation — holiday schedule, HHW event calendar, residential rules, SWEEP enforcement

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Philadelphia Trash Pickup

Your collection day depends on your address. Use the Collection Day Finder above, the official schedule lookup at phila.gov/find-trash-recycling-day, or call Philly 311 (215-686-8686). If your address is in the twice-a-week pilot zone (parts of Center City, North Philadelphia, and South Philadelphia), you receive two trash collections per week — check your address to see both days. Recycling is collected on the first trash day of the week.

Philadelphia has two seasonal windows: April 1 through September 30, set trash out after 7:00 p.m. the evening before. October 1 through March 31, set trash out after 5:00 p.m. the evening before. All materials must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Setting out before the permitted time is a sanitation code violation subject to a fine.

Yes. On City-observed holidays, there is no collection. All subsequent collections that week shift one day later. 2026 holidays include: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Presidents’ Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day observed (Jul 3), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct 12), Veterans’ Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving Day AND Day After Thanksgiving (both Nov 26 and Nov 27), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). Note: Philadelphia is the only city in this series where Thanksgiving = two consecutive no-collection days. Thursday customers are collected Saturday Nov 28; Friday customers are collected Sunday Nov 29.

On January 5, 2026, the City launched a twice-weekly trash collection pilot in two zones: (1) Vine Street to Hunting Park Avenue, Broad Street to the Schuylkill River, and (2) Vine Street to Glenwood Avenue, Broad Street to the Delaware River. Residents in these zones receive two trash pickups per week. Recycling stays once per week on the first trash day. Up to 2 compactable items per collection. No second collection during holiday weeks. Don’t mix recycling with trash on the second collection day — fines apply. Check your address at phila.gov to confirm if you’re in the pilot zone.

Place empty, clean, dry, and loose in the blue recycling bin: paper (newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper), cardboard (flattened), glass bottles and jars, metal/aluminum/tin cans, aluminum foil, cartons, and plastics #1 (PET), #2 (HDPE), and #5 (PP) only. Never put in: plastic bags, Styrofoam, food or liquids, electronics, batteries, or plastics #3, #4, #6, or #7. Philadelphia accepts fewer plastic types than many other US cities — when in doubt, check the number on the bottom of the container.

Schedule via the Philly311 portal at phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup or call 311 (215-686-8686). Up to 4 items per appointment. Place items curbside by 7 a.m. on your pickup day, using the seasonal set-out windows. Mattresses must be sealed in plastic bags. Refrigerators: remove or permanently secure doors open. Alternative: bring up to 2 bulk items per day to any Sanitation Convenience Center (Mon–Sat 8 a.m.–6 p.m., no appointment, free with proof of residency).

Six free drop-off centers: Port Richmond (3901 Delaware Ave), Strawberry Mansion (2601 W. Glenwood Ave), West Philadelphia (5100 Grays Ave), Southwest Philadelphia (3033 S. 63rd St.), Northwest Philadelphia (300 block Domino Ln.), Northeast Philadelphia (State Rd. & Ashburner St.). Open Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (closed Sundays and holidays). Accepted: household trash, recycling, bulk items (2/day), electronics (all days, free), yard waste (Saturdays only, paper bags). Must bring proof of Philadelphia residency. Personal vehicles and rental trucks under 6,000 lb GVW only. No commercial contractors.

After 7:00 p.m. on your collection day, report via the Philly311 app, phila.gov/311 online, or call 311 (215-686-8686). First verify your collection day and seasonal set-out compliance at phila.gov/find-trash-recycling-day. Check StreetSmartPHL (phila.gov/streetsmart) to confirm whether trucks have already serviced your area today. Check for holiday or weather delays. If you can’t wait, take materials to a Convenience Center (Mon–Sat 8am–6pm).

Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

If the Collection Day Finder above and all the information on this page haven’t resolved your question, use the official City of Philadelphia schedule lookup tool. It shows your exact collection day, confirms whether you’re in the twice-a-week pilot zone, and provides current service alerts. StreetSmartPHL is especially useful for real-time truck tracking on your collection day.

🔍 Official Philadelphia Sanitation Lookup & Contact

All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule and service details:

🔍 Find My Collection Day 📞 Call 311 — 215-686-8686

Schedule Lookup	phila.gov — Find Your Trash & Recycling Day — exact collection day, pilot zone status, service alerts.
StreetSmartPHL / PickupPHL	phila.gov/streetsmart — real-time GPS truck tracking, see which streets have been serviced today.
Philly 311	Dial 3-1-1 inside Philadelphia or 215-686-8686 from outside — all sanitation services, missed pickup reports.
Bulk Pickup	phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup — schedule up to 4 bulk items online.
Sanitation Department	phila.gov/departments/department-of-sanitation — holiday schedule, HHW events, residential rules.
Twice-a-Week Pilot	phila.gov — Twice-a-Week Program — pilot zone map, rules, and updates.

You will leave this website when using any of the links above.

Outside Philadelphia city limits? Lower Merion Township, Cheltenham Township, Abington Township, and all other suburban municipalities have their own waste collection arrangements. Contact your specific township or borough. Camden (NJ) and surrounding New Jersey municipalities: contact your city directly or Camden County at camdencounty.com.

Nearby Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Philadelphia

Looking for waste collection information in another northeastern city? Here are the five closest cities we’ve already covered:

🏭 New York City 🏭 Pittsburgh 🏭 Washington, DC 🏭 Boston 🏭 Charlotte