Violators or property owners who do not separate or improperly set out trash and recycling are subject to penalties as provided in the Philadelphia code and sanitation regulations.
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Eligibility
Eligible for municipal collection
An inhabited private property is eligible for City trash and recycling collection as long as it:
- Is a separate real estate parcel for tax purposes.
- Does not exceed the weekly set-out limits for refuse prescribed by the regulations (summarized below).
- Has six units or fewer.
- Unless it is a condominium or co-operative meeting the requirements for City collection. Learn how to request pickup for a condo or co-op.
Properties with retail stores and professional offices are also eligible as long as they meet the other requirements of the regulations.
Not eligible for municipal collection
Any property that has more than six units, unless it is a qualified condominium or co-operative, is excluded.
The following are also excluded from municipal collection:
- Gas stations
- Service stations
- Body shops
- Automotive repair shops
Manufacturers, wholesalers, and operations that are part manufacturer and wholesaler are excluded, whether it is the production line, warehouse, repackaging operation, administrative office, or any other part of those businesses.
Separating materials for collection
All refuse set out for City collection must be separated into trash and recyclables. You can learn more about:
These items are accepted as trash as part of curbside collection but require special handling.
| Item type | Disposal guidelines |
|---|---|
| Non-rechargeable batteries |
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| Compactible furniture (e.g., sofas, mattresses, box springs) |
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| Wood and tree pieces |
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| Needles and syringes |
|
Not accepted for curbside collection
Some materials are not accepted as part of curbside collection, but you can still dispose of them properly.
| Item type | Disposal methods |
|---|---|
| Electronics (e.g., computers, televisions) |
|
| Household hazardous waste (e.g., paints, motor oil, antifreeze) |
|
| Bulk items (e.g., stoves, washing machines, air conditioners) |
|
| Tires |
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| Universal waste (e.g., fluorescent light bulbs and lithium, rechargeable, and lead-acid batteries) |
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| Construction debris (e.g., bricks, rocks, cinder or concrete block, etc.) |
|
Containers and
weekly limits
Trash
All containers must have a tight-fitting lid or be secured in some way. Trash may be set out in:
- Metal or other non-corrodible cans that are no larger than 32 gallons.
- Substantial, leak-proof, sealed plastic bags that hold between 30 and 32 gallons.
Weekly trash limits
Includes yard waste:
- Premises with one unit/single family: four cans or eight bags
- Premises with two to six units: six cans or 12 bags
- Premises with businesses: six cans or 12 bags
- Two bags may be substituted for one can.
Recycling
You can get a recycling bin from the City or one of our partners. You can also use any household container that is no larger than 32 gallons.
There are no weekly recycling limits.
Yard waste
Yard waste can be included with trash. During leaf season, mechanical collection and bagged drop-off services are provided as part of leaf recycling.
- No bag or container may weigh more than 40 pounds when filled.
- Don’t put trash or recyclables in plastic bags or cardboard boxes.
Collection schedule
You can look up your trash day and view a list of City-observed holidays on the find your trash and recycling collection day page.
To find out what time to set out your trash and recycling, refer to this table.
| If the date is … | You should set out your trash and recycling … |
|---|---|
| April 1 to September 30 | Between 7 p.m. the night before collection day and 7 a.m. on collection day |
| October 1 to March 31 | Between 5 p.m. the night before collection day and 7 a.m. on collection day |
If you live in Center City (Vine St. to Bainbridge St., from Schuylkill River to Delaware River), refer to this table.
| If the date is … | You should set out your trash and recycling … |
|---|---|
| April 1 to September 30 | Between 8 p.m. the night before collection day and 6 a.m. on collection day |
| October 1 to March 31 | Between 6 p.m. the night before collection day and 6 a.m. on collection day |