Trash & Recycling in Allentown, PA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Allentown, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Allentown households may set out no more than five thirty-gallon trash bags, capped at 40 pounds each, or two thirty-two-gallon containers, capped at 70 pounds each, per collection night. Exceeding the limit, or setting out tires, hazardous waste, liquid paint or heavy construction debris, violates the municipal waste article.
Allentown Curbside Limit: 5 Bags or 2 Cans a Night
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code of Ordinances § 525-4.A(4) and A(4)(a)
Municipal waste limits. The City of Allentown hereby establishes limits to the quantity and nature of municipal waste, bulk items and construction material placed out by entities included in the City Curbside Collection Program. It shall be a violation of this article to exceed or violate the limits as set forth below: Per-collection-night maximum. No more than five thirty-gallon trash bags, ea...
Bin Placement Rules
Allentown residents must keep trash containers off the front porch and may only wheel them to the curbline between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on their designated collection night, then pull them back within 12 hours after pickup. Containers must be durable, watertight, lidded and address-marked, and bagged trash cannot sit outside except at curbside.
Allentown Trash Bins: Curbside Only 5-10 PM
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code of Ordinances § 525-4.B(2)(a), (3)(b) and (3)(d)
No person shall store a container, as defined above, in front of the property's main structure (including on the front porch), except when it is placed at the curbline or street for collection, as described below... All municipal waste containers shall be placed at the curbline or street directly in front of the included residential entity where the municipal waste was generated not before 5:00...
Bulk Item Disposal
Allentown allows one bulk item, like furniture or a mattress, or up to 40 pounds of construction material out for collection only on the second designated collection night of the week. Extra bulk items, construction material or trash bags cost $15 each, prepaid to the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste before pickup.
Allentown Bulk Items: One Piece, Second Night Only
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code of Ordinances § 525-4.A(4)(b)
Second collection night allowances. Only on the second collection night of a designated collection zone, i.e., Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, may an eligible entity place out for collection one bulk item (furniture, mattress, etc.) or 40 pounds maximum of construction material (carpeting, lumber, etc.). The construction material may not exceed four feet in length and must be in an acceptable co...
Recycling Requirements
Allentown requires every property in the City Curbside Collection Program to source-separate designated recyclables, including glass, cans, paper, plastics and appliances, and set them out weekly on the day assigned to their district. Skipping recycling or mixing it with trash violates Chapter 525's residential recycling program.
Allentown Mandatory Weekly Curbside Recycling
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code of Ordinances § 525-14.A and B
There is hereby established a recycling program for the mandatory source separation, separate collection and recycling of designated recyclable materials from all entities included in the City Curbside Collection Program... Collection of recyclable materials pursuant to this section shall be made once per week. The Department of Public Works shall divide the City into districts and prescribe th...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping trash, debris, appliances, tires, vehicles, construction material or hazardous waste on public or private property in Allentown is banned outright under § 393-7. A violation carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 per offense plus the City's full cleanup costs, and violators cannot use the ticket-and-waive option available for other neighborhood improvement offenses.
Allentown Illegal Dumping Fines Up To $5,000
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code § 393-7 (Neighborhood Improvement)
No person shall dump or cause to be deposited trash, debris, municipal waste, durable goods (refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc.), small appliances, furniture, carpets, shopping carts, tires, vehicles, vehicle parts, automotive products, construction or demolition material or other such items on public or private property, except as authorized by Chapter 525, Article I, Waste Storage, Collection ...
Yard Waste Collection
Allentown residents must keep yard waste separate from trash and recyclables until collection, unless they compost it themselves. Waste goes to curbside on scheduled days or to the City's designated yard waste site, with a $12-per-cubic-yard loading fee for mulch service.
Allentown Yard Waste Must Be Separated
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code § 525-19 (Mandatory source separation of yard waste)
A. Each person shall separate yard waste from other municipal waste generated at their homes, apartments and other residential establishments until collection unless those persons have otherwise provided for the composting of yard waste. B. Nothing herein shall require any person to gather yard waste or prevent any person from utilizing yard waste for compost, mulch, or other agricultural, hort...
Dumpster Rules
Placing a dumpster in an Allentown street right-of-way requires a use permit from the Director of Community and Economic Development, reflective tape marking in the cartway, and a monthly fee of $35 for dumpsters up to 20 cubic yards or $55 for larger ones. Covered dumpsters are required during nonuse periods.
Allentown Dumpster Placement Permit and Fees
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code § 545-46 (Streets and Sidewalks, Temporary Obstructions)
No person shall place or cause to be placed any temporary obstruction in the right-of-way area in any City street, except upon having obtained a use permit, to be issued by the Director of Community and Economic Development or the Director's designee upon the following conditions: ... D. All dumpsters in the cartway shall be clearly marked with reflective tape. For the purposes of this section,...
Collection Schedule
Allentown automatically enrolls single-family homes, multifamily buildings of 25 units or fewer, and rooming units in the mandatory City Curbside Collection Program, billed a $605 annual municipal waste and recycling fee. The Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste divides the city into districts with fixed pickup days, and Center City routes must finish by 8 a.m. the next morning.
Allentown Mandatory Trash Service, $605 Annual Fee
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code of Ordinances § 525-2.A and § 525-2.C(1)(a)
The Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste shall divide the City into districts and prescribe the days and hours for the collection and removal of municipal waste and recyclable materials from such districts... There is hereby imposed upon the owner of each dwelling unit, as determined by the Bureau of Zoning, and all entities included in City collection, an annual municipal waste and recycling fe...
Recycling Rules
Recyclables in Allentown must be prepared and placed at curbside separate from trash, remaining the resident's property until the City's contractor collects them. Picking through curbside recycling without authorization, or damaging or misusing a City-issued recycling bin, is a distinct violation carrying its own steep fine.
Allentown Recycling: Separate Bins, No Scavenging
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code of Ordinances § 525-15.A and § 525-16.A
Designated recyclables shall be prepared, stored, and placed at the curbside separate from municipal waste for collection at such times and dates as may be established by regulation... It shall be a violation of this article for any person(s), unauthorized by the City, to collect or pick up or cause to be collected or picked up any recyclable material placed at curbside for City collection. Eac...
Looking for Lehigh County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Allentown city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Lehigh County →