Trash & Recycling in Bethlehem, PA (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Bethlehem does not operate a citywide municipal trash contract: under Codified Ordinance §1162.05(a) every owner shall provide for solid waste collection services by a licensed hauler (Waste Management, Republic Services, Symons Sanitation, etc.). Under §1162.09(a) residential collection runs Monday through Saturday between 5:00 AM and 4:00 PM on the south side and 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM on the north side. Recycling collection is administered by the City under Article 933, runs biweekly on assigned 'A' or 'B' days between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and is mandatory under Pennsylvania Act 101. The annual recycling fee is $70 per residential unit (Article 933 Annex A).
Bethlehem Pickup Rules: Private Haulers Only (No City Trash Contract); §1162.09 Mon-Sat 5/6 AM-4 PM; Recycling Biweekly A/B
Some RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
Bethlehem Codified Ordinance §1162.08(d) sets a specific bin-placement window: no earlier than 6:00 PM on the day preceding a collection day, containers may be placed anywhere on the property except that they cannot be placed within 5 feet of the public right of way - and containers shall be returned to a place no more than five feet from the front, rear, or sides of a building no later than 8:00 PM on the collection day. Storage rules under §1162.07(b) prohibit front-of-building storage (unless no rear access exists) and prohibit storage on any street, alley, right of way, or vacant lot. Containers must meet the §1162.03 standard (rigid, leak proof, tight lids).
Bethlehem Bin Placement: §1162.08(d) Set-Out After 6:00 PM Day Before; Return Within 5 Feet by 8:00 PM Collection Day
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
Bethlehem does not run a city-administered bulk-pickup program. Because trash collection is contracted directly between each property owner and a licensed private hauler under §1162.05(a), bulky items (furniture, mattresses, appliances) must be scheduled with the hauler at the hauler's bulk-pickup rates. Symons Sanitation requires 24-hour advance notice and charges by weight/volume. The City operates the Theis/Cornfeld Recycling Center at 635 Illick's Mill Road for drop-off of certain materials, and the Yard Waste Facility at 1480 Schoenersville Road for organic waste. Refrigerators and freezers containing Freon require professional evacuation under EPA Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82) before disposal.
Bethlehem Bulk Disposal: Arrange Directly With Your Hauler; No City Bulk Program; Theis/Cornfeld Drop-Off at 635 Illick's Mill Rd
Few RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
Recycling is mandatory in Bethlehem under both state and local law. Pennsylvania Act 101 of 1988 (Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, 53 P.S. §§4000.101-1904) requires Bethlehem (population ~76,000, third-class city in Northampton and Lehigh Counties) to operate a curbside recycling program. Locally, Article 933 (effective January 7, 2009) implements the state mandate: §933.04 requires all residents to source-separate designated recyclables (glass, plastic #1-7 except Styrofoam, aluminum cans, steel cans, paper, cardboard) and place them in City-provided containers for biweekly curbside collection. The annual recycling fee is $70 per residential or multi-family unit (Annex A). Penalties under §933.99 escalate from $100 to $1,000.
Bethlehem Mandatory Recycling: Article 933 + PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1501); Source Separation; $70/Unit Annual Fee
Heavy RestrictionsIllegal Dumping
Illegal dumping in Bethlehem is enforced under three layered authorities: (1) locally, §1162.07(a) prohibits any person from depositing, throwing, placing, or causing to be deposited any solid waste on any street, private alley, vacant lot, public area, or waterway within the City - enforceable under §1162.99 at $200/$500/$1,000 per violation; (2) statewide, the 'Scattering Rubbish' summary offense at 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 covers dumping or depositing garbage, refuse, rubbish, dead animals, junk, sweepings, or ashes on public or private property without the owner's consent, with first-offense fines of $50-$300 plus up to 90 days; (3) PA Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §6018.101) and Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701) civil penalties up to $300 per day per violation for municipal-waste dumping.
Bethlehem Illegal Dumping: §1162.07(a) Local + 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 Summary Offense + Act 101 Civil Penalties up to $300/Day
Heavy RestrictionsYard Waste Collection
Bethlehem regulates yard waste differently from many PA cities. Under §1162.04(g) of the Codified Ordinances, grass clippings are NOT permitted to be disposed of with yard waste or solid waste - all grass clippings must be mulched into the yard from which they were collected (grasscycling). Under §1162.04(f) the City collects leaves in the fall and collects other yard waste (leaves, garden residue, shrubbery, tree trimmings, twigs - but NOT grass) curbside twice per year at intervals set by the Department of Public Works. Year-round drop-off is available at the Bethlehem Yard Waste Facility, 1480 Schoenersville Road, Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM-2:45 PM (closed December, February, March). Acceptable bags: loose or brown biodegradable paper bags only.
Bethlehem Yard Waste: §1162.04(g) Grass Clippings NOT Collected (Mulch on Lawn); Twice-Yearly Curbside + Year-Round Drop-Off at 1480 Schoenersville Rd
Some RestrictionsLooking for Lehigh County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bethlehem city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Lehigh County →