Trash & Recycling in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
City waste and recycling can only go to the curb within a fixed evening-to-morning window set by season, not whenever you like.
Philadelphia Trash Set-Out Times
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-726(1)(a)-(b)
From October 1st through March 31st, before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not before 5:00 p.m. on the previous day. (b) From April 1st through September 30th, before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not before 7:00 p.m. on the previous day.
Bin Placement Rules
City code sets exact curbside windows for municipal waste and recycling: out before 7 a.m. on collection day, but not before 5 p.m. (winter) or 7 p.m. (summer) the prior evening.
Philadelphia Trash Set-Out Time Limits
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-726(1)
(1) Notwithstanding any regulations to the contrary, Municipal Waste and Recyclable Materials set out for City collection, shall be placed out for collection, as follows: (a) From October 1st through March 31st, before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not before 5:00 p.m. on the previous day. (b) From April 1st through September 30th, before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not be...
Bulk Item Disposal
Philadelphia gives regular curbside bulk item pickup to eligible small buildings, condos and co-ops under Code § 10-717.1; dumping items like mattresses or appliances outside that process instead draws fines of $2,000 to $25,000 per item under § 10-710.
Philadelphia Bulk Item Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-717.1(1)
Residential dwellings of the following types shall be eligible for regular City refuse, recycling and bulk item collection: (a) buildings with six or less occupied units; (b) condominium (as defined in 68 Pa. C.S. § 3103); and (c) cooperatives (as defined in 68 Pa. C.S. § 4103).
Recycling Requirements
Philadelphia Code Section 10-717 bars anyone from setting out Municipal Waste or Recyclable Materials for city pickup except under Streets Department collection regulations, and requires every owner and occupant to separate designated recyclables such as paper, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, and leaves from trash before collection. Properties ineligible for city service must hire a private hauler.
Philadelphia Curbside Recycling Separation Rules
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-717(1)-(3)
(1) Except as otherwise permitted in the Code, no person shall place Municipal Waste or Recyclable Materials in the right-of-way or at a pick-up location for City collection except pursuant to collection regulations established by the Department, which regulations may include provisions pertaining to: (a) designated collectible Municipal Waste materials; (b) the separation of Recyclable Materia...
Illegal Dumping
Philadelphia treats illegal dumping as a serious offense, not a litter ticket: depositing trash, debris or municipal waste on a street, park, waterway, or someone else's property without consent draws a minimum $2,000 fine per offense, up to $25,000 if state law authorizes it. Courts can also order cleanup of the dump site, and repeat vehicle-based short dumping can mean seizure, license revocation or contract ineligibility.
Philadelphia Illegal Dumping Fines Up To $25,000
Heavy RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code §§ 10-710(1), 10-719(2)
(1) No person shall deposit, dump or cause to be placed any litter, trash, garbage, municipal waste, recyclable materials, or debris on or at: (a) any road, street, highway, alley, public park or plaza, other public place, railroad right-of-way or into the waters of the City, except in a clearly defined public trash receptacle; (b) the private property of another person without the prior writte...
Dumpster Rules
Philadelphia requires a license and radio-frequency medallion for every dumpster used to store refuse or recyclables, whether on private property or in the public right-of-way, before it can be placed in service.
Philadelphia Dumpster Licensing Rules
Significant RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-722
No person shall make use of any dumpster to store refuse or recyclable materials unless such dumpster is licensed under this Section. No person shall place a dumpster in service at any location unless there is a validly issued medallion affixed to the dumpster. No dumpster shall be placed in a location other than as authorized by the license for such dumpster.
Collection Schedule
City curbside pickup is set by Streets Department regulation, not the Code itself, and only eligible small properties qualify.
Philadelphia Trash Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-717(1), (3)
No person shall place Municipal Waste or Recyclable Materials in the right-of-way or at a pick-up location for City collection except pursuant to collection regulations established by the Department, which regulations may include provisions pertaining to: ... (g) dates and times for set-out... Every Operator of Regulated Premises not eligible for collection pursuant to this Chapter ... shall co...
Recycling Rules
Every owner or occupant setting out trash for Philadelphia's Streets Department must separate designated recyclables, paper, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, and leaves, from municipal waste before collection. Setting out recyclables mixed with trash, or violating Department rules on containers, quantities or set-out times, is a $1,000-per-violation offense, distinct from the $500 annual sanitation fee some properties owe.
Philadelphia Recycling Separation Rules
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-717(1)(c), (2)
(1) Except as otherwise permitted in the Code, no person shall place Municipal Waste or Recyclable Materials in the right-of-way or at a pick-up location for City collection except pursuant to collection regulations established by the Department, which regulations may include provisions pertaining to: ... (c) designated Recyclable Materials, including, but not limited to paper (including mixed ...