Trash & Recycling in Pittsburgh, PA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Pittsburgh residents must set trash and recycling out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection, no later than 6 a.m. collection day, and pull empty containers back in by 10 p.m.
Pittsburgh Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.04(b)
Municipal waste and recyclables shall be placed for collection no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. the day of collection. Containers shall be removed from collection site and stored no later than 10:00 p.m. on collection days. (c) Placement. (1) Municipal waste shall be contained and placed at the collection site in one (1) or a combination of t...
Bin Placement Rules
Pittsburgh requires trash and recycling containers to be stored in the rear of the property, out of view of the street where feasible, and set out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection.
Pittsburgh Trash Cart Placement and Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code §§ 619.03(e), 619.04(b)
Residents of single family dwellings and small apartment buildings must store containers in the rear of the property, and/or removed from view of the public right-of-way, where feasible. § 619.04. Municipal Waste and Recyclables Collection. [Ord. No. 13-2019, § 1, eff. 3-28-2019; Ord. No. 16-2024, § 1, eff. 5-21-2024] (a) Single-Family Dwellings and Small Apartment Buildings. The City shal...
Bulk Item Disposal
Pittsburgh's curbside crews skip demolition debris, unbundled brush, tires, batteries, and appliances: residents must arrange their own disposal for these.
Pittsburgh Bulk Item Disposal Rules
Significant RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.05
Materials Not Collected by the City. Disposal of the following materials shall be the responsibility of the generator: Demolition and construction waste; ... Trees or parts of trees that have not been bundled in a size five (5) feet in length and four (4) inches in diameter or less; Tires, lead acid batteries, and automobile parts; ... Appliances; ... Minimal amounts of the above wastes may be ...
Recycling Requirements
Pittsburgh requires curbside recycling under Chapter 619, separating recyclables from municipal waste in blue containers, with fees up to $500 for households and $5,000 for businesses that fail to comply.
Pittsburgh Curbside Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.02
In accordance with Pennsylvania Act 101, recycling is mandatory in the City of Pittsburgh. Materials collected as recyclables are designated by the waste regulations. Recyclables must be separated from municipal waste and free of solid and liquid residue. Municipal waste may not be stored or placed for collection in blue containers, or any container marked for recycling.
Illegal Dumping
Pittsburgh bans willfully dumping debris on public or private property, sewers, or waterways, with a minimum $500 fine and each day the dumped debris remains counted as a separate offense.
Pittsburgh Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 601.11(d)
Illegal Dumping Prohibited. (1) No person shall willfully abandon, deposit, or dump debris onto any public place, right-of-way, vacant lot, private premise, sewer, or into the waters in the city. (2) Any person violating these provisions shall be fined no less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or ordered to perform community restitution in the neighborhood where the violation(s) occurred....
Yard Waste Collection
Pittsburgh requires residents to separate leaf waste, leaves, garden residue, shrubbery, and tree trimmings, from municipal waste and store it for collection or composting under Pittsburgh Code § 619.13, backed by a city leaf-composting program.
Pittsburgh Leaf and Yard Waste Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.13
Separation from Municipal Waste. Persons shall separate all leaf waste from municipal waste and store leaf waste until collection, unless those persons have otherwise provided for the composting of leaf waste. Composting. The Director is hereby authorized to develop and implement a program for the collection and composting of leaf waste generated at sites serviced by the City.
Dumpster Rules
Commercial and institutional properties not serviced by the City must place dumpsters and waste containers at least 30 feet from any land zoned R1D, R1A, R2, R3, RM, or H.
Pittsburgh Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.03(c)
All persons not serviced by the City shall store municipal waste and recyclables separately in durable, watertight containers with close-fitting lids. Such containers are subject to Pittsburgh Zoning Code § 916.04(B). Dumpsters and containers shall be located a minimum of thirty (30) feet from any property zoned R1D, R1A, R2, R3, RM, or H. (d) All persons not serviced by the City shall label...
Collection Schedule
Pittsburgh residents may set municipal waste and recyclables curbside starting 6 p.m. the evening before collection, with empty containers back off the curb by 10 p.m. on collection day.
Pittsburgh Trash Set-Out Hours
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.04(b)
Timing. Municipal waste and recyclables shall be placed for collection no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. the day of collection. Containers shall be removed from collection site and stored no later than 10:00 p.m. on collection days. (c) Placement. (1) Municipal waste shall be contained and placed at the collection site in one (1) or a combinat...
Recycling Rules
Pittsburgh requires recycling under Pennsylvania Act 101: recyclables must be separated from trash, kept residue-free, and never placed in blue containers meant for recycling.
Pittsburgh Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 619.02
(a) In accordance with Pennsylvania Act 101, recycling is mandatory in the City of Pittsburgh. (b) Materials collected as recyclables are designated by the waste regulations. (c) Recyclables must be separated from municipal waste and free of solid and liquid residue. (d) Municipal waste may not be stored or placed for collection in blue containers, or any container marked for recycling.
Looking for Allegheny County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pittsburgh city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Allegheny County →