Reading's Quality of Life ordinance enumerated at Codified Ordinance Chapter 180, Part 12 (QOL.013) requires waste containers to be durable, watertight, and fitted with tight-fitting covers. Bins must be stored at the rear of the property and may be placed curbside no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before scheduled collection; containers must be removed from the curb after pickup. Residential units are limited to four 55-gallon bags or equivalent containers per collection day, and recycling bins are City property assigned to the address.
Reading enforces trash-bin rules through the Quality of Life (QOL) ticket system codified at Chapter 180, Part 12 of the City's Codified Ordinances rather than through criminal prosecution. QOL.013 specifies that waste containers must be durable, watertight, and have tight-fitting covers, and that containers may not be stored in the front of the property - only at the rear of the lot or in an enclosed side yard out of public view, except for the placement window that runs from 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup until the bin is removed after collection. The four-bag-per-week limit per residential unit (or equivalent volume in carts) is set by the Public Works trash and recycling rules implemented under the Citywide Waste Collection Initiative that became effective January 4, 2021, when all residential properties with up to six dwelling units were automatically enrolled in the city-administered program (currently contracted to Republic Services) and billed through the utility statement. Recycling bins issued by the City are City property and are assigned to the street address - they do not move with the resident at lease-end and may only be used for recyclable material as listed on the bin. The Property Maintenance Division (610-655-6283) is the primary enforcement contact; field inspectors no longer issue warnings and a photographed violation results in a QOL ticket mailed to the property owner of record.
QOL.013 violations are issued as Quality of Life tickets under Chapter 180, Part 12 of the Codified Ordinances rather than as criminal citations. The City states that warnings are no longer issued - an inspector who observes a violation will photograph the condition and mail a ticket to the owner. Tickets may be appealed at Quality of Life Ticket Court (hearings are scheduled on Thursdays at Reading City Hall, 815 Washington Street). Unpaid tickets accrue late fees and may be referred for collection under the City's standard delinquency process; repeat violations escalate to summary citations filed before the District Justice with maximum fines under §1-301 of the General Provisions of the Codified Ordinances.
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