Harrisburg, PA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Section 6-309.8 of the Harrisburg Codified Ordinances sets the storage and set-out rule. Receptacles and recycling containers stay on the premises and outside the habitable rooms. They cannot be stored on fire escapes, on the streets, sidewalks or other public places, with one exception: during a twelve-hour period before the announced time of collection, they can be placed on the sidewalk nearest the point of collection. The section names the Bureau of City Services as the collector. Under § 9-303.2(A), the Director of Public Works promulgates the rules on days of collection, pickup points, routes and the type of receptacle.

Section 9-309.6 separately makes it unlawful to obstruct any sidewalk or street with any refuse or waste receptacle, and requires sidewalk areas and streets to be kept free from obstructions that could impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic. Section 9-303.2(F) requires all carts, dumpsters and compactors to be placed together at the same location on each property and to be easily accessible to the street, alley or walkway from which collection is made. A property owner unable to comply because of age, continuing illness or physical handicap reports it promptly to the Director of Public Works, and special arrangements for collection are made without additional charge where possible.

Container standards sit in Chapter 6-309. Garbage receptacles are durable, watertight, rust-resistant metal or plastic, have a tight-fitting lid kept on at all times except when depositing or removing refuse, and hold not less than 10 gallons (§ 6-309.4). Rubbish receptacles hold not less than 1/2 bushel nor more than two bushels (§ 6-309.5), and ash receptacles are metal with tight-fitting lids holding not more than one bushel (§ 6-309.6). Garbage cannot share a receptacle with rubbish or ashes (§ 6-309.7). In multifamily dwellings, rooming houses, hotels and motels the owner or operator supplies the receptacles (§ 6-309.1). Each residential property can place one bulk item per week at the point of collection (§ 9-303.2(G)).