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

Reading enforces bin-placement rules through QOL.013 of Chapter 180, Part 12. The substantive rules are: (1) waste and recycling containers must be stored at the rear of the property between collections - storage in the front yard, on the porch, against the front facade, or anywhere visible from the street is a violation; (2) bins may be placed at the curb for collection no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection day; (3) bins must be removed from the curb after pickup (typically by end of collection day); (4) the containers themselves must be durable, watertight, and have tight-fitting covers - open containers and torn bags do not satisfy the requirement; (5) the City-issued recycling bin is City property assigned to the address and may only be used for recyclables. Reading Property Maintenance inspectors photograph violations and mail QOL tickets to the owner of record without prior warning. In the Center City Historic District and along Penn Street the placement rules are enforced more strictly because curbside storage interferes with the pedestrian streetscape and merchant frontage; merchants subject to the higher-volume commercial trash framework must use enclosed dumpster enclosures rather than curbside bins where required by their hauler contract and zoning approval.