Wilmington, DE Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 6:00 p.m. day before pickup
- Latest set-out
- 6:00 a.m. collection day
- Removal deadline
- same day as pickup
- Storage location
- rear or side yard, not front
- Residential fine
- $50, doubles after 30 days
Summary
Wilmington residents may set garbage containers at the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before pickup and must have them out by 6 a.m. on collection day, then pull them back the same day.
The placing of garbage containers upon the sidewalk or roadway for the collection and removal of their contents by the collector of garbage shall be done before 6:00 a.m. of the day of collection, but not before 6:00 p.m. of the day preceding the day set for collection. Such containers shall be removed from the sidewalk or roadway by the householder the same day that they are emptied by the collector.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 13-7(f) fixes a set-out window for garbage containers: not before 6:00 p.m. the day before collection, and in place by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. The householder must remove containers from the sidewalk or roadway the same day the collector empties them. Between collections, containers go to the rear yard or a side yard/alley, not the front yard, porch, curb, or right-of-way, unless a resident is 62 or older or disabled and holds a city exemption placard. Paper bags and baskets can't be used as garbage receptacles.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the departments of Licenses and Inspections and Public Works via citation: a $50 civil penalty for residential properties or $250 for apartment buildings/commercial establishments under § 13-2, doubling if unpaid within 30 days, with a fresh citation possible for each 24-hour period the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put my trash cart out in Wilmington?
Where does the cart go between collections?
What happens if I leave the cart out too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
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