Allentown, PA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Weekly allowance
- 1 bulk item per household
- Bulk collection night
- Second designated night only
- Construction material cap
- 40 lbs, 4 ft max length
- Extra-item fee
- $15, prepaid before pickup
- Excluded materials
- Concrete, brick, stone, rock
Summary
Allentown allows one bulk item, like furniture or a mattress, or up to 40 pounds of construction material out for collection only on the second designated collection night of the week. Extra bulk items, construction material or trash bags cost $15 each, prepaid to the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste before pickup.
Second collection night allowances. Only on the second collection night of a designated collection zone, i.e., Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, may an eligible entity place out for collection one bulk item (furniture, mattress, etc.) or 40 pounds maximum of construction material (carpeting, lumber, etc.). The construction material may not exceed four feet in length and must be in an acceptable container or bundled. A fee of $15 for each additional bulk item, 40 pounds of construction material or for every five additional bags of trash is hereby established and must be paid to the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste prior to collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4995055; v49 updated 2026-06-26; through 06-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
A(4)(b) governs bulk item disposal for entities enrolled in the City Curbside Collection Program. Only on the second collection night of a designated collection zone, whether Wednesday, Thursday or Friday depending on the district, may a household place out one bulk item, such as furniture or a mattress, or up to 40 pounds of construction material like carpeting or lumber. Construction material cannot exceed four feet in length and must be bundled or in an acceptable container. A(4)(c). Anyone needing to dispose of more than the weekly one-item allowance, additional construction material, or extra trash bags must prepay a $15 fee per additional bulk item, 40-pound increment of construction material, or five extra bags to the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste before the material is set out.
Section 525-5's private-collection rules apply to bulk waste generated by commercial, industrial or multifamily properties not on City collection, who must arrange their own bulk pickup rather than curbing it.
Violations & Fines
Placing out more than one bulk item or 40 pounds of construction material on a non-bulk night, or without prepaying the $15 fee for extras, is a violation of the article under Section 525-4.A(4). General penalties under Section 525-12.C apply: a fine up to $1,000 or 90 days' imprisonment upon conviction, with each day of an uncorrected violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put a couch or mattress out for pickup in Allentown?
How much does it cost to get rid of extra bulk items in Allentown?
Can I put out construction debris with my trash?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allentown
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