Erie, PA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

The bulk-pickup program is run by the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling (Department of Public Works) under the broader Article 951 framework. The 72-hour-advance call is operationally important: trucks for bulk are different from the regular refuse route, and items set out without a 6-digit confirmation number are treated as illegal dumping and may draw a citation rather than collection. Up to three items per regular refuse night is the per-household cap; the program is free to current City refuse customers (single-family through 4-unit residential, which is the universe served under Article 951). Acceptable items include household furniture (couches, chairs, mattresses) and other large bulky waste that fits in the rear-loading truck. The City does not accept large appliances such as washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, hot water tanks, or air conditioners (refrigerant-bearing equipment requires EPA Section 608 freon evacuation before any landfill takes it - residents must arrange separate pickup through a scrapyard or appliance retailer at point-of-sale); automotive parts (oil, tires, batteries, transmissions); electronics covered by the PA Covered Device Recycling Act, 73 P.S. §1727.1 et seq. (TVs, monitors, laptops, peripherals - drop off at Erie County events or certified e-waste recyclers); hazardous materials (paints, solvents, pool chemicals - Erie County HHW collection events); or construction debris (drywall, dimensional lumber, roofing material - requires contractor disposal or rented dumpster). Carpet must be cut into 4-foot sections and rolled with a maximum of four rolls per pickup; glass must be boxed separately and labeled to protect refuse workers. The Erie County Solid Waste Management Council coordinates regional disposal under PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.).