Scranton, PA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Scranton City Code Chapter 360, Article II, § 360-5(18) puts the burden of proper waste storage on the property owner. Every container used for waste or trash must be durable, watertight, made of metal or plastic, fitted with a tight-fitting cover, and kept clean and odor-free at all times. Outside of collection day, containers must sit in the rear of the property so they are not visible from the public right-of-way. The code sets a precise window for curbside placement: containers may go out front only after darkness falls the night before the scheduled pickup day, and once the licensed hauler empties them, they must be returned to the rear of the property before daybreak the following morning.

The code's own example spells this out for a Wednesday pickup: containers can go to the curb Tuesday night after dark and must be back in the yard before daybreak Thursday. A companion provision, § 360-5(19), imposes the same clean-and-sanitary standard on recyclables, which must sit only in approved containers. Violating the container-storage rule is ticketed as QOL-049 under § 360-11, a $100 fine due immediately rather than within 48 hours, reflecting how the schedule ties to the recurring weekly pickup rather than a one-time correction.

The Licensing, Inspections and Permits Department enforces the article under § 360-7, and unpaid tickets escalate to a Magisterial District Judge citation under § 360-12 carrying $300 to $1,000 per offense.