Scranton, PA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Scranton's municipal refuse program is run by the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling within the Department of Public Works (101 W. Poplar Avenue, 570-348-4180, recycle@scrantonpa.gov, M-F 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). The legal framework is Chapter 400 (Solid Waste) of the Code of the City of Scranton on eCode360 at https://ecode360.com/SC1585 - specifically Article I (Collection) at https://ecode360.com/11607082 and Article II (Disposal and Fees) at https://ecode360.com/11607097. Pickup is weekly on routes published by the Bureau; residents call 570-348-4180 to confirm their assigned day. The set-out rule from Chapter 400 is curb no earlier than the night before scheduled pickup (i.e., not multiple days early). The keeping of rubbish or garbage in trucks, trailers, or motor vehicles in or on any street, sidewalk, or any lands within the City for a period exceeding one hour is also prohibited under Chapter 400 (an anti-dumping rule that catches contractors and movers staging debris). Holiday delays apply automatically: 'If a holiday falls on a weekday, all collections for refuse and recycling will be delayed by ONE (1) day' per DPW policy. Observed holidays are New Year's Day, MLK Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Commercial recycling is handled separately under Chapter 400 Article V (Recycling): 'Each commercial establishment, business, institution or municipal entity within the City must employ or contract with its own private hauler for collection and disposal of garbage, trash, recyclables, tires, white goods, appliances and yard waste. Each commercial establishment must recycle at least once each month.' PA Act 101 of 1988 (53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.) is the state-level mandate that requires municipalities of 10,000+ population (Scranton ~76,000) to operate a curbside recycling program.