Philadelphia, PA trash pickup schedule
Philadelphia trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 1,574,281 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | The city collects City Department of Sanitation collects trash and recycling from properties with six units or fewer (plus qualifying condos/co-ops); larger properties and those with private collection use private haulers.3 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly; twice a week (second day trash only) in designated twice-weekly areas of South and North Philadelphia, recycling weekly5 |
| Set out | Apr 1–Sep 30: 7 p.m. the night before to 7 a.m.; Oct 1–Mar 31: 5 p.m. the night before to 7 a.m. Center City (Vine–Bainbridge, river to river): Apr–Sep 8 p.m.–6 a.m.; Oct–Mar 6 p.m.–6 a.m.3 |
| Your pickup day | Address lookup: phila.gov4 · Look up your day here |
| Holiday | Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: Delayed one day. Wednesday holiday: Wed→Thu, Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat.4 |
Bulk items: By appointment (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).
Philadelphia holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | After a City-observed holiday, trash and recycling are delayed one day for the rest of the week; a Friday holiday moves Friday collection to Saturday. Twice-a-week areas get one collection that week (same day as recycling). Weekend holidays do not affect collection. Weeks with two holidays may be delayed more than one day or follow a modified schedule.4 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | phila.gov4 |
| General rule | Trash and recyclables are not collected on City holidays; collection runs one day behind for the rest of the week.17 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Delayed one day | Thursday holiday: Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat.4 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Delayed one day | Rest of week delayed one day.4 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Delayed one day | Rest of week delayed one day.4 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3, 2026 | Moved to Saturday | Friday collection on Saturday.4 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Rest of week delayed one day.4 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Moved to Saturday | Friday collection on Saturday.4 |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Sat, Jul 4, 2026 | No change | Saturday holiday; weekend holidays don't affect collection.4 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Delayed one day | Rest of week delayed one day.4 |
| Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Delayed one day | Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day: rest of week delayed one day.4 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Delayed one day | Wednesday holiday: Wed→Thu, Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat.4 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Changes; see details | Two City holidays that week (Thu Nov 26 and Fri Nov 27): per the city rule, collections may be delayed by more than one day or follow a modified schedule. No 2026 Thanksgiving notice published as of 2026-10-30; watch the city's notice.4 |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Fri, Nov 27, 2026 | Changes; see details | Second holiday in Thanksgiving week; see Thanksgiving entry.4 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Moved to Saturday | Friday holiday: Friday collection on Saturday Dec 26.4 |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Philadelphia
| How it works | By appointment7 |
|---|---|
| How to request | online at bulkcollection.phila.gov, first-come first-served, up to one month ahead; mark items with the emailed 4-letter pickup code; set out the evening before (not before 5 p.m. fall/winter, 7 p.m. spring/summer) and by 7 a.m.8 |
| Limits | up to 4 bulk items per appointment, one appointment per household per week; max 4 tires (rims removed). Separately, up to two large compactible items per week go out with regular trash.8 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Accepted |
|
| Not accepted |
Recycling in Philadelphia
| Pickup | weekly5 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream5 |
| Glass | accepted in cart6 |
| Plastics | #1, #2, #5 — emptied, rinsed, dry, lids and caps on6 |
| Container | City recycling bin or any household container up to 32 gallons; no weekly limit3 |
Accepted
- paper: newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, paper bags, paper cups, paperback books6
- plastics #1, #2, #5: food and beverage containers, bottles, cups, jugs6
- aluminum, steel and tin cans; empty paint and aerosol cans6
- cartons: milk, juice, wine, soup6
- flattened cardboard, clean pizza boxes6
- glass bottles and jars6
Not accepted
- Plastic bags, bagged recycling6
- Food and food-soiled materials6
- Disposable plates and takeout containers6
- Greasy or food-soiled paper and cardboard6
- Styrofoam™6
- Batteries and electronics6
- Needles and syringes6
- Clothing hangers6
- Tissues, paper towels, and napkins6
- Pots, pans, and ceramics6
- Wood6
- Shredded paper6
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | no separate curbside yard waste service: yard waste goes out with trash (counts toward weekly limit); paper-bagged yard waste accepted at sanitation convenience centers3 |
|---|---|
| Season | Not published by the city (official page) |
| How often | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Rules | with trash: bundle wood/tree pieces in 4-ft lengths; bags/containers max 40 lb; at convenience centers paper bags only9 |
| Food scraps | not accepted in recycling6 |
| Christmas trees | 2025-26 season: City tree recycling program Jan 5–17, 2026 at designated sites or a sanitation convenience center; untied, undecorated; trees left curbside are collected as trash (2026-27 dates not yet published)12 |
| Leaf collection | 2026 Philly Leaf Recycling Program Nov 2–Dec 19, 2026: mechanical leaf collection in heavy-leaf areas; bagged-leaf drop-off (brown paper bags) at 15 sites Saturdays Nov 7, Nov 21, Dec 5, Dec 12, Dec 19, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.13 |
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
Sanitation convenience centers (6 sites)
| Type | Transfer station |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | six centers: Port Richmond, 3901 N Delaware Ave; West Philadelphia, 5100 Grays Ave; Strawberry Mansion, 2601 W Glenwood Ave; Southwest Philadelphia, 3033 S 63rd St; Northwest Philadelphia, 300 Domino Ln; Northeast Philadelphia, State Rd & Ashburner St (City GIS layer, last edited 2020-12-17; live map in the recycling and donation finder phila.gov) · Map921 |
| Hours | Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed City holidays9 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Who can use it | proof of Philadelphia residence; vehicles under 6,000 lb; household items once a day, oversized items once a week; no contractors9 |
| Accepts | trash (up to 6 receptacles/12 bags), up to 2 bulk items/appliances a day, up to 4 tires a day, e-waste, solidified latex paint, unwrapped mattresses, recyclables, paper-bagged yard waste, Christmas trees, fluorescent bulbs and batteries; no construction debris9 |
Household hazardous waste collection events 2026
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | rotating sites; 2026 events Apr 11, May 9, Jun 13, Jul 9, Sep 19, Oct 10 (past) and Sat Nov 7, 2026 at 3901 N. Delaware Ave., 19137 (Port Richmond) · Map10 |
| Hours | 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; no registration10 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Who can use it | residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties; no business waste10 |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | phila.gov14 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 311 (call (215) 686-8686 from outside Philadelphia)14 |
| 311 | 311 for service requests1 |
| Official website | phila.gov2 |
| Status tracker | streetsmartphl.phila.gov4 |
| Recycling office | Recycling Office: (215) 686-5444, [email protected]5 |
Nearby cities
- Allentown, PA44 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Elizabeth, NJ67 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Newark, NJ71 miles · The city collects
- Jersey City, NJ74 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- New York, NY77 miles · The city collects
- Baltimore, MD93 miles · The city collects
All Pennsylvania cities: Pennsylvania trash pickup schedules.
Philadelphia trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Philadelphia?
Trash is collected weekly; twice a week (second day trash only) in designated twice-weekly areas of South and North Philadelphia. Philadelphia does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (phila.gov).
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Philadelphia?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Changes; see details: Two City holidays that week (Thu Nov 26 and Fri Nov 27): per the city rule, collections may be delayed by more than one day or follow a modified schedule. No 2026 Thanksgiving notice published as of 2026-10-30; watch the city's notice.
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Philadelphia?
Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Moved to Saturday: Friday holiday: Friday collection on Saturday Dec 26.
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Philadelphia?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday holiday: Thu→Fri, Fri→Sat.
How do I get rid of bulky items in Philadelphia?
By appointment. online at bulkcollection.phila.gov, first-come first-served, up to one month ahead; mark items with the emailed 4-letter pickup code; set out the evening before (not before 5 p.m. fall/winter, 7 p.m. spring/summer) and by 7 a.m.
Does Philadelphia recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Philadelphia?
Use the city’s online form (phila.gov) or call 311 (call (215) 686-8686 from outside Philadelphia).
Sources
- 1 Department of SanitationCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Trash and recyclingCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Residential trash and recycling rulesCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 Find your trash and recycling collection day (rendered with JS)City · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Recycling and donation finder — About this finder (rendered with JS)City · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 What to recycleCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 Schedule trash collection for bulky household itemsCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 8 City of Philadelphia Bulk Collection Program (rendered with JS)City · bulkcollection.phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 9 Find a sanitation convenience centerCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 10 Drop off household hazardous wasteCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 11 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Collection DatesCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 12 Dispose of Christmas treesCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 13 Recycle fall leavesCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 14 Report missed trash or recycling pickupCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 15 Phase 2 of Twice Weekly Trash Collection Launches in North Philadelphia (press release, Jan 5, 2026)City · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 16 Twice-A-Week Trash Collection Program (post, updated Dec 2, 2025)City · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 17 City holidays and closuresCity · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 18 Thanksgiving Holiday Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule (2025, precedent only)City · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 19 Zero Waste Initiative and municipal solid waste contracts update (press release, Oct 8, 2026)City · phila.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 20 Rubbish_Recyc_Coll_Bnd (City GIS collection-day boundaries)City · services.arcgis.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 21 Sanitation_Convenience_Centers (City GIS layer)City · services.arcgis.com · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.