There is so much good about Philadelphia City, Pennsylvania except the trash. The city produces 1.4 million tons of trash waste each year.

Luckily, this Philadelphia garbage collection is picked up by the city government. But sometimes it gets delayed due to weather conditions and holidays.

In this article, we will guide you about the trash days and times in Philadelphia city. So, you have to worry about it a bit. 

City Of Philadelphia Trash Schedule 2024

Currently, there are no changes in the schedule. In floods or severe weather, the waste pickup is delayed.

Philadelphia-Trash-Schedule

You can navigate to the city’s government website and find out more about your trash and recycling collection day

Here’s how this works:

  • Click here to check your schedule.
  • Add your address, including street and area.
  • Then tap on the search icon.
Recycling Day

Philadelphia Trash Collection Holiday Schedule

Apart from disasters, trash and recycling pickup is delayed one day for the rest of the week. Here’s the holiday’s list;

HolidayDate
Martin Luther King Jr. DayMonday, January 15
Presidents’ DayMonday, February 29
César Chávez DaySunday, March 31
Memorial DayMonday, May 27
JuneteenthWednesday, June 19
Independence DayThursday, July 4
Labor DayMonday, September 2
Thanksgiving DayThursday, November 28
Christmas DayWednesday, December 25

  *This information is taken from the city of Philadelphia’s official website. 

Memorial day will be observed on Monday. Then, your trash will be picked up on Tuesday. 

Philadelphia Trash Collection Map

Philadelphia Trash Pickup Days

The waste is picked up on all regular days. The city is divided into 5 sections, and each day the schedule is followed. The pickup days are

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday

Philadelphia Residental Trash Pickup Time

Usually, the pickup time starts at 6 am in the city centers while 7 am in the other regions

Philadelphia Trash Schedule -1

Have a quick look at the table given below for a better understanding:

DateWhen to set out your trash and recycling
From April 1 to September 30Between 7 p.m. the night before collection day and 7 a.m. on collection day
From October 1 to March 31Between 5 p.m. the night before collection day and 7 a.m. on collection day

For the city center including Vine St. to Bainbridge St., from Schuylkill River to Delaware River; the schedule is different.

DateWhen to set out your trash and recycling
From April 1 to September 30Between 8 p.m. the night before collection day and 6 a.m. on collection day
From October 1 to March 31Between 6 p.m. the night before collection day and 6 a.m. on collection day

*This information is taken from the city of Philadelphia’s official website. 

Philadelphia Bulk Trash Pickup

There is no bulk or large item pickup service provided by the city government. Residents can hire private companies or haulers to pick up their bulk trash.

Some of the top 5 private junk collection companies are

  1. Tri-State Waste & Recycling
  2. Junk Removal Philadelphia Kings
  3. EZ Cleanup
  4. Burns & Co
  5. We Love Junk

Apart from it, you can also donate furniture or reusable items to a local charity or resell them.

Acceptable items For Bulk Collection

  • Appliances like washing machines and refrigerators
  • Carpet up to 48 inches long, rolled, and tied
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses and box springs
  • Car tires, but must be removed from rims
  • Scrap metal up to 48 inches long 

Unacceptable items For Bulk Collection

  • Paints, stains, chemicals, and liquids
  • Batteries
  • Automobile parts
  • Household hazardous waste
  • Tires on rims
  • Commercial and industrial waste
  • Construction materials or debris, including drywall, brick, block, treated lumber, roofing, shingles, ceiling tiles, and concrete
  • Computers, monitors, and TVs
  • Hazardous or flammable materials
  • Medical waste
  • Grass

Is Trash Pickup Delayed This Week In Philadelphia?

No, right to this moment, there is no delay in garbage pickup. Last year the city faced delays in service due to a shortage of staff. But this matter is resolved now.

Philadelphia Trash Schedule - 2

The schedule is delayed only in two conditions.

  1. If there is any warning for natural disasters
  2. Federal or Observed holiday

The city government regularly updates all the information on its website and Twitter handle.  For the latest information, you can check the latest tweets. 

Philadelphia Trash Fee

Here’s the monthly fee for regular, commercial, and door service.

Property TypeCharges
Regular Home$23.38 / per month
Low Usage$19.38 / per month
Door Service Additional $10 / per month
Commercial$500 / per year

*This information is taken from the center region council of governments, Pennsylvania.

Commercial properties have to pay a fee of $500 per year as per regulations by the department of street regulations. 

You can also apply for the exemption of commercial fees, also known as refuse collection fees. 

For that, you need to fill out the Refuse exemption form

Keep in mind that you can refuse to pay only if:

  • You use a private hauler.
  • You own the property and reside in it full time, without any tenants.
  • The property is a house of worship.
  • The property is vacant.

Philadelphia Trash Rules

All containers must have a tight-fitting lid. Keep in mind that you can’t put electronics and hazardous waste directly into the trash.

Residential Weekly Trash Limit: 

  • Premises with one unit/single family: four cans or eight bags
  • Premises with two to six units: six cans or 12 bags
  • Premises with businesses: six cans or 12 bags
  • Two bags may be substituted for one can

Yard waste is also included in the weekly limit. All residents are eligible for recycling bins. The recycling bin doesn’t come with any weekly limit.

What To Do If You Miss Trash Day In Philadelphia?

Usually, the trash is picked up the whole day till 7 p.m. But if by any chance your bin/garbage is not picked up, you can fill out a “missed rubbish collection form” and request service.

Keep in mind that before collection, residents are bound to put their trash outdoors, following all the rules.

Philadelphia Trash Schedule - 3

Important Contacts:

Philadelphia Trash Collection Phone Number: 313

You can also dial it to complain or request service for trash pickup, pothole problems, graffiti, and street sweeping.

Smart Pickup PHL: 

Back in 2019, the city government launched an initiative that residents can get notifications and live updates through Street Smart PHL, where the data is updated every hour.

Acceptable items For Recycling Collection

  • Newspapers and inserts
  • Magazines, brochures, and catalogs
  • Junk mail, envelopes, and writing paper
  • Scrap paper
  • Paper bags
  • Phone books
  • Paperback books (no hardbacks)
  • Greeting cards and gift wrap (non-metallic)
  • All food and beverage containers
  • Hard plastic takeout containers
  • Detergent and shampoo bottles
  • Pump and spray bottles
  • Plastic bottles and jugs
  • Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
  • Empty paint cans
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Aluminum or steel baking trays/dishes
  • Jar lids and bottle caps on empty containers

Unacceptable items For Recycling Collection

  • Plastic bags bagged recycling
  • Food and food-soiled materials
  • Disposable plates, cups, and takeout containers
  • Greasy or food-soiled paper and cardboard
  • Shredded paper
  • Styrofoam™
  • Batteries and electronics
  • Needles and syringes
  • Clothing hangers
  • Tissues, paper towels, and napkins
  • Pots, pans, and ceramics
  • Wood

Garbage Schedule Philadelphia FAQs

Is there a trash pickup tomorrow in Philadelphia?

In Philadelphia, trash is picked up from Monday to Friday. The city is divided into 5 regions and each area has its own assigned day. For more accurate information, you can visit the city government’s official website.

What time is trash pickup in Philadelphia?

The trash pickup service starts at 7 am. In city centers, the pickup service begins at 6 am. 

How much trash per month is in Philadelphia?

Residential garbage collection service costs $23.38 per month while commercial buildings and businesses have to pay $500 yearly.

Wrapping It Up!

The trash collection service in Philadelphia is monitored by the city’s government. The city government regularly updates about delays and schedules of garbage pickups.

For bulk or large item pickups, you need to hire private contractors. Usually, the garbage pickup starts at 6 am in city centers and 7 am in other areas.

Residential garbage is picked on all five working days, and the schedule is only delayed (move ahead to the next day) on the official holiday.

Author

Jimmy Carter specializes in providing up-to-date information on trash schedules for cities and states across the USA. With a passion for community service and sustainability, Jimmy is committed to helping people reduce their environmental impact and keep their neighborhoods clean.

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