Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Allentown
Trash Day
Trash is collected twice per week at night (Sunday/Wednesday, Monday/Thursday, or Tuesday/Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone).
Recycling
Recycling is collected once per week on one of your assigned collection nights.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected every other week year-round on your assigned collection night.
Set Out Time
Between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on collection night
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste and recycling fees are assessed annually as a line item on your City Real Estate Tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Annual
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Seniors aged 65 and older and permanently disabled residents meeting annual income limits can apply for the Garbage and Water/Sewer Rebate program through the Bureau of Revenue & Audit.
Any standard color Bin (Trash)
Limit of 2 cans (max 32 gallons/70 lbs each) or 5 bags (max 30 gallons/40 lbs each) per collection night. Place curbside between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers
City-issued Blue or Green Bin (Recycling)
Unlimited volume, but all items must be placed loosely in a City-issued bin. Flatten and bundle any large cardboard pieces and place them next to the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Clear and colored glass
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Aseptic cartons (milk, juice, soup)
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Trash
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Use brown paper lawn bags or rigid containers (max 32 gallons) affixed with a City Yard Waste sticker. Bundle and tie loose branches. Bamboo is not accepted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Branches and twigs (under 4 feet)
- ✓Hedge trimmings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week (restricted to the second collection night of your weekly cycle)
Placement
Must be placed curbside between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, depending on which day serves as your second weekly collection night. Debris must be bundled, not placed in cardboard boxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, dressers)
- ✓ Mattress and box spring sets (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Toilets and vacuum cleaners
- ✓ Carpeting (max one room's worth, cut into 4ft strips, rolled and tied)
- ✓ Up to 40 lbs of bundled wood or tile
Not Accepted
- ✕ Car parts and tires
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers, printers)
- ✕ Metal items and appliances
- ✕ Concrete, stone, brick
- ✕ Pianos and hot tubs
Bulk pickup is included in the standard municipal solid waste fee as long as residents adhere strictly to the one-item/40-pound weekly limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday falls on a weekday, curbside collection for trash, recycling, and bulk waste is typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Bi-weekly yard waste collections follow the same holiday delay structure. Always verify your specific address using the City's online Collection Night map.
Subscribe to the Bureau of Recycling & Solid Waste text alerts by providing your mobile number to receive instant updates on holiday shifts and weather emergencies.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to MarchCurbside trash and recycling may be delayed or rescheduled due to heavy snow and ice. The city highly recommends signing up for text alerts so you are not dragging bins to a snowbank during a cancellation. Additionally, the Yard Waste Drop-Off site shifts to a reduced winter schedule, opening only on the first Saturday of these months from 10:00 AM to Noon.
Spring to Fall
April to NovemberDuring peak landscaping months, curbside yard waste is collected every other week on your designated recycling night. The dedicated Yard Waste Drop-Off site operates fully on Wednesdays (8 AM - 4 PM) and Saturdays (8 AM - 2 PM). A valid Allentown driver's license is strictly required for entry.
Holidays
Year-RoundStandard collections are interrupted by New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. During these holiday weeks, collection days will generally shift one day forward for the remainder of the week.
Local Tips & Community Info
Allentown Garbage Pickup Times & Weekly Limits
Residents of Allentown receive curbside trash collection twice per week [1.1.2]. To ensure successful pickup, your waste must be placed at the curb between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on the evening of your designated collection night. Any empty containers or items that the crews reject must be removed from the sidewalk within 12 hours after the truck passes. When preparing your household refuse, you can set out a maximum of five 30-gallon trash bags (weighing up to 40 pounds each) or two 32-gallon trash cans (weighing up to 70 pounds each) per collection day.
Single-Stream Recycling Guidelines
The City of Allentown offers unlimited curbside recycling on a once-a-week schedule. Because the city uses a single-stream sorting method, you can mix clean glass bottles, metal cans, cartons, and approved plastics directly into the same container. You are required to use an official City-issued recycling bin, which can be picked up at the Public Works facility on South 10th Street. A strict rule to remember is that recyclables should never be placed in plastic trash bags. Large pieces of cardboard must be flattened, tied into neat bundles, and placed beside your bin.
Getting Rid of Furniture and Bulk Items
Throwing out a bulky item like a sofa, dresser, or toilet requires special timing. Allentown limits households to one large bulk item per week, and it will only be picked up on your second trash night (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, depending on your zone). If you are getting rid of a mattress or a box spring, you must wrap the entire piece tightly in plastic. Construction debris is capped at 40 pounds, and certain things like old televisions, tires, vehicle parts, and major appliances are strictly banned from normal curbside routes.
Bi-Weekly Yard Waste Protocol
Unlike some municipalities, Allentown collects yard debris year-round on a bi-weekly schedule. Homeowners are permitted an unlimited amount of organic yard waste, including grass clippings, leaves, and small branches. You must use brown paper leaf bags or a rigid, open-topped container marked with a City-issued Yard Waste sticker. Tree branches cannot exceed four inches in thickness or six feet in length, and they must be securely bundled with twine. Dirt, stones, and bamboo are not acceptable in the yard waste program.
Handling Missed Services and Holidays
On rare occasions, your trash might get missed or pushed back due to severe weather or major municipal holidays. Allentown observes six major holidays that shift collection schedules: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. To stay updated on any sudden changes, you can sign up for text or email alerts through the city's notification system. If you believe your trash was skipped in error, please contact the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste by calling 610-437-8729.
Drop-off Facilities
Allentown Recycling Drop-Off Center
1400 Martin Luther King Drive (under the 15th Street Bridge), Allentown, PA
Materials Accepted
Allentown Yard Waste Drop-Off Site
1401 Oxford Drive (Intersection of Oxford & Fish Hatchery Rd), Allentown, PA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set my garbage out in the morning before work?
No. Allentown strictly enforces a set-out window between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on the designated evening of your collection. Materials placed on the curb outside this timeframe may result in a code violation.
Which night should I put out my old couch for pickup?
Bulk refuse is exclusively collected on your second assigned trash night of the week. Depending on your route, this will always fall on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday evening.
How do I dispose of a broken computer or television?
Electronic waste is not accepted in your regular garbage or bulk collection. You must transport TVs, printers, and computers to a certified e-waste recycling center, as Pennsylvania state law forbids landfilling these items.