Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Allentown
Pennsylvania waste collection runs weekly, with exact days varying by local township, borough, or city routing schedules.
State Mandate
Follow Act 101 guidelines for mandatory community recycling.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Unbagged
Never place your single-stream recyclables inside plastic grocery bags or opaque trash bags. Empty all cans, bottles, and paper directly into your official Allentown recycling bin so the facility can process them safely.
Seal Your Mattresses for Bulk Pickup
To protect sanitation workers from pests like bed bugs, any mattress or box spring placed on the curb for your weekly bulk pickup must be completely wrapped and sealed in heavy plastic, or it will be rejected.
Exclude Bamboo from Yard Waste
Bamboo is classified as a highly invasive species and is completely excluded from normal curbside yard waste collection. Do not mix it with branches or grass; you must contact the Recycling Office directly for safe disposal instructions.
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.
About Allentown Waste Management
Complete Guide to Allentown's Twice-a-Week Trash Collection
Unlike many modern municipalities, the City of Allentown continues to provide residents with a robust, twice-a-week trash collection schedule. To keep neighborhoods sanitary and uncluttered, the city enforces strict volume limits: residents can place out a maximum of five 30-gallon bags (up to 40 pounds each) or two 32-gallon cans per designated collection night. Bins and bags must be placed at the curb exclusively between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on your scheduled evenings to avoid citations from SWEEP enforcement officers.
Single-Stream Recycling with City-Issued Bins
Allentown encourages sustainable waste diversion by offering unlimited weekly recycling collection. Operating on a single-stream basis, residents are not required to separate paper, plastics, and glass. However, strict container rules apply: all recyclables must be placed loosely into an official blue or green city-issued bin. Putting recyclables into plastic grocery bags or standard trash bags is strictly prohibited and will result in the hauler leaving the items on the curb.
Navigating Bulk and Construction Debris Disposal
If you are tackling spring cleaning or a minor home repair, Allentown allows the curbside disposal of one large bulk item or up to 40 pounds of bundled construction debris per week. Crucially, this service is only offered on the second night of your two-day collection cycle (which falls on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday). Items like mattresses and box springs must be fully wrapped and sealed in plastic, while construction debris like lumber must be bundled and securely tied.
Year-Round Yard Waste Guidelines
Managing lawn debris is streamlined thanks to Allentown’s year-round, bi-weekly yard waste program. Organic materials, including grass clippings and hedge trimmings, must be packed in compostable brown paper lawn bags or rigid containers capped at 32 gallons. If you choose to use a rigid container, it must display a free official Yard Waste sticker, which is available from the Recycling Office. Be aware that invasive species, particularly bamboo, are rejected curbside and require special disposal coordination.
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
What time am I allowed to put my trash out in Allentown?
Allentown enforces strict timing for waste placement. You may only place your trash, recycling, and yard waste at the curb between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on the evening of your scheduled collection. Furthermore, all emptied containers must be removed from the curb within 12 hours after pickup to avoid fines.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress in Allentown?
You are permitted to throw away one large piece of furniture, such as a couch or a mattress, per week. However, this is only allowed on the second night of your collection week (which will be a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday). Remember, any mattress or box spring must be thoroughly wrapped in plastic prior to disposal.
Where can I pick up an official Allentown recycling bin or yard waste sticker?
Official blue or green city-issued recycling bins and required yard waste stickers can be picked up in person at the Public Works Recycling Office, located at 641 S. 10th Street. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Can I put my broken TV or old refrigerator out on trash day?
No. Electronics (such as TVs, computers, and printers) and metal appliances are prohibited from curbside collection by Pennsylvania law and local ordinances. You must call the Allentown Recycling Office at (610) 437-8729 to learn about approved drop-off locations or specialty recycling events.