Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bethlehem
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.
Depends on your chosen private hauler Bin (Trash)
Residents must contract directly with a licensed private hauler for refuse collection. Rules, limits, container sizes, and pickup schedules vary entirely by company.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
Any rigid container up to 30 gallons (clearly marked 'Recycling') Bin (Recycling)
Place clean, dry, and loose recyclables in your container (max 30 gallons, max 60 lbs). Service occurs bi-weekly on an 'A' or 'B' Tuesday/Thursday schedule. Do not use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Mixed office paper, junk mail, and cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste and pizza boxes
- ✕Electronics and cables
- ✕Ceramics, dishes, and window glass
- ✕Light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is NOT collected curbside. It must be taken directly to the Schoenersville Road Yard Waste Facility with a valid Compost Card.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (loose or in brown paper bags)
- ✓Small brush (up to 4 inches diameter, under 6 feet long)
- ✓Hedge trimmings
- ✓Garden plant residue
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies entirely by private hauler
Placement
You must closely follow the specific bulk pickup guidelines and weight limits provided by your contracted independent waste hauler.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items (varies by your contract)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ E-waste (Televisions, computers)
- ✕ Freon-containing appliances without a plumber's evacuation tag
Fees for bulky item pickups are negotiated directly between the homeowner and their chosen private hauling company.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For city-collected recycling: If an observed holiday falls on a weekday on or before your regular pickup, recycling service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The Yard Waste Facility is closed on all major holidays, as well as Good Friday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, and Election Days.
Because your trash hauler is a private company, they may observe a different holiday schedule for garbage collection; you must contact them directly to verify.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Say No to Plastic Bags
Never bag your recyclables. The City of Bethlehem’s single-stream machinery requires materials to be loose. Plastic grocery bags wrap around the gears at the sorting facility and will result in your bin being rejected at the curb.
Keep Glass Specifics in Mind
While clear, brown, and green glass food and beverage jars are perfectly fine, do not include broken window pane glass, mirrors, drinking glasses, or ceramics in your recycling bin. These items have completely different melting points and contaminate the glass stream.
Skip the Pizza Boxes
Even though they are made of corrugated cardboard, pizza boxes are saturated with grease and food remnants, rendering them non-recyclable. Throw them into your regular garbage through your private hauler.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December, February, MarchThe Yard Waste Facility on Schoenersville Road is completely closed during these three months. However, the facility usually opens for a brief window in January specifically to accept bare, undecorated Christmas trees.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring the height of fall, residents can bring their dropped leaves to the Yard Waste Facility. Make sure leaves are loose or packed in brown paper compostable bags, as any plastic bags used for transport must be taken back home with you.
Spring & Summer
April - SeptemberGrass clippings are completely banned from the Yard Waste Facility. The city strongly recommends 'grasscycling'—leaving the cut grass clippings on your lawn to return nitrogen and natural nutrients to the soil.
About Bethlehem Waste Management
Understanding Bethlehem's Private Hauler Trash System
Unlike many municipalities that use a single contracted company, the City of Bethlehem operates on a decentralized, subscription-based refuse system. Under City Ordinance Article 1162, homeowners must independently hire a state-licensed private garbage hauler holding a valid City of Bethlehem Business Privilege License. Your collection days, trash limits, and specific bulk rules will depend entirely on the private company you choose, making it essential to compare local options.
The City-Operated Bi-Weekly Single-Stream Recycling
While standard trash is completely privatized, the City of Bethlehem's Recycling Department directly manages all residential curbside recycling to ensure compliance with Pennsylvania Act 101. Homes are divided into "A" and "B" routes, receiving single-stream collection every other Tuesday or Thursday. Residents can use their own rigid containers—up to 30 gallons and clearly marked for recycling—to mix plastics #1-7, glass jars, metal cans, and cardboard loosely without sorting.
Rules for the Schoenersville Road Yard Waste Facility
Because the city does not collect yard waste at the curb, residents must drop off organic debris at the City of Bethlehem Yard Waste Facility at 1480 Schoenersville Road. To gain entry, you must present a valid PA driver's license and a city-issued Compost Card. You can drop off leaves, hedge trimmings, and small brush up to four inches in diameter. Keep in mind that the facility completely shuts down operations during December, February, and March.
How to Safely Dispose of Freon Appliances and E-Waste
You cannot simply place an old refrigerator or air conditioner at the curb for your hauler. In Bethlehem, any appliance containing Freon must first be serviced by a licensed plumber to safely evacuate the refrigerant and be properly tagged before a hauler can accept it. Furthermore, all electronic waste, including televisions and computers, is banned from Pennsylvania landfills and must be taken to certified e-waste centers like GER Solutions.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Bethlehem Yard Waste Facility
1480 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Materials Accepted
Theis/Cornfeld Recycling Center
635 Illick's Mill Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Bethlehem provide regular garbage collection for residents?
No. The City of Bethlehem requires all homeowners and businesses to independently hire a state-licensed, private garbage hauler for their refuse. The city itself only manages the bi-weekly curbside recycling program and the yard waste drop-off center.
How do I know if my recycling day is on the A or B schedule?
The City collects single-stream recycling every other Tuesday or Thursday. You can determine your specific 'A' or 'B' zone by checking the Curbside Recycling App on the official Bethlehem website or by calling the Recycling Bureau at 610-865-7082 (Option 3).
Can I drop off grass clippings at the Yard Waste Facility?
No, grass clippings are strictly prohibited at the Schoenersville Road Yard Waste Facility. The city encourages residents to use a mulching mower and leave grass clippings on their lawn to naturally fertilize the soil.
What is the rule for recycling styrofoam and plastic bags in Bethlehem?
Both styrofoam and plastic grocery bags are banned from the city's single-stream recycling bins. Plastic bags easily jam the sorting machines at the recycling plant, and styrofoam is not processed locally. You should place both items securely in your regular private trash.