Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bristol
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday based on neighborhood (e.g., Appletree and Crabtree on Monday; Birch Valley and Croydon Acres on Tuesday; Croydon Manor and Edgely on Wednesday; Croydon and Indian Creek on Thursday; Greenbrook and Violetwood on Friday).
Recycling
Collected weekly on your regular trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular trash pickup day from April through mid-December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash collection fees are assessed annually and included on your Bristol Township Real Estate tax bill mailed each spring.
Billing Cycle
Annual
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A 2% discount applies if the annual tax bill (including the trash fee) is paid by April 30th.
Green (95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be bagged before being placed inside the green cart to prevent litter and pests. The lid must close completely. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household waste
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles (if not donated)
Blue (65-gallon cart) Bin (Recycling)
Bristol utilizes single-stream recycling. Place all acceptable recyclables loosely inside the blue cart. Never put recyclables inside plastic trash bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass jars and bottles
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Cardboard and clean paper products
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or films
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household hazardous waste
- ✕Electronics or medical waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in rigid open-top containers or biodegradable paper yard bags. Branches must be tied or bundled with string. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden residues
- ✓Branches (under 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a month during the township's designated Bulk Item Collection week.
Placement
Once successfully scheduled, place the bulk item at the curb the night before your normal collection day during the designated bulk week.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be plastic-wrapped)
- ✓ Large furniture (chairs, bookcases)
- ✓ Appliances (including Freon appliances if specified during scheduling)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
Bulk pickup is included in municipal services at no extra charge, but mandatory pre-scheduling is required. You must call (267) 812-2950 no later than the Friday before the bulk collection week.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Any major holiday that falls on a Monday through Friday will delay all subsequent collection services for the week by exactly one day. For example, if a holiday is on a Thursday, Thursday routes are collected Friday, and Friday routes are collected Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active season (April to December), yard waste pickup follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
Regular collection services will resume their normal schedule the following week. Always ensure carts are out by 6:00 a.m. regardless of holiday shifts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Late Fall
April to DecemberThe dedicated yard waste collection program officially begins on April 1st and continues through December 11th. During this window, yard waste is collected on the same day as your regular trash and recycling.
Summer and Fall
Varies by yearBucks County hosts several regional Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection events during the warmer months, typically including an August event in neighboring Bensalem. Toxic chemicals, oil-based paints, and pesticides must be held for these events.
Winter Holidays
November to JanuaryThanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day are observed by Waste Management. If your collection day falls on or after these holidays during the workweek, your pickup will be delayed by one day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Bristol Township Unified Collection Services
In Bristol Township, residential waste management is highly streamlined to maximize neighborhood convenience. Through a municipal contract with Waste Management (WM), all standard household garbage, single-stream recyclables, bulky furniture, and seasonal yard waste are picked up on the exact same day once a week. Every eligible residential property is provided with a green 95-gallon cart specifically designed for bagged household refuse, alongside a blue 65-gallon cart for loose recycling materials. Because all of these distinct sanitation services occur simultaneously, residents only need to remember one specific collection day for all of their disposal needs.
Proper Cart Positioning and Curbside Rules
To guarantee that Waste Management's automated collection trucks can safely and efficiently service your property, all bins must be wheeled to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup morning. Proper cart alignment is absolutely crucial; containers must be placed with their wheels and handles pointing toward your house, leaving the lid opening facing the street. Furthermore, you are required to leave a minimum clearance of four feet between the green and blue carts. Keep them well away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, utility poles, and low-hanging tree branches so the mechanical truck arms can operate without physical obstruction.
Seasonal Yard Debris Protocols
Bristol Township facilitates a dedicated yard waste collection season that typically spans from April 1st through December 11th each year. During this active period, homeowners can dispose of grass clippings, fallen autumn leaves, and small garden brush on their standard weekly trash day. All green organic waste must be neatly placed in rigid, open-top containers or biodegradable paper leaf bags. Under no circumstances should yard debris be sealed inside plastic garbage bags, as they will be rejected by the haulers. For larger tree branches and shrubbery, they must be trimmed to lengths of four feet or less and securely tied with twine to ensure easy manual loading.
Holiday Adjustments and Toxic Materials
The local sanitation route pauses for six major recognized holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If your normal collection day falls on or after one of these holidays during the workweek, your pickup service will be delayed by one full day, meaning Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday. Additionally, highly toxic substances like oil-based paints, chemical pesticides, and automotive fluids are strictly banned from entering your curbside bins. These dangerous household hazardous wastes must be retained safely until they can be dropped off at an official Bucks County collection event.
Drop-off Facilities
Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
Various rotating locations (e.g., Bensalem, Newtown)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my Bristol Township trash pickup is missed?
If your Waste Management carts were positioned at the curb before 6:00 a.m. and were still skipped, you should promptly contact the Bristol Township Recycling Office at 267-812-2950 to report the missed service and request a recovery truck route.
Can I put my recyclables in plastic bags inside the blue cart?
No. All acceptable single-stream recyclables must be placed completely loose inside your 65-gallon blue recycling cart. Plastic grocery bags frequently jam the sorting machinery at the regional processing facility and are heavily penalized as contamination.
How do I dispose of a large couch in Bristol?
Fortunately, bulk waste removal is built into your standard weekly municipal service. You can place large, heavy items like living room furniture or mattresses at the curb on your normal collection day right alongside your standard waste carts.