Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cheltenham
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.
Resident's Choice (Max 20 gallons) Bin (Trash)
Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. Limit of 6 (20-gallon) containers or 10 polyethylene bags per pickup. Max weight is 30 lbs per bag/container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Township-Issued Bin Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT flatten cans or plastic containers. Remove lids and caps from glass jars. Do not place recyclables inside plastic bags; keep them loose in the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (lids removed)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1-#7)
- ✓Paper and cardboard (unsoiled)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Ceramics and dishware
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Syringes and diapers
Yard Waste Bin
Rake leaves to the curb line no more than 14 days before your scheduled fall collection. Do not include twigs, branches, or grass clippings. Outside of leaf season, yard waste rules vary; check with Public Works.
Accepted Items
- ✓Loose leaves (during fall collection only)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Fridays by appointment only.
Placement
Place your scheduled items at the curb only after confirming your Friday appointment with the Public Works Department.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers (Covered Devices)
- ✕ Motor vehicle parts
- ✕ Plumbing fixtures and boilers
- ✕ Gas, oil, or propane tanks
- ✕ Paint or poisonous materials
There is a base fee of $25 for a bulk waste appointment. Additional surcharges apply for certain items, such as an extra $3.50 fee per large appliance.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on an observed holiday, service is typically pushed back to the following day.
Yard Waste Exception
Fall leaf collection schedules are highly subject to weather delays and holiday schedule shifts.
Because Cheltenham uses a 4-day collection week (Monday-Thursday), Fridays are often used as make-up days during holiday weeks, which may impact bulk trash appointments.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Cans and Bottles 3D
Resist the urge to crush your aluminum cans and plastic bottles. The local recycling facility's single-stream sorter relies on identifying 3D objects ('rounds') versus flat objects ('flats' like paper). A flattened can is often mis-sorted as paper.
Cap Removal for Glass
Before you recycle a glass jar or bottle, remove the metal or plastic lid. Leaving lids on glass containers causes contamination during the glass melting and recycling process. Toss plastic caps in the trash.
Naked Recyclables Only
Never put your recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag or grocery bag. Workers must physically rip open bagged recyclables on a fast-moving conveyor belt, which wastes time and forces them to toss the entire bag into the landfill pile.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
November - DecemberThe Township operates a loose leaf collection program. Leaves must be raked to the curb but kept free of branches and twigs to prevent damage to the vacuum machinery. Do not rake leaves into the street right after a sweep has passed.
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberGrass clippings are not accepted as part of regular yard waste sweeps. The Township encourages 'grasscycling'—leaving the clippings on your lawn to act as a natural, nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Winter
January - FebruaryInclement winter weather, such as snow or ice, may temporarily halt or delay refuse collection. When winter storms hit, monitor the Township website for adjusted A-D zone pickup schedules.
About Cheltenham Waste Management
Municipal Waste Collection in Cheltenham Township
Cheltenham Township manages its own residential waste and recycling program through the Public Works Department. The township is divided into four collection zones—A, B, C, and D—serviced Monday through Thursday. This in-house operation ensures consistent service for single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes across neighborhoods like Elkins Park, Glenside, and Wyncote.
Strict Container and Bag Limits
To maintain efficiency and protect sanitation workers, the Township enforces specific curbside limits. Households are permitted a maximum of six 20-gallon trash containers or up to ten heavy-duty polyethylene bags per pickup. Each bag or container must weigh no more than 30 pounds. Utilizing authorized bags and adhering to these volume caps prevents litter and helps keep collection routes moving swiftly.
The Science of Single-Stream Recycling Shapes
Cheltenham utilizes a single-stream recycling system with automated sorting machinery that relies heavily on shape recognition. Sorters separate flat 2D items (like paper and cardboard) from 3D 'rounds' (like bottles and cans). Because of this, residents are explicitly instructed not to flatten their aluminum cans or plastic bottles. A crushed can may be misidentified as paper and ultimately sent to a landfill.
Friday Bulk Pickups by Appointment
Unlike municipalities that offer free unlimited bulk waste days, Cheltenham Township handles large non-combustible items via a paid appointment system on Fridays. Residents must call the Public Works Department ahead of time and pay a base fee of $25, plus a small surcharge for large appliances. This system ensures that bulky items like mattresses and furniture are removed responsibly without overwhelming daily routes.
Autumn Leaf Vacuuming Requirements
As the leaves change in Montgomery County, the Township deploys specialized leaf vacuum machines to clear curbsides. Residents are asked to rake loose leaves to the curb no earlier than 14 days prior to their scheduled zone sweep. It is crucial to keep twigs, branches, and grass clippings out of the leaf piles, as woody debris easily jams and damages the municipal leaf vacuums.
Drop-off Facilities
Cheltenham Township Public Works Facility (E-Waste Drop-Off)
8101 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027
Materials Accepted
Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) drop-offs
Various participating grocery stores and Montgomery County events
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the trash container limit in Cheltenham Township?
The Township enforces a strict volume limit per household. You may put out a maximum of six 20-gallon containers or ten heavy-duty polyethylene bags per collection day. Furthermore, no single container or bag can weigh more than 30 pounds.
Why shouldn't I flatten my aluminum cans for recycling?
Cheltenham Township specifically requests that residents do not flatten their cans or plastic bottles. The automated sorting machinery relies on shape to separate materials—flat items go to the paper stream, and 3D 'round' items go to the plastics/metals stream. Flattened cans end up contaminating the paper bales.
How do I throw away an old mattress or refrigerator?
Bulk items are not collected during your regular trash day. You must call the Public Works Department at 215-635-4600 to schedule a Friday appointment. There is a $25 base fee for the pickup, plus a $3.50 charge for large appliances.
What are the rules for fall leaf collection?
During the fall leaf sweep, you may rake loose leaves to the curb, but no earlier than 14 days before your scheduled pickup. You must ensure there are no twigs, branches, or grass clippings mixed in, as woody debris will jam and break the Township's leaf vacuums.