Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Chester
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your scheduled trash collection.
Yard Waste
Not specified
Set Out Time
Place containers at the curb no earlier than 4:00 PM the evening before or by 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash collection is billed as an annual rubbish fee ($350 per unit) included directly on your City of Chester property tax bill mailed in February.
Billing Cycle
Annual (Included with City Property Tax Bill)
Accepted Methods
Mail, In-Person, Check, Money Order
Pro Tip / Discount
A 2% discount is granted if property taxes and the included annual rubbish fee are paid in full by March 31.
Cart with Orange Lid Bin (Trash)
All trash must be placed completely inside the official city cart with the orange lid. No loose bags will be collected. Place at the curb no earlier than 4:00 PM the night before collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles
Cart with Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed inside the official cart with the blue lid. Materials should be loose; do not tie paper in bundles or place items in plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and metal cans
- ✓#1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paper bags (flattened)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and greeting cards
- ✓Paper towel rolls
Yard Waste Bin
Collected twice per year (Spring and Fall). Must be placed in Kraft paper lawn and leaf bags only. Limited to 6 bags per household per collection. No plastic bags or containers allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden trimmings
- ✓Branches
- ✓Small shrubs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular trash collection day.
Placement
Place accepted items next to your carts no earlier than 4:00 PM the night before your collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Other large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items with freon
- ✕ Items with air compressors
- ✕ Batteries
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, monitors)
Included in standard service limits (2 items). For prohibited items like freon appliances, residents must call the Department of Public Works at 610-447-7742 for special pickup arrangements.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on or before your collection day, your pickup will occur one day later. Trash and recycling will still be collected on the same day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is only collected on advertised Spring and Fall dates and is generally unaffected by regular holiday routing.
Verify exact holiday delays and special event dates on the City of Chester mobile app or website.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberDuring the autumn months, the City of Chester Department of Public Works operates a special leaf collection program. Residents should rake their loose leaves directly to the curb for the city's vacuum trucks to collect, completely separate from the bi-annual bagged yard waste collection.
Spring
April to MayKeep an eye on the City's website and mobile app for the dates of the Spring Drop-Off Event. This is the ideal time to clear out winter clutter, as residents can drop off electronics, appliances, and up to four tires.
Winter
December to FebruaryIn the event of severe snowstorms, standard trash and recycling routes may be temporarily suspended. Always ensure your carts are accessible and not buried behind snowbanks when plows clear the streets.
Local Tips & Community Info
Chester Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule
In the City of Chester, PA, trash and recycling are conveniently collected on the exact same day each week. The city recently partnered with Casella as the official waste hauler. Every household is assigned a specific weekly collection day based on their neighborhood zone. To ensure a successful pickup, make sure your bins are placed at the curb by 4:00 PM the night before your scheduled day.
City Cart Requirements and Placement Tips
Chester residents must use the official city-issued rolling carts. The cart with the orange lid is exclusively for regular household trash, while the blue-lidded cart is reserved for loose, unbagged recyclables. Each household is allowed to place out a maximum of two 65-gallon trash carts per week. Do not use plastic bags for your recycling, and make sure all refuse is fully contained inside the carts. Remove your empty carts from the curb promptly after collection to keep city streets clean.
Bulk Waste Disposal Guidelines
Need to get rid of larger household items? Casella provides curbside bulk waste collection on your regular trash day. You can set out up to two bulk items per week, such as old furniture, wrapped mattresses, or washers. Please note that mattresses and box springs must be entirely wrapped in plastic before they are placed at the curb. Items containing freon, batteries, or air compressors are strictly prohibited from regular bulk pickup; for these hazardous items, residents must call the Department of Public Works at 610-447-7742 for specialized disposal instructions.
Yard Waste and Fall Leaf Collection
Yard waste cannot be mixed in with your regular household garbage. Instead, Casella conducts special yard waste collections twice a year, typically during the spring and fall seasons. When preparing yard waste, you must use biodegradable Kraft paper bags and limit your output to six bags per household. Acceptable items include small branches, leaves, and garden trimmings, but exclude grass clippings and dirt. Additionally, during the autumn months, residents can rake their leaves directly to the curb for the city’s specialized vacuum truck collection.
Holiday Delays and Schedule Changes
Chester observes several major holidays that can impact your sanitation services. The recognized holidays include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If one of these holidays falls on or before your normal collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one single day for that week. For example, a Monday holiday means Monday routes are pushed to Tuesday, and Friday routes move to Saturday.
Missed Pickups and Customer Support
Even with a highly reliable schedule, occasional missed pickups can happen due to severe weather or routing delays. If your trash or recycling was properly set out but not collected, you should reach out for assistance as soon as possible. You can contact Casella directly at 302-832-8000 to report a missed stop. Alternatively, the City of Chester's Department of Public Works is available at 610-447-7742 to help resolve ongoing sanitation issues and answer questions about collection boundaries.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Chester Special Drop-Off Events
Location Announced Seasonally by City
Materials Accepted
Delaware County Solid Waste Authority (Transfer Station)
1521 N. Delaware Ave, Chester, PA 19013
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with my old mattress?
You can put it out on your normal trash day as a bulk item, but it must be entirely sealed in a plastic mattress bag for the sanitation crew to safely collect it.
Can I put my recyclables in plastic grocery bags?
No, all recyclable materials must be placed loose inside your blue-lidded recycling cart. Plastic bags easily get tangled in the regional sorting facility's machinery and cause major delays.
When does the city pick up yard waste?
The official hauler schedules dedicated yard waste pickup days twice a year, typically in the spring and fall. You must use designated paper lawn bags for these events. During autumn, the city also sweeps curbside leaf piles.