Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Harrisburg
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, based on your neighborhood collection zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on your regular trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected on designated street sweeping days, with seasonal curbside leaf collection running through November and December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (set out no earlier than 9:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash fees are billed monthly by the City Treasurer's Office; residents can enroll in CHAPP for automatic direct debits or pay online through the city's payment portal.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH/CHAPP), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person / Kiosk
Standard color (varies by container type) Bin (Trash)
Place bins at the designated collection spot. Construction and demolition waste (plaster, sheet rock, soil, cinder blocks) is strictly forbidden.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household solid waste
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓General household refuse
City-issued recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Break down cardboard boxes and tie them with string; if it is raining on collection day, store cardboard indoors until the next collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics labeled #1 (PET), #2 (HDPE), and #5 (PP)
- ✓Aluminum and steel containers (rinsed)
- ✓Paper and corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (must go to drop-off sites)
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed at the FRONT of your property on your designated STREET CLEANING DAY. Leaves and trimmings must be in separate paper compost bags. Branches must be tied in bundles under 4 feet and under 40 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubbery clippings
- ✓Tree branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (on your regular trash collection day)
Placement
Place your single bulk item at the curb next to your regular refuse bins on your standard collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Standard pieces of furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Rolls of carpeting
- ✓ Large non-electronic household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Sofa beds
- ✕ Electronic items (TVs, computers, microwaves)
- ✕ Construction and demolition waste (sheet rock, cinder blocks, plumbing)
- ✕ Tires
The pickup of one bulk item per week is included in your standard municipal sanitation fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday occurs, trash and recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is collected on street cleaning days, which are also suspended or altered during city-observed holidays.
Because collection routes are split into five specific zones, holiday delays can vary by neighborhood. Download the Recycle Coach app or call 3-1-1 to confirm your modified holiday schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring through Fall
April to NovemberYard waste collection is highly active during these months. Remember that collection happens on your designated street cleaning day, not on your regular trash collection day, and relies on a dedicated yard waste truck.
Rainy Weather
Year-RoundIf heavy rain is forecasted on your collection day, the Sanitation Office requests that you store excess bundled cardboard indoors until your next collection day to prevent the paper from dissolving and becoming unrecyclable.
Holidays
Year-RoundThe city periodically adjusts collection dates to accommodate City holidays and municipal furlough days. Residents should utilize the Recycle Coach app for real-time notifications on holiday delays for their specific zone.
Local Tips & Community Info
Harrisburg Curbside Trash Regulations
In the City of Harrisburg, residential refuse collection is managed by the Department of Public Works. Homeowners must ensure their trash carts are placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled service day. If you prefer to set them out the night before, local regulations mandate they cannot be placed in the public right-of-way before 5:00 p.m. To ensure the automated trucks can securely lift the bins, they must be spaced at least three feet apart from each other, as well as kept away from vehicles and mailboxes. Carts must be retrieved and returned to a discreet storage area by 9:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Recycling Practices and Electronics Bans
Harrisburg promotes active recycling to reduce waste headed to Dauphin County landfills. Your single-stream recycling is collected on the same day as your standard trash. Residents can include items like flattened cardboard, clean plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass containers. However, under state laws, you cannot place any electronic waste in either your trash or recycling bins. Discarded televisions, old desktop computers, monitors, and laptops must be transported directly to the Dauphin County Recycling Center located at 1625 S. Cameron Street for safe ecological processing.
Disposing of Bulk Items and Major Appliances
When cleaning out the garage or replacing old furniture, Harrisburg residents are permitted to leave exactly one bulk item at the curb each week alongside their regular trash bin. This convenient allowance covers heavy items such as mattresses, chairs, and standard household furniture. However, certain restrictions apply. Electronic items and sofa beds are not included in this weekly allowance. Additionally, large appliances containing Freon, such as freezers and refrigerators, require special handling. You must call the Department of Public Works or dial 3-1-1 prior to your pickup day to schedule a specialized appliance extraction.
Yard Waste and Seasonal Collection Guidelines
Maintaining your property’s landscape is supported through the city's seasonal yard waste program, which runs proactively from April through October. During this active period, yard waste is collected on the fourth Thursday of each month. Households are allowed one designated brown yard waste container for organic debris like small twigs, leaves, and soft brush. Importantly, grass clippings should not be mixed into this brown container; instead, grass must be bagged securely and disposed of inside your regular household garbage cart.
Sanitation Route Holiday Delays
The City of Harrisburg observes several major holidays, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When a recognized holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, all subsequent trash and recycling routes for that week are delayed by one single day. For instance, a regular Wednesday pickup will shift to Thursday. It is crucial to consult the official Department of Public Works calendar during holiday weeks to avoid missing your revised collection window.
Drop-off Facilities
Dauphin County Recycling Center
1625 South Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17104
Materials Accepted
Broad Street Market Glass Drop-Off
Sayford & Fulton Streets, Harrisburg, PA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulk appliance pickup in Harrisburg?
For items containing Freon, such as refrigerators or freezers, you must call the Department of Public Works at 717-412-4320 or dial 3-1-1 to schedule a specialized collection prior to your normal weekly service day.
Where can I recycle my old television or computer?
Televisions and electronics are strictly banned from curbside pickup. You must take them to the Dauphin County Recycling Center at 1625 S. Cameron Street during their normal operating hours.
Can I put grass clippings in my brown yard waste bin?
No, the city strictly prohibits grass clippings in the brown yard waste containers. Grass clippings must be placed in a standard trash bag and deposited into your regular garbage bin.